Medicaid for home care in New York City
New York Medicaid can pay for help at home, and through CDPAP it can pay a family member to give that care. Here is how it works, the two main ways to get care, and what you need to qualify.
Yes, Medicaid can pay family
In New York, Medicaid pays family caregivers through CDPAP, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. The person getting care chooses the caregiver, who can be an adult child, another relative or a friend, but not a spouse.
Last checked October 7, 2026, against New York State and federal sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Two ways Medicaid pays for care at home
| Compared | Agency home care | CDPAP |
|---|---|---|
| Who gives the care | Aides sent by a home care agency | A caregiver the person chooses, including family |
| Training | Aides are certified through the agency | The person or their representative trains the caregiver |
| Who directs the care | The agency | The person getting care or their designated representative |
| Who pays the caregiver | The agency | PPL, the statewide payroll company |
| Health-related tasks | Some tasks may need a nurse | The caregiver can do some tasks that would otherwise need a nurse, when the care plan includes them |
Both use the same assessment and the same minimum need. The person getting care decides which one fits. See the requirements.
Who manages the Medicaid: a plan or HRA
- Managed long term care (MLTC) plan: adults 21 and older with both Medicare and Medicaid who need home care for more than 120 days generally must join one. MLTC plans cover consumer directed care.
- Medicaid health plan: the plan arranges and approves home care.
- Regular Medicaid with no plan: in New York City, HRA approves home care.
Do you qualify for Medicaid?
For people 65 and older, or certified blind or disabled, New York’s 2026 Medicaid limits are:
| Household | Monthly income | Savings and other resources |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,800 | $32,396 |
| 2 people | $2,433 | $43,781 |
Some things, such as your home and one car, may not count toward the limit, and people over the income limit may still qualify through a spend-down or a pooled income trust. Most adults under 65 without a disability apply through NY State of Health, which uses its own rules.
Medicare does not pay for long-term help at home. It covers short-term home health care after an illness or injury, not ongoing help with daily activities. In New York, Medicaid is what pays for long-term care at home.
Does Medicaid pay a family caregiver?
Yes, through CDPAP. An adult child, grandchild, sibling, other relative or friend can be the paid caregiver. A spouse cannot, and a parent cannot be paid to care for a child under 21. Caregivers earn $20.65 an hour in New York City in 2026, paid weekly by PPL. How family caregivers get paid.
First steps
- Apply for Medicaid if the person does not have it: through ACCESS HRA for people 65 and older or with a disability, or NY State of Health for most others.
- Request the home care assessment from the New York Independent Assessor Program at 1-855-222-8350, or from the Medicaid plan.
- The plan or HRA approves the hours.
- Ask for CDPAP, choose a facilitator and register with PPL.
See the full step-by-step guide.
cdpap.nyc is an independent guide. We are not New York State, Medicaid, HRA or PPL, and we cannot approve anyone for Medicaid or home care.
Common questions
Will Medicaid pay me to take care of my mom?
If your mom has Medicaid and qualifies for home care, she can choose you as her paid CDPAP caregiver, as long as you are not also her designated representative.
Does Medicaid pay for 24-hour home care in New York City?
It can, when the assessment shows the person needs it. Hours are decided case by case by the Medicaid plan or HRA. People approved for many hours usually need more than one caregiver.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Not long term. Medicare covers short-term home health care after an illness or injury. Medicaid is what pays for ongoing care at home in New York.
Can I have Medicaid and Medicare at the same time?
Yes. People with both who need home care for more than 120 days generally join a managed long term care plan, which covers CDPAP.
Sources
- NYS Department of Health: guide to managed long term care (PDF)
- NYS Department of Health: 2026 Medicaid income and resource levels (PDF)
- ACCESS NYC: Medicaid, who applies where
- NYS Department of Health: Minimum Needs Requirement
- PPL: New York CDPAP frequently asked questions
- Medicare.gov: home health services
All sources checked October 7, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.
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