Before a helper starts, the paper should say whether that person is an employee of an agency, an employee of the family, or an independent contractor. The word on the page affects who withholds payroll taxes, who carries workers' compensation coverage if the helper is hurt in the home, and who answers for a wage dispute. The rules differ by location and by the kind of work, so treat what follows as a list of questions for a qualified local adviser rather than as legal guidance.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
What to check on the page
Look for a plain statement of status. An agency agreement usually says the aide is the agency's employee and that the agency handles payroll, insurance, and scheduling. An independent arrangement usually says the helper sets their own hours, supplies their own tools, and sends invoices. If the page says one thing and the way the work actually runs says another, write the mismatch down before you sign.
Questions to put in writing
Ask the agency or the helper who issues the paycheck or invoice, who withholds and files taxes, which workers' compensation or liability coverage is in force and in whose name, who covers the shift when the aide is out, and who pays if the family cancels a shift. Ask for a copy of the certificate of insurance, not a verbal summary. Ask how the helper is paid for time spent on errands and how mileage is handled, since those lines are where disputes usually start.
Where the family's exposure sits
When a family hires directly, the family can end up as the employer in practice even if the agreement calls the helper a contractor. Keep a single folder with the signed agreement, the time records, the pay receipts or invoices, and the insurance paper. Dates on those records should match the shifts that actually happened. A folder kept this way is far easier to hand to a reviewer, an accountant, or an attorney than a stack of texts.
What this desk cannot tell you
This desk does not set employment or tax rules for private aides. Confirm the local rules with your state labor office, an accountant, or a qualified adviser before you sign.
[1] Employment and tax rules for private aides are not set by VA.gov, so this point is not sourced to VA.gov. Verify it with your state labor office or a qualified adviser. See Sources and How We Write This Briefing.