How to get paid to care for a family member in New York

New York’s CDPAP program lets a person on Medicaid choose a relative or friend as their paid caregiver. Here is who can be paid, who qualifies, and how to get started in New York City.

Yes, in most cases

An adult child, grandchild, sibling, other relative or friend can be paid through CDPAP to care for someone who has New York Medicaid and qualifies for home care. A spouse cannot be paid. In New York City, PPL pays $20.65 an hour in 2026.

Last checked October 7, 2026, against New York State and PPL sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Who can be the paid caregiver

The person getting care chooses their caregiver. Most adults they trust can be hired, with a few exceptions set by New York rules.

Can be paid	Cannot be paid
Adult children and grandchildren	The person’s husband or wife
Brothers, sisters, in-laws and other adult relatives	The person’s designated representative
Friends and neighbors	A parent of a child under 21
A parent of an adult child (21 or older)	—

The caregiver must be an adult. No license or certificate is needed. PPL does require a health assessment before the first shift and once a year after that, plus Form I-9, which confirms the caregiver can work in the United States.

Who qualifies for care

The person who needs care, not the caregiver, has to qualify. They must:

Have New York Medicaid that covers home care.
Need hands-on help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet or moving around. Since September 1, 2025, adults 21 and older being assessed must need at least limited physical help with more than two of these activities.
Or, with dementia or Alzheimer’s, need supervision with more than one daily activity, with the diagnosis documented by a doctor.
Be able to direct their own care, or have a designated representative, usually a family member or friend, who does it for them.
Have a stable medical condition, meaning one that is not expected to change suddenly.

People approved for CDPAP or personal care before September 1, 2025 keep their earlier status and are reassessed under the older rules. Read the full requirements.

How to get started in New York City

Make sure the person has Medicaid. If not, apply first. In New York City, people 65 and older or with a disability usually apply through HRA; most others apply through NY State of Health.
Request the home care assessment. Call the New York Independent Assessor Program at 1-855-222-8350. If the person is already in a Medicaid health plan, call the plan first. There are two appointments, in person or by video: a needs assessment of about 2 to 3 hours and a clinical visit of up to 1 hour.
Get the hours approved. The Medicaid plan, or HRA for people with regular Medicaid, decides how many hours of care to approve.
Choose CDPAP and pick a facilitator. Tell the plan or HRA you want consumer directed care. A facilitator, or PPL itself, helps you register.
Register with PPL. The person getting care and the caregiver both register. The caregiver completes tax forms, Form I-9 and the health assessment, and PPL gives you a start date.
Start working and get paid weekly. The caregiver records their hours, and PPL pays every Thursday for the week before.

There is no set timeline. It depends on how quickly the assessment is scheduled, the plan’s decision and how fast the paperwork is finished. Compare every PPL facilitator serving New York City.

How much family caregivers are paid

Family caregivers are paid the same as any other CDPAP caregiver: $20.65 an hour in New York City in 2026, paid weekly by PPL, with overtime when it is authorized and paid sick leave. See the full pay guide.

Common reasons it doesn’t work out

The caregiver would be the person’s spouse.
The person does not have Medicaid, or their coverage does not include home care.
The assessment finds they need less help than the minimum.
The person cannot direct their own care, and no one is available to be their designated representative.
The caregiver would also be the designated representative. One person cannot be both.

If one of these applies, there may still be options, such as another family member as the caregiver or a home care agency. Ask us and we will explain.

cdpap.nyc is an independent guide. We are not New York State, Medicaid or PPL, and we cannot approve anyone for CDPAP. Only the assessment and the Medicaid plan or HRA decide eligibility and hours.

Common questions

Can I get paid to take care of my mom or dad?

Yes, in many cases. An adult child can be the paid caregiver for a parent who has Medicaid and qualifies for home care through CDPAP. You cannot also be their designated representative, so if your parent needs one, another person fills that role.

Can I get paid to take care of my mother-in-law?

Yes. In-laws, like other adult relatives and friends, can be paid caregivers. Only the person’s own spouse cannot.

Can a husband or wife be paid to care for their spouse?

No. New York rules do not allow a spouse to be the paid CDPAP caregiver. Another relative or a friend can be.

Can I get paid to care for a parent with dementia?

Often, yes. For someone with a doctor’s diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s, the minimum need is supervision with more than one daily activity. If your parent cannot direct their own care, a designated representative directs it for them. Read the dementia guide.

Do I need training or a license?

No. CDPAP caregivers do not need a certificate or license. The person getting care, or their representative, trains and directs the caregiver.

Sources

All sources checked October 7, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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See the pay guide