If you’re already caring for a parent, spouse, or other loved one in your home here in Columbus, you may not realize that Georgia has a program that pays you for the care you’re already providing. It’s called Structured Family Care (SFC), and it’s available right now to qualifying families in Muscogee County and the surrounding region.
Here’s how it works, who qualifies, and how to get started with Freedom Adult Care.
What Is Structured Family Care?
Structured Family Care is a service offered through Georgia Medicaid’s CCSP (Community Care Services Program) and SOURCE waivers. It allows a family member who is already providing daily care — bathing, dressing, meals, mobility, medication reminders — to be paid for that care as an employee of a licensed agency like Freedom Adult Care.
The idea is simple: keep families together at home, with training and support behind them, instead of moving a loved one into a nursing facility or bringing in an outside aide who doesn’t know the family.
Who Qualifies in Columbus and Muscogee County?
Your loved one (the care recipient) generally needs to:
- Live in Georgia and be enrolled in Medicaid (or be Medicaid-eligible)
- Be a participant in the CCSP or SOURCE waiver program
- Need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, feeding, or mobility
- Need a nursing-home level of care — generally about 5+ hours of personal support per day
- Live in the same household as the caregiver
You (the caregiver) generally need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a family member — adult child, sibling, daughter-in-law, grandchild, and similar relationships all qualify
- Live in the same household as your loved one
- Pass a background check (paid for by the program, not you)
- Not be the care recipient’s spouse or legal guardian — Georgia’s SFC program doesn’t allow spouses or legal guardians to be paid caregivers
- Not hold other employment that conflicts with your caregiving hours
If you’re caring for a parent or grandparent in Columbus and you’re not sure whether you qualify, the fastest way to find out is a quick phone call — see below.
How Much Does It Pay, and Is It Taxable?
Pay rates are set by Georgia Medicaid based on your loved one’s assessed level of care, and caregivers are paid on a regular schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on the arrangement).
For most families, this pay is tax-free. Under the IRS “difficulty of care” payment exclusion (IRS Notice 2014-7), payments to family caregivers through Medicaid home and community-based services programs — including SFC — are generally excluded from federal income tax. As always, confirm your specific situation with a tax professional.
How to Apply: 5 Steps
Freedom Adult Care has helped families across the Columbus area navigate this process for over 20 years. Here’s what it looks like:
- Free Eligibility Check — Call or text (706) 786-3041. A quick 10-15 minute conversation tells us whether you and your loved one likely qualify.
- Medicaid Verification & Application — If your loved one isn’t on Medicaid yet, we help with that. If they’re already enrolled, we verify their CCSP/SOURCE waiver status.
- Caregiver Background Check & Enrollment — Paid for by the program, not out of your pocket.
- We Walk You Through Every Step — We provide all required training. No healthcare background needed.
- Start Caregiving & Get Paid — Once enrolled, you begin logging care hours and receiving pay.
Serving Columbus and 19 Surrounding Counties
Freedom Adult Care’s SFC program covers Muscogee County (Columbus) and 19 surrounding counties: Bibb, Chattahoochee, Clay, Dougherty, Harris, Houston, Lee, Macon, Marion, Meriwether, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Troup, and Webster.
Ready to Find Out If You Qualify?
Call or text Freedom Adult Care at (706) 786-3041 for a free, no-obligation eligibility check. Or read our complete Structured Family Care guide and FAQs for more details on pay, taxes, and eligibility.
