Market scope note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is labeled 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. in the body to indicate which country it applies to.
When a parent begins to have difficulty getting around, it is only natural to wonder whether you should step in and care for them yourself. However, many people are unaware that it is possible to receive institutional support even while providing that care directly. Both Korea and the United States have dedicated support programs for family caregivers, and as of 2026, the scope of those programs has been gradually expanding.
🇰🇷 Korea The most representative program that allows family members to care directly for a parent is the 'family caregiver certification' (가족요양보호사) system. When a child or spouse personally cares for an older adult who has been assessed at a Long-Term Care Insurance grade (grades 1 through 5), they can receive a certain allowance through long-term care benefits by obtaining a care worker (요양보호사) certification. As of 2026, the all-inclusive hourly rate for visiting care workers — including weekly holiday pay and annual leave pay — is approximately 13,000 won, and the benefit level varies according to the number of daily care hours and the care grade.
🇰🇷 Korea However, the family caregiver certification program has several important conditions. Those who are working 160 hours or more per month at another job are not eligible to receive benefits. Caregivers must also register as an employee with a home-visit care center (재가방문요양센터) and record their care activities through the Smart Long-Term Care app (스마트 장기요양 앱). The family care allowance (special cash benefit / 가족요양비) can be applied for without a certification, but only where there is no available facility — such as in island or remote rural areas — or where the National Health Insurance Service (공단) has officially recognized that using a facility is not feasible; as of 2026, this benefit pays 240,450 won per month. In addition, starting in 2026, the eligibility criterion for the long-service incentive payment (장기근속장려금) has been relaxed from three years to one year, meaning that working at the same institution for just one year now qualifies a caregiver for an additional 50,000 won per month.
🇰🇷 Korea The government increased the 2026 senior welfare budget from approximately 27 trillion won the previous year to approximately 29 trillion 316.1 billion won. The monthly benefit ceiling for long-term care home-based services has also been raised — from 2,310,000 won to 2,510,000 won for grade 1 recipients — reflecting a policy direction aimed at reducing the burden on families who care for older adults at home.
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, the federal program supporting family caregivers is the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), established under the Older Americans Act. The program provides grants to state governments and offers caregivers five types of services: counseling, training, respite care, information provision, and supplemental services. Each state government is required to match 25% of the federal funding and may distribute the funds in ways suited to local conditions.
🇺🇸 U.S. The most practical route for family caregivers to receive a direct care stipend is through Medicaid's Self-Directed services programs. Consumer-directed personal care support programs operated through Medicaid are available in all U.S. states, allowing eligible recipients to choose their own care provider and to designate a family member as that provider. Medicaid also provides respite care services in all states, along with additional support such as caregiver training (37 states) and counseling and support groups (26 states). California's IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) program, which supports hundreds of thousands of recipients, is the largest state-level example.
🇺🇸 U.S. In 2026, Medicare has seen some changes, including reductions in prescription drug costs, but Medicare does not include a program that pays family caregivers a direct care allowance. Medicare's coverage of respite care services is limited to hospice recipients. Therefore, for those in the United States who wish to receive a care allowance, the most important first step is to check Medicaid eligibility. Because eligibility criteria vary by income, assets, and state of residence, it is advisable to contact your state's Medicaid agency directly.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2026 Elderly Health and Welfare Program Guide (『2026년 노인보건복지 사업안내』); Korea Policy Briefing (대한민국 정책브리핑), December 2025; 치위협보, February 2026; 노아도 알짜정책 포털, July 2026; 브라보마이라이프 and ASEM (아셈노인인권정책센터), January 2026; KFF (Medicaid's Home Care Support for Family Caregivers, January 2026); ACL (National Family Caregiver Support Program); National Alliance for Caregiving 2026 Policy Agenda; NCDHHS, March 2026; Paid.Care, June 2026.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.