WATCH: Allentown Direct Care Worker Discusses Pay Increases in Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 Budget Bringing Wages Closer to $15 an Hour | Department of Human Services |[...]

Allentown, PA -Direct care workers (DCWs) are now seeing an increase of $1-$5 per hour from their current hourly wage, bringing them above or closer to a $15 hourly wage because of the investments made in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 Budget. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh recently met with DCWs to hear more about how these investments will have a positive effect on their lives.

The Governor's budget invested $21 million to increase wages, retroactive to January 1, 2026, for DCWs who provide in-home services to adults with physical disabilities and older Pennsylvanians in the participant-directed model through Community HealthChoices. The investment includes increased wages, recognizes time off for sick or personal leave, and increases access to affordable insurance for approximately 8,500 workers who are employed directly by the individual they care for and therefore cannot access employer-sponsored benefits. Governor Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget sustains the new investments in this critical workforce.

"Direct care workers give so much of themselves to ensure that other people can live with dignity in their homes or in a setting of their choosing. These professionals are vital to the lives of those they care for, especially those individuals who may not have other support systems to rely on," said Secretary Arkoosh. "The Shapiro Administration is committed to supporting the direct care workforce, and the investments in the 2025-26 budget reflect that. With this funding, direct care workers are better able to take care of themselves while also caring for others."

DCWs are a lifeline for individuals who require assistance to live independently and families that may not be able to provide their loved ones with 24/7 care. Through Medicaid, older Pennsylvanians and adults with physical disabilities are able to get assistance to live with more independence in their own home rather than a group or facility setting, and through the "participant-directed model," and Medicaid recipients who need long-term care can choose to hire and manage their own DCWs directly to help with the services, supports, and daily assistance they need to live safely in their homes.

Lynn Weidner is a DCW from Allentown who recently met with Secretary Arkoosh to talk about how increased wages would make a difference in her life.

"I love taking care of people in general. The money that we're getting in the budget is going to keep me afloat," said Weidner. "It's going to allow me to be able to continue to pay for my health insurance. This probably won't offset all of it. I'm still going to have to make cuts, but it will make a dent, and it will alleviate some of the stress I've had in the last couple of months."

Learn more about Governor Shapiro's 2025-26 budget investments and his continued commitment to strengthening Pennsylvania through the proposed 2026-27 budget.