This article walks through the 2026 CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) eligibility requirements for both care recipients and personal assistants in New York. CDPAP went through a major operational change on April 1, 2025 — Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) became the sole statewide fiscal intermediary — but the underlying eligibility rules for who can participate haven’t changed. If you’re trying to figure out whether you or a loved one qualifies, or whether a family member can be hired as a paid personal assistant, this is the working checklist. For full context on what changed in 2025 and how CDPAP works under the new model, see our NY CDPAP Guide: How It Works, Eligibility, Pay Rate.
Key Takeaways
- CDPAP eligibility rules for care recipients: New York resident, enrolled in Medicaid, documented need for help with daily activities, eligible for home care, and able to self-direct (or have a designated representative who can).
- CDPAP eligibility rules for personal assistants: NOT the consumer’s spouse and NOT the consumer’s designated representative; must pass a PPL medical screening; complete W-4 + I-9 tax/employment forms; agree to follow the consumer’s care plan.
- Under the April 2025 PPL consolidation, every CDPAP consumer and personal assistant now registers through PPL@Home. There are no enrollment or application fees, and a local CDPAP facilitator can help walk you through paperwork at no cost.
- A parent cannot be paid to care for their child under 21 through CDPAP. Otherwise, friends, adult children, siblings, and other relatives can serve as personal assistants if they meet the requirements.
Eligibility Requirements for CDPAP Care Recipients
To participate in CDPAP as a care recipient (sometimes called a “consumer”), you must meet five core requirements: New York residency, Medicaid enrollment, documented assistance need, eligibility for home care services, and the ability to self-direct your care (or appoint someone to direct it for you).
1. New York resident
You need to be a New York State resident with verifiable identifying information — a permanent address, voter registration, or a New York State driver’s license or non-driver ID. Immigrants — including permanent residents and naturalized citizens — can participate if they meet the other criteria and can document their residency, such as with a green card.
2. Enrolled in Medicaid
CDPAP is a New York State Medicaid program. You must be enrolled in NY Medicaid to receive CDPAP services. If you’re not enrolled, you can apply for NY Medicaid through your local department of social services or the NY State of Health marketplace before starting the CDPAP process.
3. Documented need for help with daily activities
You need to show that you require help with activities of daily living — eating, bathing, dressing, mobility, toileting — or with skilled nursing services that a trained non-licensed caregiver can perform. The documentation comes from a Medicaid-enrolled physician, a New York Independent Assessor, or your Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan’s nurse.
4. Eligible for home care
Your health care provider, together with your MLTC plan or the local department of social services, determines whether your medical needs and living situation qualify you for home care services. CDPAP is one form of Medicaid home care; your assessment may also identify you as eligible for traditional home care through an agency.
5. Enrolled in Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC)
As of 2025, most adult CDPAP consumers in New York are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Long Term Care plan, which coordinates the assessment, the hours authorization, and the linkage to PPL. Some consumers — children, dual-eligibles in specific programs — may be in fee-for-service Medicaid instead. Your local department of social services or your existing health plan can confirm which path applies.
6. Able to self-direct (or have a designated representative)
CDPAP is built around consumer-directed care: the consumer (or their designated representative — usually a family member or legal guardian) makes the choices about who is hired, when they work, and how they’re trained. If the consumer can’t self-direct because of age or condition, the designated representative handles those choices. The designated representative cannot also be the paid personal assistant.
Eligibility Requirements for CDPAP Personal Assistants
If you want to be hired as a paid personal assistant for a CDPAP consumer, you need to meet these requirements:
Cannot be the consumer’s spouse
A consumer’s spouse cannot be paid as their personal assistant under CDPAP. Adult children, siblings, other relatives, friends, and unrelated personal assistants can be hired.
Cannot be the consumer’s designated representative
The personal assistant and the designated representative are separate roles. Whoever is making the hiring decisions on the consumer’s behalf can’t also be the one collecting the paycheck for providing the care.
Cannot be a parent of a consumer under 21
A parent cannot be paid as a personal assistant for their own child if the child is under 21. A parent can be paid through CDPAP to care for an adult child (21 or older) who is the Medicaid consumer.
Pass a PPL medical screening
Under the April 2025 PPL model, every personal assistant completes a medical screening through a PPL-contracted provider before client placement. The screening typically covers a TB test and basic fitness-for-work clearance. This replaces the old patchwork of agency-specific pre-employment physicals.
Valid ID and proof of authorization to work in the US
The personal assistant must show identification and either US citizenship or a valid work authorization (green card, employment authorization document). The I-9 form documents this during PPL enrollment.
Complete tax and employment paperwork
During PPL@Home enrollment, personal assistants complete a W-4 for tax withholding and an I-9 to verify employment eligibility. PPL handles payroll, tax filings, and direct deposit once these forms are processed.
Agree to follow the consumer’s care plan
Each CDPAP consumer has a written care plan developed with their MLTC plan or assessor. The personal assistant agrees to follow the plan as written — which tasks, how often, what to watch for — and to report any changes to the patient care team.
No license or certification required
CDPAP personal assistants don’t need a state license, HHA certification, or CNA certification. The consumer trains the personal assistant on their specific care needs. PPL provides onboarding orientation and Time4Care timekeeping training, but it doesn’t certify personal assistants as home health aides.
Are there enrollment or application fees?
No. There are no enrollment or application fees for either consumers or personal assistants. CDPAP is a fully Medicaid-funded program, and PPL’s enrollment process is free.
How Do I Apply If I Meet the Requirements?
If you’ve worked through the checklists above and you meet the criteria, here’s the application path:
- Confirm Medicaid eligibility. If you’re not already enrolled, apply for NY Medicaid first.
- Request a health assessment. If you’re in an MLTC plan, contact your plan. If you’re not in an MLTC plan, contact the New York Independent Assessor through your local department of social services.
- Choose your personal assistants. Identify the family members or friends you want to hire who meet the requirements above.
- Register with PPL@Home. Both the consumer and the personal assistants register with PPL — a local CDPAP facilitator can help walk you through the paperwork at no cost.
- Develop the care plan and begin services. Work with your MLTC plan or assessor to finalize the care plan. Once PPL clears the personal assistants, services begin and timesheets run through PPL’s Time4Care app.
Need Help With NY Medicaid Home Care?
At Friends & Family Home Care, we’re a New York licensed home care services agency. We don’t act as a CDPAP fiscal intermediary — that role belongs to PPL post-April 2025 — but if CDPAP isn’t the right fit for your situation (for example, you don’t have a family member able to serve as your personal assistant), we offer agency-supported HHA and PCA services across the five boroughs as a Medicaid-covered alternative. Contact us to talk through which option fits.
