Medicaid self-directed care
Personal Preference Program (PPP)
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- Who qualifies
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NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid members who are financially eligible and need help with activities of daily living, and whose health plan has authorized Personal Care Assistance (PCA) hours through the state PCA assessment. PPP lets the member manage a monthly budget based on those hours and hire their own workers instead of using an agency.
You must be able to direct your own services, or have an authorized representative who helps you. The member is the employer of record, and a fiscal intermediary handles payroll and taxes.
Source: An Overview of the Personal Preference Program, Calendar Year 2026 (New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services)Checked
- Can a family member be paid
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Yes. Yes. You can hire anyone you are comfortable with, such as friends, relatives or neighbors. A worker must be at least 18, able to do all the tasks you need, available on your schedule, and authorized to work in the United States.
Your PPP worker cannot also be your authorized representative.
- Can a spouse be paid
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Yes. Yes. The participant can hire people they know and trust, such as a spouse, friends, relatives and neighbors. The fact sheet says this could let a relative stay home to care for a spouse, parent or child and be paid for it.
This fact sheet dates from 2019 and is still linked from the state's current PPP page. The current PPP page, the FAQ (updated April 2024) and the 2026 overview list friends, relatives and neighbors and do not mention spouses either way.
- Can a legal guardian be paid
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Depends. Only if the guardian appoints someone else as the authorized representative. A person in a guardianship, conservator or power of attorney role may act as a worker in PPP if they appoint a PPP authorized representative, because the authorized representative cannot be the participant's employee.
- Pay rate
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You set your worker's pay within your budget. You must pay at least minimum wage ($15.92 in 2026) and no more than $25 per hour. The higher the hourly rate, the fewer hours you can buy.
Your monthly budget is your authorized PCA hours times the PCA rate ($20.40 an hour as of January 1, 2026) times 4.33, less 12.5% for employer costs.
Source: An Overview of the Personal Preference Program, Calendar Year 2026 (New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services)Checked
- Hours limit
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A single caregiver in PPP cannot be authorized to work more than 40 hours in a week. If your budget buys more than that, you must hire a second worker.