Get paid to care for your family member in New York
You're already doing the work. New York has programs that can pay you for it.
Key facts
- Program
- CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program)
- Typical pay
- hourly wages — commonly ~$18–$23/hour downstate, less upstate
- Spouses?
- Spouses cannot be the paid assistant, but adult children, other relatives, and friends can. Parents can be paid for adult children (21+).
- Live-in required?
- Not for this program (rules vary by program).
How it works
New York's CDPAP lets a Medicaid recipient hire almost anyone they choose — including most family members — as their paid personal assistant. Big recent change: as of April 2025, a single statewide fiscal intermediary (Public Partnerships LLC) processes everyone's enrollment and payroll, replacing hundreds of local intermediaries. The transition has been rocky, which makes families who understand the paperwork the ones who get paid on time.
Steps to get started
- Confirm New York Medicaid + an assessed need for personal care.
- Enroll the consumer and the assistant with the statewide fiscal intermediary (PPL).
- Complete the assistant onboarding (I-9, health form).
- Submit time via the required EVV system — clean records mean on-time pay.
We'll find the money your family qualifies for
cares-ai is building a Caregiver Money companion: answer a few questions, see every program you may qualify for (Medicaid, VA, tax credits), and keep the care log these programs require — in one place. Join the waitlist and we'll email you as soon as the New York eligibility checker opens.
Common questions
Can spouses be paid caregivers in New York?
Spouses cannot be the paid assistant, but adult children, other relatives, and friends can. Parents can be paid for adult children (21+).
How much does it pay?
CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) pays hourly wages — commonly ~$18–$23/hour downstate, less upstate. Exact amounts depend on assessed care level and current program rates — treat published figures as estimates until confirmed in writing.
Do I have to live with the person I care for?
Not necessarily for this program, though some related programs do require it. Each program's rules differ.
What documentation is required?
Nearly every caregiver-pay program requires ongoing documentation — daily care notes, timesheets or electronic visit verification, and periodic assessments. Missing or sloppy records are the #1 reason payments get delayed or clawed back. (Keeping this record effortless is exactly what cares-ai is building.)