If you are helping an aging parent bathe, dress, take medications, get to appointments, and stay safe at home, you are already doing the work of a professional caregiver. What most Connecticut families do not realize is that the state has a program designed to pay you a tax-free stipend for exactly that work — and it exists specifically to keep your loved one out of a nursing home.
That program is called Adult Family Living (AFL), sometimes referred to as Caregiver Homes of Connecticut. This guide explains what it is, how much it pays in 2026, who qualifies, and the exact steps to apply — written by a Registered Nurse who works with Connecticut families every week.
What Adult Family Living (AFL) Is
Adult Family Living is a service offered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) under two umbrella programs: the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) and the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Medicaid Waiver.
The idea is simple. Instead of paying for a nursing home or an outside agency, the state supports a live-in caregiver — usually a family member — who provides the older adult's daily care in a shared home. In exchange, that caregiver receives a stipend, and a state-approved provider agency handles the training, oversight, paperwork, and periodic nurse visits.
For families, it turns care they were already giving for free into structured, compensated, professionally supported care — while keeping their loved one in familiar surroundings.
How Much AFL Pays in 2026
There is no single flat rate. The stipend is tied to a level of care that DSS assigns after an in-home assessment. There are four levels, and the more hands-on daily assistance and supervision your loved one needs, the higher the level — and the higher the payment.
- Lower levels apply when the person needs cueing and supervision to complete daily tasks.
- Higher levels apply when the person needs hands-on help with multiple Activities of Daily Living, or has significant cognitive or behavioral needs such as dementia.
At the highest assessed level in 2026, the stipend reaches approximately $2,700 per month. Payments are made weekly, are generally non-taxable, and are administered through the approved AFL provider agency. Because a provider agency facilitates the program, the caregiver typically receives a portion of the total program payment (the remainder covers the agency's oversight, training, and nurse visits).
Who Qualifies
The person receiving care must:
- Be a Connecticut resident, generally age 65 or older (younger adults with a qualifying disability may be eligible through the PCA Waiver)
- Need help with one or more Activities of Daily Living — bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, or mobility
- Be eligible for CHCPE or the PCA Waiver, which includes meeting the financial criteria below
The caregiver must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Live in the same home as the care recipient (either party can move in with the other)
- Be a family member or friend — but not the spouse of the care recipient (spouses are currently excluded)
- Pass background checks, complete required training, and be approved by the provider agency, including a home health-and-safety review
2026 Financial Criteria (CHCPE)
Because AFL runs through CHCPE, the care recipient must meet the program's income and asset limits. These figures are updated annually — the 2026 limits are below, but always confirm current numbers directly with DSS before relying on them.
| 2026 Financial Criteria (verify with DSS) | Limit |
|---|---|
| Income limit — State Plan HCBS Benefit (150% of Federal Poverty Level) | ~$1,995 / month |
| Income limit — HCBS Waiver for the Elderly (300% of Federal Benefit Rate) | ~$2,982 / month |
| Asset limit — State-Funded CHCPE (single applicant) | ~$48,798 |
| Asset limit — State-Funded CHCPE (couple) | ~$65,064 |
| Asset limit — Medicaid-Funded CHCPE (single applicant) | ~$1,600 |
Note the two tracks: the Medicaid-funded path has much lower asset limits, while the state-funded path allows significantly more in assets. Some families who assume they "have too much" to qualify are surprised to find they fit the state-funded track.
AFL vs. Hourly Home Care — Which Fits Your Family?
AFL is powerful, but it is built for one specific situation: a full-time, live-in arrangement where a family member can be present around the clock. It is not the right fit for every family.
- Choose AFL when a relative is able and willing to live with the older adult and be their primary daily caregiver, and the older adult meets the CHCPE criteria.
- Choose hourly or scheduled companion care when the family needs professional help for part of the day or week — for a working caregiver, respite, overnight coverage, or support that supplements what the family already provides.
Many families use both over time: private-pay companion care while an application is pending, or professional coverage layered on top of a family caregiver to prevent burnout. Our care options comparison breaks down how these paths differ, and our Connecticut cost guide covers private-pay rates.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Confirm the basics. Check that your loved one is a Connecticut resident, needs help with daily activities, and is likely within the financial criteria above.
- Make contact. Reach out to the Connecticut Department of Social Services (CHCPE / Alternative Care Unit), your regional access agency, or an approved AFL provider agency to start the process.
- In-home assessment. A care manager or nurse visits the home to evaluate needs, functional limitations, safety, and whether an AFL arrangement is appropriate.
- Level-of-care determination. DSS assigns the care level based on the assessment. This is what sets the stipend amount.
- Eligibility review and enrollment. The program confirms residency, income, assets, living arrangement, and caregiver approval (background checks, training, home safety review).
- Care begins — and payment starts. Once approved, the provider agency initiates care, ongoing oversight, and weekly stipend payments to the caregiver.
Where Connecticut Caring Companions Fits
Connecticut Caring Companions is a Registered Nurse–owned, non-medical home care agency serving families across Connecticut. Sorting out CHCPE eligibility, the AFL assessment, and how professional care fits alongside a family caregiver is exactly the kind of decision our RN-led team helps families think through every day.
If you are trying to figure out whether your family qualifies for AFL, whether private-pay companion care is a better fit, or how to combine the two, call us. We will walk through your parent's situation with you and give you a clear, honest next step — with no pressure and no obligation.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal, financial, tax, or benefits-eligibility advice. Adult Family Living and CHCPE rules, stipend levels, and financial limits change and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Confirm current details with the Connecticut Department of Social Services or an approved provider before making decisions.