Key takeaway
New Jersey pays family caregivers through several routes. Your path depends on Medicaid eligibility, level of care, veteran status, and whether you choose self-direction through PPP or MLTSS.
- Medicaid MLTSS lets enrollees self-direct care and hire family caregivers (spouses generally excluded).
- The Personal Preference Program (PPP) is a Medicaid State Plan option that allows participants to hire and pay family.
- JACC (Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving) is state-funded and can help families who do not qualify for Medicaid.
- Veterans may access Aid & Attendance or Veteran Directed Care (VDC), which can pay spouses.
Overview
In New Jersey, family members can be paid for providing personal care, supervision, and household support through Medicaid and several state and federal programs. Most options require an assessment showing the care recipient needs help with activities of daily living and meets a nursing-home level of care. Financial eligibility (income and assets) applies to Medicaid programs, while veteran programs apply VA-specific rules.
New Jersey’s flagship program for paying family caregivers is Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), administered through NJ FamilyCare. Within MLTSS, the Personal Preference Program (PPP) gives participants a monthly cash budget to hire caregivers of their choice — including adult children, grandchildren, and other relatives. For families who do not yet qualify for Medicaid, JACC offers limited state-funded support to help keep loved ones at home.
Programs that pay family caregivers in New Jersey
| Program (Type) | Care recipient eligibility | Paid family caregiver provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) (NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid) | Age 65+ or adult with a disability; clinically eligible for nursing-facility level of care; income at or below ~300% of the SSI federal benefit rate; asset limit $2,000 (individual). | Self-directed option allows hiring family caregivers (typically excluding spouses and legal guardians). Services include personal care, respite, and home modifications. |
| Personal Preference Program (PPP) (Medicaid State Plan) | Medicaid recipients who qualify for Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services and can direct their own care (or use an authorized representative). | Participant receives a cash budget to hire and pay family or friends as caregivers (excluding the spouse) and to purchase approved care-related goods. |
| Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) (State-funded) | Age 60+ with functional needs who are not eligible for Medicaid MLTSS; income/asset limits set by the Division of Aging Services; subject to available funding. | Provides a flexible service plan that can include payment to family caregivers, respite, and other home-based supports. |
| Aid & Attendance Pension (VA benefit) | Wartime veteran or surviving spouse with limited income/assets who needs help with activities of daily living. | Increases the monthly VA pension to offset care costs; the veteran can use the funds to pay an adult child or other relative as a caregiver. |
| Veteran Directed Care (VDC) (VA program) | Veteran enrolled in VA health care who needs nursing-home level of care and is served by a participating VA Medical Center in New Jersey. | Provides a flexible monthly budget that the veteran self-directs to hire caregivers, including a spouse, with a fiscal intermediary handling payroll. |
| Long-Term Care Insurance (Private) | Care recipient owns a qualifying LTC policy that covers in-home personal care. | Cash/indemnity policies typically permit paying a family caregiver; reimbursement policies may require a licensed agency. |
New Jersey Medicaid programs
NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey’s Medicaid program) funds two main pathways that pay family caregivers: Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and the Personal Preference Program (PPP). MLTSS bundles long-term care into managed care plans, while PPP is a State Plan benefit for people who already qualify for Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services.
Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
MLTSS provides in-home and community-based long-term care to NJ FamilyCare members who need a nursing-facility level of care but prefer to remain at home. Members can opt into self-direction to hire and supervise their own caregivers.
- Clinical eligibility: requires help with multiple activities of daily living and a nursing-facility level of care assessment.
- Financial eligibility: income up to ~300% of the SSI federal benefit rate; resource (asset) limit typically $2,000 for an individual.
- Self-direction allows hiring family — adult children, siblings, grandchildren — but generally excludes spouses and legal guardians.
- Members work with a Managed Care Organization (MCO) care manager and a fiscal intermediary that handles payroll and taxes.
Personal Preference Program (PPP)
PPP is a Medicaid State Plan option that converts authorized Personal Care Assistant hours into a monthly cash budget. Participants — or an authorized representative — choose who to hire, including most family members.
- Open to NJ FamilyCare members who are eligible for PCA services.
- Allows hiring family caregivers (siblings, adult children, friends, neighbors); spouses are not eligible to be paid.
- A Fiscal Intermediary (e.g., PPL/Public Partnerships) processes timesheets, payroll, and taxes.
- Participants can also use the budget for approved care-related goods such as adaptive equipment.
State-funded option: Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC)
JACC is a state-funded program administered by the New Jersey Division of Aging Services. It helps older adults who are at risk of nursing-home placement but do not yet qualify for Medicaid MLTSS. JACC can fund payment to family caregivers along with other home and community supports.
After a needs assessment, a care manager builds a flexible service plan that may include a stipend paid through a fiscal intermediary to a chosen family caregiver, plus respite, home delivered meals, or adult day services.
Adult children, grandchildren, and other relatives can typically be paid; spouse rules vary based on the service plan and current program guidance.
Who qualifies
- New Jersey residents age 60 or older with significant functional needs.
- Income and resources above strict Medicaid limits but within JACC thresholds set annually by the Division of Aging Services.
- At risk of nursing-home placement without in-home support; JACC is subject to available funding and may have a waitlist.
Veterans’ programs
New Jersey veterans and their surviving spouses may access two key VA pathways to fund in-home care: the Aid & Attendance pension add-on and Veteran Directed Care (VDC).
Aid & Attendance Pension
Aid & Attendance increases the monthly VA pension for wartime veterans (or surviving spouses) who need help with daily living. The funds go to the veteran, who can then pay a family caregiver such as an adult child.
- Requires qualifying wartime service, limited income/assets, and documented need for daily care.
- The veteran can use the increased pension to pay an adult child, grandchild, or other relative.
- A spouse cannot be paid directly through A&A because household income is treated jointly.
Veteran Directed Care (VDC)
VDC gives the veteran a flexible monthly budget to design their own care plan, including hiring family — including a spouse — as paid caregivers. Availability depends on the local VA Medical Center.
- Open to veterans enrolled in VA health care who need a nursing-home level of care.
- Spouses, adult children, and other relatives may be hired and paid through a fiscal management service.
- Not every VAMC in New Jersey offers VDC — check with your VA social worker.
Long-term care insurance
If the care recipient owns a long-term care insurance policy that covers in-home personal care, benefits may be used to pay a family caregiver — depending on the policy structure.
What to check in the policy
- Confirm the policy covers in-home personal care, not just facility care.
- Cash or indemnity policies pay the policyholder directly, making it straightforward to pay a family caregiver.
- Reimbursement-only policies may require a licensed home care agency to invoice for services.
If the policy only reimburses licensed agencies, one path is to work through a New Jersey-licensed home health agency that can employ the family member as a caregiver and bill the policy.
How to apply in New Jersey (step-by-step)
- Identify the most likely path: MLTSS, PPP, JACC, VA benefits, or LTC insurance.
- Gather documents: photo ID, Social Security card, proof of income and resources, medical records, medication list, and (if applicable) DD-214 for veterans.
- Start with the right agency:
- MLTSS or PPP: apply for NJ FamilyCare and request a long-term care assessment, or contact your county Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC).
- JACC: contact the NJ Division of Aging Services or your county Office on Aging.
- VA paths: speak with a VA social worker or VAMC caregiver coordinator about A&A and VDC.
- LTC insurance: call the insurer to confirm whether family caregivers can be paid directly.
- Complete clinical (level-of-care) and financial assessments required for the chosen program.
- Enroll with a Managed Care Organization (for MLTSS) and a Fiscal Intermediary that handles caregiver payroll.
- Select your family caregiver, submit timesheets, and keep care notes for renewals and audits.
New Jersey paid caregiver FAQs
Can I be paid to take care of a family member in New Jersey?
Yes. Through NJ FamilyCare MLTSS, the Personal Preference Program (PPP), and JACC, family members can be paid for providing personal care. Veterans may also use Aid & Attendance or Veteran Directed Care.
How does the Personal Preference Program (PPP) work in NJ?
PPP is a Medicaid State Plan option that converts authorized Personal Care Assistant (PCA) hours into a monthly cash budget. The participant — or an authorized representative — hires and pays caregivers, including most family members (excluding the spouse).
Can a spouse be paid as a caregiver in New Jersey?
Generally not under Medicaid MLTSS or PPP. However, Veteran Directed Care (VDC) does allow paying a spouse, and JACC may permit it in limited circumstances based on the service plan.
What is the difference between MLTSS and JACC?
MLTSS is Medicaid-funded and requires meeting both clinical and financial eligibility. JACC is state-funded for older adults who do not qualify for Medicaid but need help to stay at home; benefits are typically more limited and subject to available funding.
How long does it take to get approved?
Timelines vary. NJ FamilyCare MLTSS applications often take 45–90 days, depending on documentation. JACC can be faster but may have a waitlist. VA benefits depend on regional processing times.
