The Personal Preference Program (PPP) is a New Jersey Medicaid program that provides a much-needed service for individuals in need of home health aides. The program provides a monthly budget from Medicaid to employ parents, spouses, friends, relatives, or neighbors as the individual’s personal caregivers, instead of using a home health care agency. The budget is based on the number of authorized Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Services hours authorized multiplied by the current reimbursement rate for 2025, which ranges from $31 to $47 per hour with an average of $35 per hour. There are also fiscal management services to assist with paying care workers.
The program is designed to create autonomy and flexibility for individuals who need home health aides and have loved ones serving as caregivers.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the New Jersey Personal Preference Program, applicants must be eligible for NJ FamilyCare Plan A. Applicants must be approved for Personal Care Assistant Services and must need the Personal Care Assistant Services for at least six months. Lastly, applicants must be able to self-direct services (e.g., selecting their own caregiver, authorizing employee timesheets) or choose an “authorized representative” who can act on his/her behalf.
There are multiple categories of NJ FamilyCare Plan A eligibility. In 2025, children age 18 and under are eligible with incomes up to 355% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) ($9,512/month for a household of four). Adults (ages 19-64) are eligible with income up to 138% FPL ($1,800/month for a household of one, $2,433/month for a household of two). Individuals eligible for Aged, Blind, Disabled Medicaid programs, including Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), are also eligible for NJ FamilyCare Plan A.
The person employed as the paid caregiver also has requirements to meet. The caregiver must be at least 18 years of age and authorized to work in the United States. The caregiver must be able to perform all care services and tasks required at the schedule requested by the individual with the disability.
STEPS TO APPLY
- If you are receiving Medicaid but are NOT enrolled in Personal Care Assistant Services:
Go to your doctor and get a prescription requesting the Personal Care Assistant Services.
Call your Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO). Request a Personal Care Assistant Services assessment to be enrolled in the New Jersey Personal Preference Program.
A nurse will come to your home to assess eligibility for Personal Care Assistant Services and authorize hours per week based on level of need.
- If you are receiving Medicaid and ARE already enrolled in the Personal Care Assistant Services:
Call your Medicaid Managed Care Organization. Tell them you want to switch from the Personal Care Assistant Services to the New Jersey Personal Preference Program.
A nurse may come to your home to reassess the number of authorized hours per week based on level of need.
- After approved for the New Jersey Personal Preference Program:
Based on your level of need, a budget will be given.
You will select someone (other than your caregiver) to serve as the “authorized representative” who will be responsible for designating the paid caregiver and approving the employee timesheets. Alternatively, you can “self-direct” these services.
A financial consultant will come to your home to meet with you, your paid caregiver, and your authorized representative to discuss how to spend the budget to meet your care needs.
A NOTE ON GUARDIANSHIP AND THE NEW JERSEY PERSONAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM
If an individual has been deemed incapacitated and has a guardian, there is an additional consideration. Parents often serve as guardians of their adult children with severe disabilities. If the child lives in the home with the parent/guardian, the parent may want to be employed by the New Jersey Personal Preference Program as the paid caregiver. The New Jersey Personal Preference Program can employ a guardian as the paid caregiver without issue. However, there must be a separate individual serving as the “authorized representative” for the New Jersey Personal Preference Program. The guardian cannot serve as both the paid caregiver and authorized representative, and the incapacitated individual cannot serve as his/her own authorized representative due to incapacity. Therefore, a third individual must be involved.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Personal Preference Program Helpline: 609-631-2481
Personal Preference Program statute: NJAC § 10:142