Paid Family Caregiver Programs in New York

Last updated: 31 March 2026

Bottom Line: New York does not have one simple state program that automatically pays any family member to care for a senior. For most older adults, the real path is New York Medicaid’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), which can pay an adult child or other relative if the senior qualifies for Medicaid home care, but a spouse cannot be paid. If CDPAP is not available or not a fit, the next best New York options are traditional Medicaid home care, local EISEP services, caregiver respite, and job-based New York Paid Family Leave for working relatives.

Emergency help now

1. If the senior is unsafe alone today, call 911, go to the emergency room, or ask the hospital discharge planner for emergency home care help before discharge.
2. If the senior has Medicaid and needs home care right away, use New York’s official Immediate Need process for PCS/CDPAS and submit the DOH-5786 attestation form with the required medical paperwork to your local DSS or, in New York City, HRA.
3. If CDPAP is approved but payroll or onboarding is blocking care, call PPL at 1-833-247-5346 the same day, then call your managed care plan or local DSS/HRA.

Quick help box
Already on Medicaid and want a family member paid	Start with the New York Independent Assessor (NYIA) helpline at 1-855-222-8350.
Not sure where to start	Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 for free statewide options counseling.
Need local aging services	Use the New York local offices for the aging directory. Every county has one. New York City has one office for all five boroughs.
Already in CDPAP and need registration or pay help	Call PPL’s CDPAP support team.
You still work and need time off to care for a parent	Ask about New York Paid Family Leave for family care. It is separate from CDPAP.

What this help actually looks like in New York

If you search for a “paid family caregiver program” in New York, many pages make this sound simpler than it is. In real life, New York does not have one broad state cash benefit that simply pays a son, daughter, or spouse to help an older adult at home.

The main true family-pay path is CDPAP. It is a Medicaid home care program. It lets the person getting care choose, train, and supervise a personal assistant. That assistant can often be an adult child, sibling, other adult relative, or friend. Since April 1, 2025, New York has used one statewide fiscal intermediary: Public Partnerships LLC, or PPL.

New York also has regular Medicaid home care through agencies, plus some non-Medicaid supports through the state aging network. Those can be very helpful, but they are not the same as “getting a family caregiver paid.” Also, New York Paid Family Leave is a worker leave benefit. It can replace part of wages for a working adult child who takes time off to care for a parent, but it does not turn that adult child into a long-term paid home care aide.

Question	Short answer in New York
Can a senior have a family member paid?	Yes, usually through CDPAP if the senior qualifies for Medicaid home care.
Can a spouse be paid?	No. New York’s CDPAP rules do not allow a spouse to be the paid personal assistant.
Can an adult child be paid?	Often yes, under CDPAP, if all other rules are met.
Is Medicaid required?	Yes for CDPAP. No for some backup options like EISEP or Paid Family Leave.
What major recent changes matter?	New York moved CDPAP payroll and administration to one statewide fiscal intermediary, PPL, and adults newly seeking PCS/CDPAS after September 1, 2025 must meet stricter minimum-needs rules unless they have legacy status.

Who qualifies

For the main family-pay route in New York, the older adult must usually meet the basic CDPAP eligibility rules. That means the senior must be eligible for New York Medicaid, have a stable medical condition, need home care based on a state-approved assessment, and be able to self-direct care or have a designated representative who can do it.

For adults age 21 and older who are newly seeking personal care services or CDPAS on or after September 1, 2025, New York uses new minimum-needs rules. In general, the person must need at least limited help with physical maneuvering in more than two activities of daily living, or have Alzheimer’s or another dementia diagnosis and need at least supervision with more than one ADL. New York’s state guidance also says dementia applicants should bring the DOH-5821 diagnosis form.

If the senior was already authorized for PCS or CDPAS before September 1, 2025, New York says that person may have service legacy status. If the senior was already in MLTC before that date and stays continuously enrolled, the person may have plan legacy status under MLTC Policy 25.04. That matters because legacy status can protect current users from the newer minimum-needs test.

Best New York programs, protections, portals, and options

1) CDPAP: the main way New York pays many family caregivers

What it is. CDPAP is New York’s consumer-directed Medicaid home care program. It lets the person getting care choose a personal assistant instead of taking an agency-assigned aide. The program can cover help with bathing, dressing, toileting, meal prep, housekeeping, and some tasks that normally fall under home health aide or nursing services.

Who can use it. The senior must qualify for Medicaid home care and meet New York’s assessment rules. The older adult must also be able to self-direct, or have a designated representative who can recruit, train, schedule, and supervise the worker.

Relationship	Can this person usually be paid in New York CDPAP?	What to know
Spouse	No	New York’s CDPAP rules bar spouses from serving as the paid personal assistant.
Adult child	Usually yes	The adult child must still meet program rules and cannot also be the designated representative.
Adult child living in the same home	Usually yes	New York’s state clarification on CDPAP family members says living together is not an automatic disqualifier.
Parent of a consumer age 21 or older	Usually yes	New York only bars the parent of a consumer who is under age 21.
Parent of a consumer under 21	No	That ban is listed on New York’s official CDPAP page.
Designated representative	No	The same person cannot direct the care and be the paid worker.

How it helps. This is the option most people mean when they ask if a daughter or son can get paid in New York. It gives families more control over who comes into the home. It also works well for seniors who already rely on a trusted relative.

How to apply or use it. If the senior is not already approved for home care, start with the NYIA helpline. If the senior is already in managed care or MLTC, also call the plan. After services are approved, CDPAP consumers must work with PPL, because New York says PPL is the only authorized statewide fiscal intermediary as of April 1, 2025. PPL also has approved CDPAP facilitators, including independent living centers, that can help with forms and onboarding.

What to gather or know first. The state’s consumer letter about registering with PPL says families should be ready with the consumer’s address, contact information, date of birth, Medicaid number, and caregiver information. It also helps to have medication lists, doctor names, hospital discharge papers, and a clear list of daily tasks the senior needs help with.

How much do family caregivers get paid? Do not confuse New York’s posted CDPAS service rates with the worker’s hourly wage. The state publishes one set of 2026 CDPAS program rates, while PPL publishes minimum base wages for personal assistants effective January 1, 2026. PPL also says PA pay is tied to the consumer’s service authorization and location.

Region	Official 2026 CDPAS program rates	PPL 2026 minimum base PA wage
Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond	Basic $27.34; Enhanced $29.34; Live-in $354.63	$20.65 per hour
Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester	Basic $26.46; Enhanced $26.97; Live-in $338.10	$20.05 per hour
All other counties	Basic $24.73; Enhanced $27.07; Live-in $320.94	$18.65 per hour

PPL’s March 2026 FAQ also says personal assistants are paid weekly on Thursdays and receive W-2s.

2) Traditional Medicaid home care, MLTC, MAP, and PACE

What it is. New York’s managed long-term care system includes MLTC Partial Capitation, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and PACE. These plans arrange home care and other long-term supports. New York also still has regular personal care and home aide services outside CDPAP.

Who can get it. This is for Medicaid members who need ongoing home care. New York says many dual-eligible adults age 21 and older who need community-based long-term services for more than 120 days must enroll in MLTC, unless excluded. PACE is for adults age 55 and older and is not subject to the newer minimum-needs rule for plan enrollment under MLTC Policy 25.04.

How it helps. This can still keep a senior at home even if the family cannot use CDPAP. But it is not the same as a statewide right to hire a child or spouse. New York’s CDPAP versus PCS fact sheet explains that personal care aides are selected, employed, managed, and trained by a home care agency, while CDPAP personal assistants are chosen and managed by the consumer.

How to apply or use it. Start with NYIA, your plan, or your local DSS/HRA. If the case is urgent, New York’s official Medicaid application instructions explain the immediate-need process for PCS and CDPAS.

3) EISEP: a real backup for seniors age 60+ who are not getting the same help from Medicaid

What it is. The Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) is a New York aging-network program for adults age 60 and older who need help at home and are not eligible for the same services under Medicaid.

Who can get it. New York says the person must be age 60 or older, need help with at least one ADL or two IADLs, be able to remain safely at home, and not be eligible for the same services under Medicaid.

How it helps. EISEP can provide case management, in-home help, respite, and other support. It is not as large as Medicaid home care, but it can be a strong backup. New York also says several local offices for the aging offer consumer-directed in-home services, and NYSOFA’s consumer-directed EISEP guidance says participants may hire individuals, including family members, as workers. That is local, not statewide guaranteed.

How to apply or use it. Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 or your local office for the aging.

4) NYSOFA caregiver support and respite

What it is. New York’s aging network runs the National Family Caregiver Support Program and other respite services. These programs usually do not pay the family caregiver a wage, but they can be the difference between staying at home and burning out.

Who can use it. New York says eligible caregivers include adults age 18 and older caring for someone age 60 or older, or caring for a person of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. For respite and some supplemental services, the care recipient must be functionally impaired.

How it helps. Families can get information, counseling, support groups, training, respite, and limited supplemental help while waiting for Medicaid or using a smaller care plan.

How to apply or use it. Start with NY Connects or the local office for the aging.

5) Two separate backup paths: Paid Family Leave for workers and VA options for veterans

New York Paid Family Leave. This is not CDPAP. It is a job-protected paid leave benefit for employees caring for a close family member with a serious health condition. It is temporary. It helps a working adult child step away from a job for a period of time, but it does not create an ongoing paid home care position.

Veteran options. If the senior is a veteran, ask the VA about Veteran-Directed Care, which can allow a veteran to manage a budget for home care, and ask whether Aid and Attendance may help with home care costs. These are not New York State programs, but they matter for New York families.

How to apply without wasting time

1. Pick the right lane first. If the goal is to pay a family member, look at CDPAP first. If the senior is not on Medicaid, also contact NY Connects right away so you have a backup plan.
2. Start the assessment. For most older adults already on Medicaid, the best first call is the NYIA helpline at 1-855-222-8350. New York’s NYIA guidance for standard initial assessments says the CHA and clinical appointment should be completed within 14 days of contact.
3. Use the urgent track if needed. New York’s official immediate-need instructions say DSS/HRA must request missing information within 4 days, decide Medicaid within 7 days after receiving all necessary information, and decide PCS/CDPAS within 12 days after receiving all necessary information. For managed-care expedited requests, New York’s expedited NYIA guidance says the NYIA assessment and clinical appointment should be scheduled within 6 calendar days after the plan makes the request.
4. Get the worker ready early. If you already know who the caregiver will be, review PPL’s registration steps early. This reduces delays after approval.
5. Keep copies and dates. Save every notice, form, and fax confirmation. Write down the date you called NYIA, DSS/HRA, the health plan, and PPL.

Checklist of documents or proof

• Medicaid card or CIN, if the senior already has Medicaid
• Basic Medicaid application proofs if coverage is still pending, such as identity, address, income, and resource documents requested by DSS/HRA
• Medicare and other insurance cards
• Doctor names, diagnoses, medication list, and recent discharge papers
• A written list of help needed with bathing, dressing, transfers, toileting, meals, walking, medication setup, memory, and safety
• Name and contact information for the family member you hope to use as the caregiver
• If the senior has dementia, the DOH-5821 dementia diagnosis form
• If the case is urgent, the forms listed in New York’s Immediate Need instructions, including DOH-5786

Reality checks

• New York does not have a simple state stipend that pays every family caregiver.
• The main family-pay path is Medicaid CDPAP.
• A spouse cannot be paid under CDPAP.
• The senior must qualify. The caregiver does not qualify on their own.
• Hours are based on the state assessment and service authorization, not on how much unpaid help the family already gives.
• If the senior already had services before September 1, 2025, legacy status may matter a lot.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Mixing up Paid Family Leave with CDPAP
• Assuming Medicare alone is enough for CDPAP when Medicaid is required
• Naming the same person as both the designated representative and the paid caregiver
• Switching from agency care to CDPAP without realizing New York may require a new authorization, as explained in the state comparison fact sheet
• Waiting too long to start PPL onboarding after approval

Best options by need

If your situation is…	Best starting point
You want your adult child paid and the senior already has Medicaid	NYIA for the home-care assessment and CDPAP
You need help within days, not months	New York’s Immediate Need process through DSS/HRA
The senior is 60+ and not getting the same help through Medicaid	EISEP and NY Connects
The caregiver needs breaks, training, or support	NYSOFA caregiver support and respite services
You still work and need temporary wage replacement	New York Paid Family Leave
The senior is a veteran	Veteran-Directed Care and VA benefits review

What to do if denied, delayed, blocked, or waitlisted

First, ask for the denial or reduction in writing. If the problem is Medicaid eligibility or a DSS/HRA decision, New York’s Medicaid application page explains how to request a fair hearing at 1-800-342-3334.

If the problem is a managed care or MLTC service decision, file the plan’s internal appeal right away and ask for fair-hearing instructions too. If the problem is CDPAP registration or pay, New York’s official CDPAP page says to call PPL first, then your managed care plan or LDSS. If you still need help after that, the same state page lists Department of Health escalation numbers: 1-866-712-7197 for managed care enrollees and 518-474-5888 for people working with LDSS.

If a local aging program says funding is full, ask to be screened for every other service the office offers, including respite, case management, meals, transportation, and caregiver support. In New York, “waitlisted” often means you need a backup plan while the main case moves.

Local resources that matter in New York

• New York Independent Assessor (NYIA): 1-855-222-8350
• NY Connects: 1-800-342-9871
• Local Offices for the Aging: county-by-county directory
• PPL CDPAP support: 1-833-247-5346
• New York Medicaid application and fair-hearing instructions
• New York Paid Family Leave helpline: 844-337-6303

Language help and diverse communities

Language access is a real issue in New York. The NYIA helpline says it can help callers in any language. PPL’s March 2026 FAQ says its team and facilitator partners speak 40 languages and can access translation in hundreds more. New York’s Office for the Aging language access page also lists translated materials.

If the senior has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, do not rely only on verbal explanations. Bring diagnosis proof. Under New York’s minimum-needs rules, dementia cases can qualify through a supervision standard, and the state says the DOH-5821 form should be used to document the diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

Can my daughter or son get paid to care for me in New York?

Often yes. The main route is CDPAP. The older adult must qualify for New York Medicaid home care, meet the assessment rules, and be able to self-direct or use a designated representative. An adult child can often be the paid personal assistant. A spouse cannot.

Can my spouse get paid through New York’s paid family caregiver system?

No, not through CDPAP. New York bars spouses from serving as the paid personal assistant. If the spouse is still working, the spouse may want to ask about Paid Family Leave, but that is temporary leave from a job, not ongoing home care pay.

Do I need Medicaid, or is Medicare enough?

For CDPAP, the senior needs New York Medicaid. Medicare alone is not enough. If the senior is not on Medicaid, still call NY Connects for backup options like EISEP, respite, and local supports while the Medicaid question is being sorted out.

What changed after September 1, 2025?

New York began using stricter minimum-needs rules for adults newly seeking PCS or CDPAS. But many current users are protected by service legacy or plan legacy rules if they were already authorized or enrolled before that date.

How fast can I get help if I am coming home from the hospital?

Use New York’s Immediate Need process. The state says missing paperwork should be requested within 4 days, Medicaid decided within 7 days after all needed information is received, and PCS/CDPAS decided within 12 days after all needed information is received. If you are in managed care, ask the plan for an expedited NYIA request.

Will the caregiver get a W-2, and are the payments taxable?

PPL’s CDPAP FAQ says personal assistants receive W-2s, and New York’s CDPAP page says the fiscal intermediary handles wage withholding and payroll records. Some families ask about the IRS Medicaid waiver payment guidance under Notice 2014-7, but that rule does not automatically apply to every New York caregiving payment. Get tax advice before excluding income.

Is New York Paid Family Leave the same as CDPAP?

No. Paid Family Leave pays eligible workers who take time off from a job to care for a close family member with a serious health condition. CDPAP is Medicaid home care that can pay a personal assistant, including some relatives, to provide hands-on care at home.

Resumen en español

En Nueva York no existe un solo programa estatal que automáticamente pague a cualquier familiar por cuidar a una persona mayor. La vía principal es CDPAP, un programa de Medicaid. Un hijo adulto u otro familiar puede ser asistente pagado si la persona mayor califica para Medicaid, necesita cuidado en el hogar y puede dirigir su cuidado o tiene un representante designado. El cónyuge no puede ser el asistente pagado.

Si la persona mayor no tiene Medicaid, todavía hay opciones reales en Nueva York. Llame a NY Connects para pedir ayuda con EISEP, relevo para cuidadores, y otros servicios locales. Si la necesidad es urgente, use el proceso estatal de Immediate Need. Si el cuidador todavía trabaja, también puede preguntar sobre Paid Family Leave, que es un beneficio laboral aparte.

About This Guide

Editorial note: We reviewed official New York and federal sources and compared them against leading search results on this topic to build a clearer guide for seniors and adult children.

Verification: Rules, rates, forms, contacts, and timelines were checked against official pages available through 31 March 2026, including New York DOH, NYSOFA, NYIA, PPL, Paid Family Leave, VA, and IRS sources.

Corrections: If you spot an error, outdated rule, or broken link, please send GrantsForSeniors.org a correction request through the site contact page.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, medical, or benefits advice. Final decisions are made by New York State, DSS/HRA, your managed care plan, NYIA, PPL, or other agencies.