What Is Structured Family Caregiving?How Georgia's SFC Program Works

Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) is a Georgia Medicaid service that pays a family member to care for a loved one at home. The caregiver must be a relative who lives in the same home. The person receiving care must be enrolled in Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. An approved provider agency supports the caregiver with a health coach, nurse oversight, and training.

If you already care for a parent or grandparent full time, SFC may let you be paid for that work. This guide explains who qualifies, what you receive, and how to apply. New to Georgia's waiver programs? Start with our guide to what EDWP is.

SFC at a glance

• Full name: Structured Family Caregiving
• Program: a service inside Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program, through CCSP or SOURCE
• Who gives care: a relative who lives with the Medicaid member
• Who receives care: an older adult or adult with a physical disability who needs at least five hours of personal support a day
• Who supports the caregiver: a Georgia DCH-approved SFC provider agency
• How the caregiver is paid: by direct deposit every two weeks; the amount is set by the loved one's assessed level of care

Who qualifies for Structured Family Caregiving in Georgia?

SFC has two sets of rules. One applies to the caregiver. The other applies to the loved one receiving care. Both must be met.

The caregiver must:

• Be family. Be related by blood or marriage, such as a daughter, son, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or in-law.
• Live in the same home. The caregiver and loved one must share one home, either the caregiver's or the loved one's.
• Make caregiving their main job. Georgia requires that the caregiver not work outside the home because of caregiving duties.
• Be an adult who can give hands-on care. Providers also require a background check before care starts.

The loved one must:

• Be enrolled in EDWP. SFC is offered through CCSP and SOURCE, the two paths inside Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program.
• Have Georgia Medicaid. Medicare alone does not qualify.
• Need substantial daily help. DCH set SFC for members assessed as needing at least five hours of personal support each day.

Who cannot be the paid SFC caregiver?

• A spouse caring for a spouse
• A legal guardian or conservator
• A parent caring for their own minor child
• Anyone who keeps a job outside the home

How is SFC different from regular home care?

Both options are EDWP services. The difference is who gives the care and who supports them.

SFC takes the place of an equivalent amount of agency personal support. Your loved one's care coordinator sets up the right mix in the care plan.

What does an SFC caregiver receive?

SFC is more than a payment. The provider agency surrounds the caregiver with support, so no one does this alone.

• Caregiver payment

  Paid by direct deposit every two weeks; the amount is set by your loved one's assessed level of care

• A health coach

  Regular check-ins and help with the hard parts of daily caregiving

• Nurse oversight

  A registered nurse available to answer care questions

• Annual training

  At least eight hours of training each year, tailored to your loved one's needs

• Daily notes tool

  A simple way to log care each day, shared with your health coach

• Home visits

  In-home check-ins with your provider team to review the care plan

What does an SFC caregiver do each day?

The caregiver provides the hands-on help in the care plan. For most families, that means the work they already do.

• Bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting
• Preparing meals and helping with eating
• Helping with walking, transfers, and moving safely
• Medication reminders and supervision, including for memory loss
• Recording daily notes about care and any changes in health

Daily notes matter. They show the care you give, and they help your health coach spot changes early. If your loved one goes into a hospital or nursing facility, tell your health coach right away.

How do you apply? The A1 SFC Path

The A1 SFC Path is our six-step map from first call to paid caregiving. Where your family starts depends on whether your loved one is already enrolled in EDWP.

1. 1

   Check the fit

   Review the caregiver and loved-one rules above. Most families know within minutes.

2. 2

   Confirm EDWP enrollment

   If your loved one is not in CCSP or SOURCE yet, call the Area Agency on Aging at 866-552-4464 to start the screening.

3. 3

   Choose an SFC provider

   Pick a Georgia DCH-approved SFC provider agency. The provider helps coordinate with your loved one's case manager.

4. 4

   Complete the assessment

   A care professional reviews how much daily help your loved one needs. This sets the care plan and the level of care.

5. 5

   Caregiver onboarding

   The caregiver completes a background check, starts training, and learns the daily notes tool.

6. 6

   Care and payments begin

   Your health coach checks in regularly. Payments arrive by direct deposit every two weeks.

What to gather before you call

• Your loved one's Georgia Medicaid card or number
• Photo ID for the caregiver and the loved one
• Proof you share an address, such as a bill or ID
• A list of current diagnoses and medications
• Income and benefits information for your loved one

Missing something? Call anyway. Chasing documents is part of what a provider does.

How are SFC caregivers paid in Georgia?

Caregivers are paid by direct deposit every two weeks. The amount is set by the loved one's assessed level of care, not by the caregiver or the provider. Medicaid pays the approved provider, and the provider pays the caregiver.

Be cautious of any site that promises a fixed amount before an assessment. No one can know your family's level of care until it is assessed. For questions about taxes or benefits, talk with a tax professional or benefits counselor.

What changed with SFC in 2026?

SFC is an EDWP service, so it runs through the same state authorization system as other EDWP care. In 2026, Georgia moved EDWP case management to a new system called Georgia Horizons. On July 27, 2026, DCH reported that a significant number of EDWP prior authorizations were entered incorrectly into the Medicaid billing system. DCH said most have since been processed.

How A1-GA Healthcare Agency helps

A1-GA Healthcare Agency is a Georgia DCH-approved provider in Norcross. We have provided in-home care since 2008 and staffed caregivers since 2004. We help families check SFC eligibility, coordinate enrollment, and support caregivers after approval.

If SFC is not the right fit, we will tell you early and explain what might work instead.

• Phone: 678-446-1832
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm
• Email: [email protected]
• Office: 4505 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite K, Norcross, GA 30092