---
title: "Workers' compensation for caregivers: Definition | HomeCare.com"
description: "Workers' compensation is insurance that pays medical costs and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt at work or gets a work-related illness. States..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/workers-compensation-for-caregivers/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Caregivers and credentials

# Workers' compensation for caregivers

Workers' compensation is insurance that pays medical costs and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt at work or gets a work-related illness. States run most programs for private employers. Rules on who must carry coverage and who counts as an employee differ by state.

## Why it matters for your family

Caregiving can cause injuries, such as a back strain while helping someone stand. When an agency employs the caregiver, the agency generally carries the workers' compensation coverage. When a family hires someone directly, the family may be a household employer, and state rules decide whether coverage is required. The U.S. Department of Labor points private-sector workers to their state workers' compensation board. A common mistake is to assume a homeowner's policy covers a worker's injury. Ask the insurer before the first shift. An elder law attorney or the state board can explain the rules for a specific state.

Source: [dol.gov](https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workcomp)

[Read more: How to Get Started with Hiring In-Home Care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/hiring-in-home-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Bonded and insured caregiver**A bonded and insured caregiver works for a business that carries a bond and liability insurance.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/bonded-and-insured-caregiver/)
-   [**Household employer and nanny tax**A household employer is a person who pays someone to work in or around their home and controls how the work is done.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/household-employer-and-nanny-tax/)
-   [**W-2 employee versus 1099 contractor**A W-2 employee works under the employer's direction and has taxes withheld by the employer.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/w-2-employee-versus-1099-contractor/)
-   [**Private duty caregiver**A private duty caregiver is a non-medical caregiver paid directly by the family or through an agency to provide one-on-one help at home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/private-duty-caregiver/)
-   [**Home care agency**A home care agency is a company that employs or contracts caregivers and sends them to clients' homes.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care-agency/)
-   [**Elder law attorney**An elder law attorney is a lawyer who focuses on legal issues of older adults.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/elder-law-attorney/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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![A caregiver and an older woman sharing a laugh at home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/companionship.Cj0N08Ks_1FwPmX.webp)