Guides
Getting paid by Medicaid to care for a parent
Some Medicaid programs let an eligible member hire a family member as a paid caregiver. Here is the plain language version, plus the official pages that decide it.
This is not medical or financial advice. Confirm coverage with your plan or your state Medicaid office.
The basic idea
In self directed or participant directed Medicaid programs, the person receiving care controls part of their approved service hours. Within program rules, they can choose who provides personal care, and in many cases that person can be an adult child, a relative, or a trusted friend. The caregiver is paid through the program, not by the family privately.
Eligibility, approved hours, pay rates, and which relatives may be hired are decided by the state or the managed care organization, not by this site. Some programs exclude a spouse or a legal guardian. Every detail must be confirmed with the official program.
New Jersey, Personal Preference Program
New Jersey calls its self directed option the Personal Preference Program, often shortened to PPP. Eligible NJ FamilyCare Medicaid members who qualify for personal care services can use a monthly budget to hire and manage their own workers.
Official New Jersey Personal Preference Program page
Start with your NJ FamilyCare managed care plan care manager, since the plan handles assessment and approval.
New York, CDPAP
New York runs the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, commonly called CDPAP. An eligible Medicaid member who needs help with daily activities may recruit, hire, and direct their own personal assistant, including certain family members. New York has changed program administration over time, so use the official state pages rather than any agency advertisement.
New York State Department of Health CDPAP information
The Department of Health Office of Long Term Care pages carry the current rules and contacts. We do not refer you to a private agency and we receive nothing for these links.
Practical first steps
- Confirm the older adult is enrolled in Medicaid in their own state.
- Ask for a functional assessment for personal care or home based services.
- Ask specifically about the self directed option and whether a family member may be hired.
- Ask what the caregiver must complete, such as background checks, employment paperwork, or training.
- Keep written notes of names, dates, and what each office told you.
A free checklist version of these steps is planned. There is no email form on this page yet, and nothing here signs you up for anything.