CDPAP in New York: Getting Paid to Care for a Parent

If you're already helping a parent every day — bathing, meals, medications, getting to the bathroom at night — you may be able to get paid for it. New York's CDPAP program was built for exactly this, and it's one of the most useful programs in the state for families trying to keep someone at home.

What CDPAP is

CDPAP stands for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. It's part of New York Medicaid. Instead of an agency sending whichever aide is available, the person receiving care (the "consumer") chooses their own aide, trains them, and sets the schedule.

That aide can be someone the person already knows and trusts — often a family member.

Who can be the paid caregiver

Generally allowed:

• Adult children
• Grandchildren
• Siblings, nieces, nephews, and other relatives
• Friends and neighbors

Not allowed:

• The consumer's spouse
• The consumer's designated representative (the person who directs care if the consumer can't)

If your parent can't direct their own care — because of dementia, for example — someone else must be the designated representative. That person can't also be the paid aide. In many families, one sibling takes the representative role and another is the caregiver.

Who qualifies for CDPAP

The person receiving care needs to:

1. Be eligible for Medicaid. In 2026, a single person can have income up to $1,836 per month and countable assets up to $33,038. People with higher income may qualify through a spend-down or a pooled income trust. 2026 limits.
2. Need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, toileting, or eating, as shown by an assessment.
3. Be able to direct their own care, or have a designated representative who can.

As of 2026, a 30-month look-back for home care Medicaid has been passed into law but has still not been put into effect. That can make home care Medicaid easier to qualify for than nursing home Medicaid. How the look-back works.

How to apply, step by step

1. Apply for Medicaid if your parent isn't already enrolled. In Erie County, the Department of Social Services Medicaid line is (716) 858-6244. In Niagara County, call (716) 278-8400.
2. Request an assessment for personal care or CDPAP. A state-arranged independent assessment looks at how much help is needed.
3. Enroll in a plan, if required. Most people who have both Medicare and Medicaid and need long-term care at home for more than 120 days receive CDPAP through a Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plan. The plan authorizes the hours. Since September 1, 2025, new applicants must also meet New York's Minimum Needs Requirements (NYS DOH MLTC Policy 25.04).
4. Tell the plan you want CDPAP and name the caregiver you've chosen.
5. Complete caregiver enrollment with Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), the statewide fiscal intermediary. The caregiver fills out employment paperwork and meets health requirements before they can be paid.
6. Start care and track hours as the plan requires.

The process can take weeks to a few months. Start before the need becomes urgent if you can.

What CDPAP pays for

CDPAP covers the same kinds of help a personal care aide or home health aide would provide:

• Bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting
• Help moving around the house and getting in and out of bed
• Meal preparation and feeding
• Light housekeeping tied to the person's care
• Certain health-related tasks, like help with medications, that normally require a licensed aide — CDPAP allows a trained family caregiver to do them

It does not pay for rent, groceries, or care the plan hasn't authorized.

Things families should know going in

• It's a real job. The caregiver is an employee, gets paid for authorized hours, and has paperwork to keep up with.
• Hours are set by the plan, not the family. If your parent's needs increase, ask for a reassessment.
• Have a backup. If the caregiver gets sick or needs a break, someone else needs to be approved to step in.
• Watch for burnout. Being paid doesn't make round-the-clock caregiving sustainable. If nights are unsafe or the caregiver's health is slipping, it may be time to look at other options. Home care vs. assisted living.

Keep exploring

• How to Pay for Home Care in New York
• New York Medicaid Income and Asset Limits (2026)
• Pooled Income Trusts in New York, in Plain English
• Home Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home: Cost in New York