Can a spouse be paid?
Not right nowNot right now — but other family members can often be paid.
The fine print: no — spouses cannot be hired as CDPAP personal assistants
Free toolSee what New York pays →
Get paid as a family caregiver in New York
New York runs real Medicaid programs that pay family members to care for a loved one at home. Here is what they pay, who can be paid, and how to start.
New York at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 3.8 million
- Counties
- 62
- Programs
- 1
- Spouse pay
- No
19% of the state
each with its own page
that can pay a relative
see the full rule below
- 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
What New York pays family caregivers
$18.65–$20.65/hr
Source: New York Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Waitlist in New York
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in.
no waitlist — CFCO/CDPAP is an entitlement; new 'Minimum Needs' eligibility requirements for most new adult applicants since Sept 2025
The two big questions
Can a parent be paid for a child?
Not right nowNot for young children right now — but parents of adult children can often be paid.
The fine print: no — parents cannot be paid caregivers for their own children under 21 (they can be paid for adult children 21+)
New York's programs
Run by: New York State Department of Health
CDPAP
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →How to apply in New York
Check your match — 2 minutes, free.
Our quick check tells you which programs fit your family before you talk to anyone.
Start the state application.
Apply through the county Department of Social Services (or Medicaid Helpline); enrolled members go through their care manager/MLTC plan, then consumer and caregiver register with PPL.
We help at every step.
Forms, phone calls, the enrollment visit — we walk you through it all, free.
New York questions, answered honestly
Is this legit?
Yes. These are real Medicaid programs run by the state. In New York, they are overseen by the New York State Department of Health. We help you enroll — applying costs you nothing.
Why would the government pay me?
Care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So states pay family members to give that care at home. It's good for your loved one, and it's the law working the way it should.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in New York?
Not right now — but other family members can often be paid. The fine print: no — spouses cannot be hired as CDPAP personal assistants
Can I get paid to care for my child in New York?
Not for young children right now — but parents of adult children can often be paid. The fine print: no — parents cannot be paid caregivers for their own children under 21 (they can be paid for adult children 21+)
How much do family caregivers get paid in New York?
Family caregivers here typically earn $18.65–$20.65/hr.
Is there a waitlist?
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in. Details: no waitlist — CFCO/CDPAP is an entitlement; new 'Minimum Needs' eligibility requirements for most new adult applicants since Sept 2025
Do I have to work for an agency?
It depends on the program. In New York: self-directed (consumer recruits, hires, trains), but since 4/1/2025 every consumer and PA must register with PPL (Public Partnerships LLC), the single statewide fiscal intermediary that runs payroll
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · pplfirst.com · health.ny.gov · Updated September 2026. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Browse New York by county
The programs are the same across New York. Pick your county to see how they work where you live.
- Kings
- Queens
- New York
- Suffolk
- Nassau
- Bronx
- Westchester
- Erie
- Monroe
- Richmond
- Onondaga
- Orange
- Rockland
- Albany
- Dutchess
- Saratoga
- Oneida
- Niagara
- Broome
- Ulster
- Schenectady
- Rensselaer
- Chautauqua
- Oswego
- Jefferson
- Ontario
- St. Lawrence
- Tompkins
- Putnam
- Steuben
- Wayne
- Chemung
- Sullivan
- Clinton
- Cattaraugus
- Cayuga
- Madison
- Warren
- Livingston
- Otsego
- Columbia
- Washington
- Herkimer
- Genesee
- Fulton
- Montgomery
- Tioga
- Allegany
- Franklin
- Greene
- Cortland
- Chenango
- Delaware
- Orleans
- Wyoming
- Essex
- Seneca
- Schoharie
- Lewis
- Yates
- Schuyler
- Hamilton
Guides
For New York families
Start with the New York caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Across the line
States that border New York
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.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.