What is the Structured Family Caregiver Program?
Georgia's Structured Family Caregiver (SFC) program was created to accommodate individuals who, if not for the fact that a loved one was taking care of him or her at home, would be eligible for admission into a nursing home facility.
The SFC program provides support to family members who live with and provide 24-hour care for an elderly or disabled family member, both through the support provided by health coaches and provision of a daily stipend. The service is designed to support live-in family caregivers unable to work outside of the home because of caregiving responsibilities. Working family caregivers (working out of the home where caregiver duties are performed or running a business/working from within the home) and non-family caregivers are not eligible to receive the SFC service option but may be eligible for the Family Hire program.If you are a caregiver for a loved one who is eligible for Medicaid in Georgia, the SFC program can help you manage the costs of caregiving. The Structured Family Caregiver program provides a tax-free financial stipend to family members who provide personal care and support services to a Medicaid member in the member’s private home (or the private home of the caregiver).
To be eligible to participate in Georgia’s SFC program, you must meet certain income and asset requirements, and your loved one must be aged, blind, or disabled. The requirements may be broken down into two categories: Patient (Medicaid Member) Requirements and Caregiver Requirements. Read below for more information on the requirements.
How does SFC compare to Family Hire?
The Structured Family Caregiver Program is not for everyone. Some families might find the Family Hire program to be a better fit. Click Learn More to view and compare SFC to Family Hire.
Qualifying For SFC Services
First review the Medicaid Member Eligibility and then click the Caregiver Eligibility tab to read which caregivers are eligible to participate.
To qualify for SFC, the Medicaid Member must already be approved for SOURCE or CCSP home care services under Georgia Medicaid’s Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), also known as Community Care Services Program or CCSP.
Must be willing to pay monthly Cost Share, if assessed one due to higher income. Caring Hands United can assist in Cost Share payments for our SFC participants.
Individuals receiving Structured Family Caregiver are not eligible for the following services under the EDWP program:
The family caregiver must be biologically or legally related to the individual receiving care. However, a spouse, legal guardian, parent of a minor child or conservator is not eligible to be the structured family caregiver.
The family caregiver must reside in the same home with the individual receiving care.
The family caregiver is not allowed to have any other means of employment. The primary caregiver cannot be employed or self-employed.
Additional requirements for SFC caregivers:
Ready To Get Started?
If your family already meets the criteria and you’re ready to get started with services from Caring Hands United (or to start the process of qualifying for EDWP services), click Get Started to begin the intake process.
Why Choose Us?
Our SFC program simplifies everything so that you can put your focus on your family.
Caring Hands United is a licensed private home care provider in the State of Georgia and a provider in the Structured Family Caregiver program. Our mission is to provide support, education and oversight on behalf of waiver members (care recipients) whose family caregiver lives in the home with the member. Our agency facilitates the stipend payments from Medicaid and provides professional oversight while promoting a collaborative relationship between the waiver member, primary caregiver, the professional Health Coach, and the member’s case manager.
Caring Hands United is a Private In-Home Care and Facility Staff Relief Nursing Provider that was founded over 25 years ago in March 1997. All of our facilities are licensed by Georgia’s Healthcare Facility Regulation, a division of Georgia’s Department of Community Health. Our Service extends through all of Atlanta and over 80 counties throughout the state of Georgia.
Competitive stipends that are above Georgia's minimum stipend amount for SFC. No federal taxes are taken out because Georgia's SFC program falls under IRS Notice 2014-7. Payments are made biweekly.
Caring Hands United is partnered with high quality training programs to deliver engaging content. Family caregivers in our program can also access optional certification programs to further their education.
Because Caring Hands United is a provider to over 80 counties throughout the state of Georgia, you can rest assured that you'll have a dependable backup agency for your loved one's care.
Our Health Coaches are experienced professionals who are fully vetted before participating in our program.
- Stipends paid the way you want: check or direct deposit
- Optional: Direct deposit to your debit card (example: cash app)
- Optional additional education and certification programs
- Peace of mind
High Quality Training for Caregivers
Part of the requirement of Georgia's Structured Family Caregiver program is to provide at least 8 hours of annual training to caregivers. Our training program consists of high quality, engaging content that can be accessed on any platform.
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Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
The waiver member and primary caregiver must be related biologically or by marriage. The caregiver may not include legally responsible adults such as parents of minor children or unemancipated adults or spouses of the waiver participants. Additionally, those serving as the Representative Payee as established by the Social Security Administration are also restricted from serving as family caregiver under the Structured Family Care service.
SFC Family caregivers must live in the same home as the care recipient.