New York doesn't use "Structured Family Caregiving" — instead, family caregivers get paid through CDPAP, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, one of the largest and most flexible programs of its kind in the country.
What CDPAP is
CDPAP is a New York State Medicaid program that lets a Medicaid recipient who needs home care choose and hire their own personal assistant — including a family member or friend — rather than being assigned an aide through an agency.
Who qualifies — the care recipient
- Must be enrolled in New York Medicaid
- Must have a medical need for help with daily living activities or require skilled nursing-level tasks
- Requires a physician's order and an independent assessment (through NYIAP)
Who qualifies — the caregiver
- Can be almost any adult relative — notably broader than many other states
- Cannot be the Medicaid recipient's spouse, their designated representative, or the parent of a CDPAP consumer under 21
- Must be at least 18 (with an exception allowing parents to care for their own minor children under 21)
- Must complete mandatory training through the state's designated training portal
How to apply
- Ensure the care recipient is enrolled in Medicaid (apply through your local Department of Social Services or HRA if not already enrolled)
- Get an independent assessment through NYIAP
- Register with the Statewide Fiscal Intermediary, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL)
- Complete required employment documentation (W-4, I-9, and required training)
- Once approved, the caregiver can begin providing care within authorized hours
An important note on veterans
If the person you care for is a veteran, Veteran-Directed Care is a separate program that — unlike CDPAP — can pay a spouse as caregiver.
What you'll need to keep track of once approved
- Authorized care hours and schedule
- Employment/payroll documentation through PPL
- Ongoing training compliance records
Keeping this organized
Once set up through CDPAP, keeping accurate records of your hours, training compliance, and related documentation is an ongoing responsibility. FeatherKeep organizes this automatically as you go.
CDPAP rules, wage rates, and eligibility requirements change — recent changes took effect September 2025, and further updates are possible.