At Home Caregiver Benefit
The At Home Caregiver Benefit recognizes the important role of primary caregivers and provides financial support to people living at home with ongoing care needs and who are at high likelihood of admission to a long-term care home.
A primary caregiver may be a family member, friend, or neighbour who is providing significant, ongoing, unpaid help to another person. The primary caregiver does not have to live with the person receiving care to be eligible for this benefit. The help provided would include activities of daily living such as personal care ( washing, toileting, dressing ) but could also include helping with housework, managing finances, shopping, transportation, preparing meals, or other assistance.
If both the person receiving care and the primary caregiver are eligible for the program, the person receiving care will receive between $250 to $1,500 per month, depending on their household income.
| Net household income | Monthly benefit payment |
| <$50,000 | $1,500 |
| $50,000-$100,000 | $1,000 |
| >$100,000 | $250 |
Who is eligible?
The person receiving care must:
- Be assessed by Home Care as having high ongoing care and support needs and who are at high likelihood of admission to a long term care home. This is determined by a validated assessment that is used in other provinces;
- Be a resident of Prince Edward Island with a valid health card or have applied for a PEI Health Card;
- Be 65 years of age or older; (Individuals under 65 years of age, who meet clinical eligibility as determined by a Home Care assessment may also be eligible and will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.)
- Have an up-to-date Canada Revenue Agency tax assessment;
- Be eligible and agree to receive Home Care services;
- Not be a current resident of community care, long-term care, or any other residential facility; and
- Agree to the terms and conditions of the At Home Caregiver Benefit.
The primary caregiver must:
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Be the predominant provider or coordinator of the ongoing care of the care recipient;
- Not paid to provide care to the care recipient;
- Be a resident of Prince Edward Island with a valid health card or have applied for a health card; and
- Be a permanent resident of Canada.
What is the process to apply for the benefit?
1. Call the Department of Health and Wellness at 1-800-371-8245 for more information and to be connected to your local Home Care office.
2. Home Care will check your file to see if you have had an assessment completed within the past year. If you have not been assessed within the past year and it’s appropriate, an assessment will be scheduled.
- If the assessment confirms that you are eligible and you agree to receive Home Care services, with your consent Home Care will submit your information to the Department of Social Development and Seniors on your behalf. You will then need to follow up with the department about your application.
To determine the clinical eligibility of a care recipient, Home Care uses the InterRAI Home Care (InterRAI HC) assessment. This assessment looks at many different areas of a person’s life and health to determine the amount of support that an individual needs.
Eligible Assessment Scores:
To be considered eligible for the At Home Caregiver Benefit, a care recipient must receive scores within the ranges listed, for the following three scales.
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) = 1-6
- This scale measures the level of help a person needs with daily activities like eating, dressing, bathing, and getting around.
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) = 5-6
- This scale measures a person’s ability to perform more complex tasks that are needed for independent living, such as housework, meal preparation, shopping, managing finances, and managing medications.
- Method for Assigning Priority Levels (MAPLe) = 3-5
- This scale measures different aspects of a person’s health and situation to help healthcare workers prioritize where resources need to go, and to whom resources should be provided. The MAPLe scale is a strong predictor of admission to long-term care and caregiver distress.
3. Financial Check and Enrollment:
- Call the Department of Social Development and Seniors to speak with a representative to set up an intake appointment with a Supports Coordinator to complete your application.
- At your intake appointment the Supports Coordinator will:
- Explain the program
- Enroll you in the program.
- Determine your monthly benefit based on your household income. (Remember to have your latest Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment on hand. This will be used to calculate your monthly benefit amount.)
This meeting finalizes your application and completes any necessary paperwork for program enrollment.
Once enrolled, the Department of Social Development and Seniors will issue your monthly payment electronically or by cheque (after the first month).
Who can I contact for more information?
For general information, call the Department of Health and Wellness: 902-367-3893
Toll Free: 1-800-371-8245
Email: caregiverbenefit@gov.pe.ca
For additional programs you may be eligible for, please reach out to a Seniors Navigator:
Seniors Navigator EAST
Jenna Arbing
seniors@gov.pe.ca
1-866-770-0588
Seniors Navigator WEST
Mary Jo Bernard
seniors@gov.pe.ca
1-866-770-0588