Getting paid to care for a family member in British Columbia
British Columbia's Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) gives the person receiving care a budget and makes them the employer of their own home support workers. It is worth being clear up front: CSIL is not clearly documented as a way to pay an immediate family member. Government materials frame it around recruiting, hiring, and managing staff — not around compensating relatives. If paying a family member is your goal, ask your health authority directly before you plan around it.
Who qualifies
- • Adults assessed as having high physical care needs.
- • Medically stable.
- • Requiring home support as part of an assessed care plan.
- • Able to manage CSIL themselves — or through a representative or a client support group acting on their behalf.
How the funding works
Funding is individually assessed. Your monthly amount is calculated as the CSIL hourly rate multiplied by your assessed hours of care, so two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different budgets. The minimum hourly rate was $38.19 per hour effective April 1, 2024. You then use those funds to recruit, hire, schedule, and pay your workers, and to meet the employer obligations that come with that.
How to apply
Contact your health authority's home and community care office, or ask a health professional for a referral. An assessment of your care needs comes first; CSIL is offered as a delivery option once eligibility is established.
The CSIL hourly rate is updated annually every April 1. The $38.19 minimum reflects the April 1, 2024 rate — confirm the current rate with your health authority or on gov.bc.ca before budgeting.
Official source
gov.bc.ca — Choice in Supports for Independent Living
Caring in a different province? See the Canada hub.
This is general information to help you get started — not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, your provincial health authority or a qualified professional can confirm the current rules and exactly what applies to you.