How to Get Paid to Take Care of Disabled Child (10 Best Ways)

Taking care of a child with disabilities is financially and emotionally challenging. There are a few ways to get paid to take care of a disabled child.

This article reveals some of the government programs and other jobs that support your ability to care for your disabled child.

 

Why Get Paid to Take Care of Disabled Child?

People who take care of disabled children deserve assistance. Society benefits from their care for children who otherwise might struggle.

Federal and state programs are intended to assist with the care of disabled children. Moreover, many jobs benefit from hiring people who care for children with disabilities because of their experience and skills.

 

How to Get Paid to Take Care of Disabled Child

 

State and Federal Benefits

State and federal benefit programs are the primary way to get paid to take care of a disabled child.

These provide medical insurance, pay for caretakers, and provide other necessary services.

Some of these programs allow for a family member to be the caretaker.

In those programs, the family member is paid by the state or federal program to take care of disabled children.

Federal programs that provide financial assistance to people who take care of children include In-home Social Service (IHSS), Security Social Income (SSI), and Medicaid.

 

Become a CNA

Some states will pay you to care for a disabled child if you are a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

There are also many agencies that hire CNAs to take care of disabled children.

CNAs do everything you probably already do. They feed, bathe, and generally care for the child.

They also administer medication and monitor the disabled child’s health.

Your state has licensing requirements for CNAs. You likely need to take a short 2-week to 1-month long course.

You will then take skills and written tests. There may be additional training requirements, as well.

CNAs make, on average, $25,000 per year. Medicaid programs are sponsored by the federal government.

Therefore, if your child receives Medicaid benefits for being disabled, you likely meet the requirements to be paid as a CNA, if your state participates in the program.

 

Become a Therapist

People who care for disabled children often need mental health support to deal with the pressure and immense work required. Family therapists frequently provide this help.

Many would appreciate having a therapist who has a similar experience.

Moreover, therapists with experience caring for a disabled child would benefit from providing support for others in similar situations.

Some therapists work remotely through video calls with their clients. You could be paid to be a therapist on a flexible schedule while still taking care of a disabled child.

To become a family therapist, you would need a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, clinical hours, and a license.

Although this represents a significant time and financial investment, family therapists are paid on average $40,000 to $96,000 per year.

 

Work for a Home Care Agency

Home care agencies provide family support to caretakers of disabled children.

Support includes light housekeeping, care, feeding, and other duties typically done by a caretaker.

Some states will not allow a family member to be a paid caretaker, but they will pay a service to provide a caretaker to people caring for disabled children.

Although the family member is not paid in cash, they do receive time away to rest.

If you want to work full-time as a caregiver for disabled children who are not your family member, you may find work through a home care agency.

Starting pay is about $13 per hour.

 

Create a Support Website for Other Caretakers

Caretakers for disabled children often reach out for support on the internet.

Creating a website to provide this support is another way to get paid while taking care of a disabled child.

You could publish blog articles on the products you find most helpful or book reviews on books about caring for disabled children.

You could earn money through advertisements and affiliate links to the products and books.

You could create a paid membership tier where you provide additional content. For example, you could provide individualized help with finding benefits.

You could be paid $0.01 to $0.03 for every ad or link interaction and up to 10% on products purchased through affiliate links.

 

Work for an Employer With Paid Leave

Private companies increasingly offer more paid leave for caretakers. This is available for any guardian and can be six to 26 weeks or even longer.

Traditionally, paid family leave was for after the birth of a child. It was eventually expanded to include adoption.

Many companies now allow for that time for any necessary family care.

 

What Are the Requirements to Be Classified as a Caregiver?

Caregivers are typically adult family members or guardians and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).

Family members are not required to have any training to be a caregiver.

CNAs are licensed and trained in the care of disabled children, CPR, and other necessary skills.

 

What Is the Easiest Way to Be Paid to Care for a Disabled Child?

There is no easy way to be paid to care for a disabled child. However, some methods are not as difficult as others.

The least difficult way to be paid to care for a disabled child is to work for a private employer with generous paid leave policies.

Another way is to host a website where you provide advice and recommendations on caring for a disabled child.

 

10 Best Ways & Programs That Pay or Support You to Take Care of Disabled Child

 

1. Federal Government

The federal government of the United States provides Supplemental Security Income to disabled children.

Using this to pay for the child’s expenses assists caretakers.

SSI benefits provide, on average, about $650 per month per child.

This is unlikely to cover enough of the child’s expenses, so it should be combined with some of the other ways to get paid to take care of a disabled child.

 

2. State Government

Although Medicaid is sponsored by the federal government, it is administered by the states.

Therefore, each state determines eligibility and what is covered.

Most states provide some sort of health insurance through Medicaid for disabled children.

However, this is only available if household income is below a certain threshold.

It is often a lengthy and difficult process to sign up for Medicaid.

Disability attorneys can help guide you through the complicated paperwork and other requirements.

 

3. Synergy Home

Synergy Home is a home health care agency with locations throughout the United States.

They hire CNAs to provide in-home assistance for families with disabled or elderly family members.

Synergy Home has many jobs available on a part-time or full-time basis.

They have shifts available every day of the week, although they have more demand for the weekend.

They also pay more for weekends and holidays.

Pay for caretakers of disabled children is a bit low, with it starting at around $13 per hour.

 

4. Colorado Department of Public Health and Education

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Education provides many services for people who take care of disabled children.

These services include:

• Respite Care
• Behavioral Services
• Homemaker
• Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies
• Assistive Technology

Although these benefits are not in the form of cash, they do pay the caretaker with assistance and time.

Having help in the form of cleaning, caretaking, and better equipment greatly benefits caretakers of disabled children.

Also See: Get Paid to Homeschool Kids & Get Paid to House Migrants or Refugees.

 

5. BetterHelp

BetterHelp hires therapists for part-time and full-time work.

You could be paid $39,000 to over $100,000 to work from home while also caring for a disabled child.

To be a family therapist with BetterHelp you must be licensed to practice.

Some acceptable licensed marriage and family therapists licenses include:

• LMFT
• LCMFT
• LIMFT

Therapists with BetterHelp set their own schedules. Moreover, BetterHelp handles billing, support, and operations.

Working as a part-time therapist allows you to work when you have assistance caring for your disabled child, but also allows you to not work when you need to provide your full attention to caring for your child.

 

6. Talkspace

Talkspace is another online therapy website where you could get paid to be a family therapist while also caring for your disabled child.

Talkspace also allows for a flexible schedule, on either a part-time or full-time basis.

Moreover, Talkspace provides a mentorship network for its therapists. This support system helps you learn to provide therapy through video calls.

 

7. HostGator

HostGator is one of the highest-rated website hosting services.

This is a good option if you want to get paid to care for a disabled child by creating a website with information on caring for disabled children.

HostGator will host your website for $2.75 per month and up. This includes domain registration for a year, WordPress installs, and a website building application.

You may consider hiring a freelancer to build the website.

Depending on the complexity of the website, this may be affordable and lessen the burden of getting started.

When designing the website, consider the features you need.

For example…

• Do you want to publish videos explaining how to use products?
• Or do you want to have written blog articles on your website?
• Would your users like a forum?

HostGator can accommodate many of these ideas, but you may need help in implementing them.

 

8. Amazon

Amazon provides several opportunities for you to get paid to take care of a disabled child. One way is to advertise their products on your website with affiliate links.

When you advertise as an Amazon affiliate, you link to products you recommend using a customized affiliate link.

When people click the link or purchase the product using the link, Amazon will pay you $0.01 to $0.03 per click and up to 10% of the purchase price.

Amazon also allows you to self-publish books.

If you have an interesting story or advice for other caretakers of disabled children, you can earn 70% to 80% of the commission on a self-published book.

 

9. Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the many companies to expand paid leave for taking care of family members.

They allow for 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

Frequently, this leave covers both maternity leave and leave to take care of a sick or disabled child. It is not limited to new mothers.

Bank of America has many different types of jobs. Some require a college degree, but many do not.

Working for Bank of America is an option for parents whose disabled children only need care some of the time.

Generous paid leave policies allow the caretaker to work full-time except in rare situations where the child needs more care.

 

10. Alabama’s Medicaid’s “Personal Choices” Program

Alabama has a “Personal Choices” program to provide people who take care of disabled children a monthly allowance.

This program generously supports caretakers by allowing them to decide how to allocate the money to best benefit their families.

 

Getting Paid to Take Care of Disabled Child FAQs

 

Who Can Help Me Get Paid to Care for My Disabled Child?

Disability attorneys specialize in helping people get government benefits and to sign up for other available programs.

Many states also have departments that help people sign up for services to help with caring for a disabled child.

Finally, non-profit organizations are available to provide this sort of assistance.

 

What Are the Requirements to Be Paid to Care for a Disabled Child?

The requirements to be paid to care for a disabled child vary but usually require income below a certain level.

For example, for federal benefits, a couple needs to earn less than $1,191 per month. Moreover, the child’s disability must be a qualifying disability.

Most diagnosed disabilities qualify.

 

Conclusion

As this article has revealed, getting paid to care for a disabled child is difficult but not impossible.

Beyond just state and federal programs, many private companies enable you to get paid to care for a disabled child.

For example, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Therapist, or for companies with generous paid leave policies to make it possible to get paid to care for a disabled child.