What Is a Chore Provider in Michigan?

If someone told you to become a "chore provider" for your mom, or you saw "DHS chore provider" on an old letter, you are not alone in wondering what it means. In Michigan, the term has been used for years to describe the person paid to help a Medicaid recipient with daily care at home. Today that program is the Michigan Home Help Program, and the state calls its paid caregivers "individual caregivers" or "agency providers." This guide explains what a chore provider is in Michigan, how it differs from the separate "chore services" benefit, and how to become one.

What Is a Chore Provider in Michigan? The Short Answer

When most Michigan families say "chore provider," they mean a Home Help caregiver: a family member, friend, or neighbor who is paid through Michigan Medicaid to help someone with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and other everyday tasks in their own home. The old name stuck with many families and longtime caregivers, even though the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) now uses Home Help terms in its policies.

So if you are searching for how to become a chore provider, what you are really looking for is how to become a paid Home Help caregiver.

What a Home Help Caregiver Actually Does

According to the MDHHS Adult Services Manual (opens in new tab), the Michigan Home Help Program covers:

• Activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, transferring (for example, in and out of bed), and mobility.
• Instrumental activities of daily living: meal preparation, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping, and help with medication.

The person receiving care must need hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living. Household tasks like meal preparation and light housekeeping are added on top of that, and each has a monthly limit. Home Help does not cover skilled care such as nursing visits or physical therapy, and it isn't for yard work or home repairs.

Chore Provider vs. MI Choice "Chore Services"

One source of confusion: the MI Choice Waiver, a separate Medicaid waiver for people who meet a nursing facility level of care, has a benefit called "chore services," meant to keep a home clean, sanitary, and safe. That is not the same as being a Home Help caregiver. MI Choice is not an entitlement, so slots are limited and there are waitlists, and Family Love Care doesn't operate in it. Home Help has no waitlist and is always the faster approval, so apply for Home Help first.

Who Qualifies for Home Help Services?

The person receiving care must:

• Be a Michigan resident living in a private home.
• Be enrolled in Michigan Medicaid. For most older adults and people with disabilities, the 2026 asset limit is $9,950 for one person, according to MDHHS Bridges Eligibility Manual 400 (opens in new tab).
• Need physical help with at least one activity of daily living, confirmed by a medical needs form and a home assessment.

Home Help is for anyone who needs help with everyday tasks. People with higher needs, including nursing home level of care, are covered too, but that level isn't required.

Can My Daughter Be Paid to Be My Caregiver?

Yes. Adult children are among the most common paid Home Help caregivers. Grandchildren, siblings, other relatives, friends, and neighbors can be paid too. The caregiver doesn't have to be family.

There are two exceptions. A spouse cannot be paid to care for their husband or wife, and a parent cannot be paid to care for their own minor child. Another person can be paid to provide that care only if the spouse or parent can't give it because of their own physical limitations, or because they work and aren't available. A parent can be paid once the child turns 18.

How to Become a Chore Provider (Home Help Caregiver) in Michigan

The caregiver's part of the application process happens after the person receiving care is approved. Here is the full order:

1. The person receiving care gets Michigan Medicaid. If they don't have it yet, they can apply online through MI Bridges (opens in new tab). Income, asset, and residency papers belong here.
2. They submit the Home Help application (DHS-390) to their local MDHHS office.
3. A medical professional completes the MDHHS-6200 medical needs form. If the person was seen recently, ask the doctor's office to submit it without a new appointment.
4. An MDHHS adult services worker does a home assessment once the application and medical form are both in, and sets the care plan and approved hours.
5. The caregiver enrolls in CHAMPS, Michigan's Medicaid provider system, and passes a criminal background check. Caregivers must be at least 18. When CHAMPS enrollment is done correctly, it can be finished in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
6. Care starts and the caregiver is paid for approved hours.

The entire process typically takes about 45 to 60 days from first call to first paycheck. MDHHS has 45 days (opens in new tab) to decide a standard application. No license or certification is required. See our Home Help caregiver requirements (opens in new tab) for the full list.

How Much Does a Chore Provider Get Paid in Michigan?

As of January 1, 2026, Home Help caregivers paid directly by the state earn $17.13 per hour: the $13.73 minimum wage plus a $3.40 direct care worker supplement, according to MDHHS Adult Services Bulletin 2026-002 (opens in new tab). Caregivers who work through Family Love Care can earn $18 or more per hour.

How much does a chore provider get paid per month?

Monthly pay depends on approved hours, which MDHHS sets from the home assessment. There's no flat number. As a simple math example, not a typical amount, 100 approved hours in a month at the state rate would come to $1,713. Approved hours vary widely from family to family.

The pay schedule also depends on how you are enrolled:

• Directly with the state: once a month by paper check mailed to the care recipient's home. Starting in 2026, union dues are taken out of individual caregivers' pay.
• Through Family Love Care: every two weeks by direct deposit.

Clocking In and Recording Hours

All Home Help caregivers must use electronic visit verification (EVV). A caregiver working directly with the state sets up the HHAeXchange app to clock in and out, and enters the work done in CHAMPS for every day worked. They don't have to log in every day and can enter it at the end of the month, but each day needs its own entry. A Family Love Care caregiver is set up and trained on our clock-in app and has nothing to submit in CHAMPS.

Going Direct vs. Working Through an Agency

You can enroll directly with the state or work through a home care agency. Either way, you are still the caregiver your loved one chose, with the same scheduling flexibility. The differences are in pay and paperwork. Going direct means a lower rate, a mailed check once a month, union dues, and handling enrollment, EVV, and CHAMPS entries on your own. Through Family Love Care you earn $18 or more per hour, get paid every two weeks, have no CHAMPS billing, and get help through the entire approval process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "chore provider" still an official term?

Current MDHHS Home Help policy uses "individual caregiver" and "agency provider." Many families and caregivers still say "chore provider" to mean a paid Home Help caregiver.

Is a chore provider the same as a home health aide?

No. A home health aide works for a home health agency and usually provides short-term help connected to skilled nursing or therapy, often after a hospital stay. A Home Help caregiver provides ongoing personal care through Michigan Medicaid, and is often a family member or friend the person chose.

Do I need training to become a chore provider?

No. No license, certification, or formal training course is required for Home Help caregivers. Family Love Care caregivers are set up and trained on our clock-in app before they start.

If you are ready to become a paid Home Help caregiver for someone you love, contact Family Love Care (opens in new tab). As a home care agency, we help Michigan families get approved and get caregivers paid.