Skip to content

South Dakota Structured Family Caregiving

South Dakota's Structured Family Caregiving program pays family caregivers a daily stipend through the HOPE (Home & Community Based Options and Person Centered Excellence) Medicaid waiver to provide in-home care to adults age 18+ with qualifying disabilities and adults age 65+ as an alternative to nursing facility placement. The caregiver must live with the care recipient. Three payment tiers based on acuity (effective 7/1/2025): Base $80.87/day, Tier 1 $101.09/day, Tier 2 $113.22/day. Minimum 50% must be paid to the caregiver.

Pays family caregivers a tax-free daily stipend for providing in-home care to Medicaid-eligible adults age 18+ with qualifying disabilities and adults age 65+ who require a nursing facility level of care. Three payment tiers based on acuity (effective 7/1/2025): Base $80.87/day, Tier 1 $101.09/day, Tier 2 $113.22/day. Minimum 50% of the daily rate must be paid to the caregiver, resulting in approximately $40.44-$56.61/day ($283-$396/week, $1,213-$1,698/month). The caregiver must live with the care recipient. Available through the HOPE waiver. Income eligibility is determined through Medicaid, not this program directly.

Some details for this program are still being verified. Check the official source for the most current information.

Eligibility

  • Asset limit of $2,000
  • U.S. citizenship or qualified immigrant status required
  • Care recipient must have a qualifying disability
  • Care recipient age: at least 18
  • Must live with care recipient

Services

Pays family caregivers a tax-free daily stipend for providing in-home care to Medicaid-eligible adults age 18+ with qualifying disabilities and adults age 65+ who require a nursing facility level of care. Three payment tiers based on acuity (effective 7/1/2025): Base $80.87/day, Tier 1 $101.09/day, Tier 2 $113.22/day. Minimum 50% of the daily rate must be paid to the caregiver, resulting in approximately $40.44-$56.61/day ($283-$396/week, $1,213-$1,698/month). The caregiver must live with the care recipient. Available through the HOPE waiver. Income eligibility is determined through Medicaid, not this program directly.

How to apply

Use the official program page for application details: official program page.

  • medicaid (depends_on): Care recipient must be Medicaid-eligible
  • hcbs-waivers (companion): SFC is available through the South Dakota HOPE waiver