The New Jersey caregiver program
New Jersey pays family members to care for a relative at home through Personal Preference Program (PPP). Here is what it is called, who can be paid, what it pays, and how to get in.
New Jersey at a glance
- Programs
- 1
- Reported pay
- Varies
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- None
can pay a relative
set in the care plan
Who are you caring for in New Jersey?
Who do you care for?
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
New Jersey programs that pay family caregivers
This is Medicaid money — a real, ongoing benefit, not a grant or a one-off stipend. In New Jersey it runs through:
How it works: self-directed (participant is employer) but a fiscal intermediary is mandatory: Palco (Horizon NJ Health) or Public Partnerships LLC/PPL (Aetna, Fidelis, UnitedHealthcare, Wellpoint); FI transition in progress 2025-26. The programs are administered by NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services (PPP office 609-631-2481).
Is there CDPAP or IHSS in New Jersey?
New Jersey has no CDPAP. Its equivalent is the Personal Preference Program, which gives the member a monthly cash budget to hire the caregiver of their choice.
Whatever the name, the model is the same one people mean by consumer-directed care: the person who needs help chooses their caregiver, and that caregiver can be family. See how CDPAP and IHSS work if a relative in New York or California described theirs to you.
What New Jersey pays family caregivers
Rates vary — check with the program.
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: New Jersey Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Who can be paid in New Jersey
- Adult child, grandchild, sibling, friend Yes
- Broadly allowed wherever the program lets the member choose their caregiver.
- Spouse Yes
- yes — spouse, adult child, sibling, relative, friend, or neighbor can be hired as the paid PCA
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- no — parent of a minor Medicaid recipient is categorically excluded per the federal 1915(j) rule; guardians of incapacitated adults CAN be paid if someone else serves as authorized representative
How much does New Jersey pay a family caregiver?
New Jersey does not publish one flat rate. monthly cash budget based on assessed PCA hours; dollar amounts not published.
Your hours come from your relative's needs assessment, not from how many hours you actually work — which is why preparing for that assessment matters more than anything else. The detail is on the New Jersey caregiver pay page, and the national picture is in family caregiver pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist in New Jersey?
No waitlist reported. no waitlist — entitlement for those approved for PCA services. Apply early either way — the Medicaid financial review and the care assessment take time even where there is no list.
Why New Jersey pays family instead of an agency
1.7 million people in New Jersey — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, across 21 counties. There are not enough agency home care workers for all of them, and care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So the state pays the person already doing the work: you. If you would rather hire help, see what in-home care costs and home care agencies that hire family members.
How to become a paid caregiver for a family member in New Jersey
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions show which New Jersey program fits your family and what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + needs assessment
New Jersey confirms Medicaid eligibility and assesses how much help your relative needs. Those hours become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enroll and name you
Your relative enrolls in Personal Preference Program (PPP) and names you as their caregiver. Background check and payroll forms follow.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
Where to apply: Enroll in NJ FamilyCare Plan A, then call your Managed Care Organization to request a PCA assessment and PPP enrollment; PPP helpline 609-631-2481.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.
New Jersey caregiver program questions
What is the caregiver program in New Jersey called?
In New Jersey, family caregivers are paid through Personal Preference Program (PPP). New Jersey has no CDPAP. Its equivalent is the Personal Preference Program, which gives the member a monthly cash budget to hire the caregiver of their choice.
Does New Jersey have CDPAP or IHSS?
New Jersey has no CDPAP. Its equivalent is the Personal Preference Program, which gives the member a monthly cash budget to hire the caregiver of their choice.
How much does New Jersey pay a family caregiver?
New Jersey does not publish one flat rate. monthly cash budget based on assessed PCA hours; dollar amounts not published.
Can I get paid to take care of my spouse in New Jersey?
yes — spouse, adult child, sibling, relative, friend, or neighbor can be hired as the paid PCA
Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child in New Jersey?
no — parent of a minor Medicaid recipient is categorically excluded per the federal 1915(j) rule; guardians of incapacitated adults CAN be paid if someone else serves as authorized representative
Is there a waitlist for the New Jersey caregiver program?
no waitlist — entitlement for those approved for PCA services
How do I apply to be a paid caregiver in New Jersey?
Enroll in NJ FamilyCare Plan A, then call your Managed Care Organization to request a PCA assessment and PPP enrollment; PPP helpline 609-631-2481.
Who runs the New Jersey Medicaid caregiver program?
NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services (PPP office 609-631-2481).
Sources: nj.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most New Jersey caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in New Jersey — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border New Jersey
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.