Managing caregiving and a full-time job is difficult for families. Most of the day you’ll be preparing meals, organizing medications, helping with mobility, and driving your loved one to medical appointments. Doing all of this while being away from home for eight hours a day isn’t always an option.

This is one reason families turn to New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). It allows eligible Medicaid recipients to hire people they know as their caregivers. Those caregivers receive payment for the work they do.¹

For many families, this changes quite a lot. A daughter who has been helping her mother for years, for example, no longer has to choose between caring for her and earning a paycheck. She can do both through the program.

Yes, you can get paid for caregiving. But whether you earn enough to cover your living expenses is the question. We explain how the hours, wages, and payroll arrangements work so you can understand if this is the right option.

Can You Support Yourself on a CDPAP Caregiver’s Salary?

CDPAP is a home care program covered by Medicaid. Eligible individuals can choose their own caregiver, which can be a friend, adult child, sibling, or relative. This arrangement is especially helpful for families who already provide daily care without receiving payment.¹³

We understand that you’re new to this and may not know how it works. CDPAP doesn’t pay a monthly salary. It pays by the hour. And the number of hours you work depends on the care plan approved for the person receiving assistance. Basically, two caregivers who do similar work won’t take the same amount of money.

Maria helps her father with bathing, getting dressed, preparing meals, and moving around the house. His care plan includes 30 hours of assistance per week. Maria works those hours and receives payment for the time she provides care.

Her friend is also a CDPAP caregiver. The person she cares for has 15 approved hours per week. They have the same hourly wage. Still, the paycheck looks different. The hourly rate for both is $20.65. Maria earns $619.50 per week before deductions. Her friend earns $309.75. Over a typical four-week period, that’s $2,478 compared with $1,239.⁴

The difference isn’t related to how hard either caregiver works. It comes down to the number of hours approved for the person receiving care. Simply put, calculate your expected earnings before making CDPAP your main source of income.

Who can get paid through CDPAP?

Most eligible adult relatives and friends can work as personal assistants. Still, the consumer’s spouse, designated representative, and the parent of a consumer under 21 are not eligible. The person receiving care must qualify for Medicaid home care services and meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.²³

CDPAP Paycheck

The paycheck depends on the hours worked, hourly rate, and the payroll deductions. New York has different minimum base wages depending on where the consumer lives. As of January 1, 2026, the rates listed by PPL are:⁴⁵⁶

• New York City: $20.65 per hour.
• Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties: $20.05 per hour.
• Other New York counties: $18.65 per hour.

These are minimum base wage rates. They aren’t the amounts Medicaid pays to the fiscal intermediary for each hour of care. Mind you, the amount you earn isn’t the same as the one you’ll receive in your bank account. CDPAP caregivers are employees. You’ll need to account for taxes and deductions.⁹

Keeping track of your hours

Timesheets are part of the job, even if you’re caring for someone in your own home. You need to record the hours you worked and submit them through PPL’s timekeeping system. The consumer or their designated representative reviews and approves the submitted time.⁷⁸

When do you get paid?

CDPAP caregivers submit their working hours through PPL’s timekeeping system. The consumer or their designated representative must review and approve those hours. This step is important. Unapproved or incomplete timesheets delay your payment.⁷

For example, you forget to submit your hours. Or the consumer doesn’t approve them by the deadline. This means your paycheck won’t arrive as expected. So, you should do timekeeping. This allows you to get the paycheck on time and cover your bills.

Combining CDPAP With Other Sources of Income

CDPAP provides a decent income for some caregivers. As we already explained, that depends on the approved hours. Others need another source of earnings.

In fact, being a CDPAP caregiver doesn’t stop you from having another job. You can have additional employment, but only if you follow the requirements. You need to meet your caregiving responsibilities, work-hour requirements, and do timekeeping.

For example, you’re taking care of your mother. She needs help from 8 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday. You have the afternoons free. This means you can take a part-time position. The two jobs have separate schedules, and you record the hours accurately. As a result, you can earn more without giving up the opportunity to care for your loved one.

However, scheduling needs careful attention. You cannot report the same hours for two jobs or claim CDPAP payment for time you didn’t spend providing authorized care. Your other employment also shouldn’t interfere with the services the consumer needs.⁸

What about overtime?

CDPAP overtime is allowed when necessary to maintain continuity of care. Mind you, this doesn’t mean caregivers can work unlimited additional hours and receive automatic approval. The consumer’s health plan or local social services district oversees authorized services and applicable work-hour restrictions. New York also has guidance for excessive hours worked by personal assistants.¹⁰¹¹

If overtime becomes regular, discuss it with the appropriate plan or local agency before relying on overtime income. You can also ask PPL about your employment and payroll requirements. It’s much better to understand the rules beforehand than to discover a problem when your paycheck is delayed.

Making CDPAP Work for Your Financial Future

A regular paycheck helps you through everyday life. But you should also think long-term because having a plan for your money is just as important. Relying on a caregiver income means your working hours depend on another person’s care needs. So, your financial situation is connected to their health and circumstances.

For example, a caregiver earns enough to cover their monthly expenses. If the person receiving care spends several weeks in the hospital, this affects their payment. Planning ahead allows you to have more control over unexpected situations like this one.

Build your budget around take-home pay

Count in the amount that reaches your bank account. Don’t consider the gross hourly earnings. Write down your regular expenses, including rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, phone bills, and childcare. Then compare that amount with your average monthly income.¹³

If you have money left, put it aside. Create a fund for unexpected expenses. Sometimes, an appliance can break, or a bill increases. Even a small emergency fund helps with this.¹³

Some have a variable income each month. In such cases, consider a monthly estimate. Don’t budget around the highest paycheck.

Take advantage of available employee benefits

The good news is that employee benefits may be available. PPL lists several benefits for eligible personal assistants, including paid sick leave, holiday pay, paid family leave, participation in a health benefits plan, and a 401(k) retirement plan.⁴¹⁴

The requirements and eligibility vary, so you should check the current benefit details and your employment documents. For example, paid sick leave provides compensation when you’re ill. A retirement plan allows you to start saving for later in life. These benefits deserve attention. They are part of your employment, not just extra details on a paycheck.

Speak up when the consumer’s care needs change

Care needs to change. Your loved one may have difficulty getting out of bed after an illness. Or, they need more assistance with bathing, dressing, and moving around the house. When this happens, report the changes to the consumer’s Medicaid health plan or local social services district. Ask for a reassessment so that the care plan reflects their current needs.¹²

A Meaningful Job That Supports Your Family

Now you don’t have to struggle with a full-time job and caregiving. CDPAP gives many the opportunity to earn an income while caring for someone they love. Getting paid for this brings some financial relief and recognition.

But we advise you to have realistic expectations. The income depends on the hourly wage, care hours, and employment arrangements. For some, the CDPAP provides a full income. Others may need to get a part-time job to cover their necessities. Take time to understand your pay and the requirements. Make sure to learn which employer benefits apply in your situation.

References

1. New York State Department of Health — Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
2. New York State Department of Health — CDPAP Personal Assistant Eligibility Guidance
3. New York State Department of Health — CDPAP Clarification
4. Public Partnerships LLC — New York CDPAP Frequently Asked Questions
5. New York State Department of Labor — Minimum Wage for Home Care Aides
6. New York State Department of Labor — Home Health Care Aides and Wage Parity
7. Public Partnerships LLC — CDPAP Resources
8. Public Partnerships LLC — New York Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
9. Internal Revenue Service — Tax Withholding for Employees
10. U.S. Department of Labor — Direct Care Workers Frequently Asked Questions
11. New York State Department of Health — 2026 Managed Long-Term Care Policy Guidance
12. New York State Department of Health — Section 505.28 Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program
13. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — An Essential Guide to Building an Emergency Fund
14. Public Partnerships LLC — Paid Safe and Sick Leave Policy