Because Home Help involves real money changing hands through a government program, it occasionally attracts bad actors. Here's what should raise a flag.
Anyone asking for upfront payment
Legitimate application assistance, whether from an agency or an independent resource, should never require you to pay money upfront to "start" or "guarantee" your Home Help application. The program itself is free to apply for directly through MDHHS.
Guaranteed approval or guaranteed hours
No legitimate source can guarantee approval or a specific number of hours before an actual MDHHS assessment happens — that determination is made by MDHHS based on documented need, not by any third party.
Requests for sensitive information outside official channels
Be cautious about providing Social Security numbers, banking details, or Medicaid ID numbers to anyone who isn't clearly operating through official MDHHS or CHAMPS channels, or a licensed agency you've independently verified.
Sites that look official but aren't
Some sites use styling or language designed to look like an official government resource. CarePay Michigan is upfront about being an independent, privately operated resource — not MDHHS — and any legitimate site should be equally clear about that distinction. When in doubt, go directly to michigan.gov/mdhhs.