My Experience With New Jersey's Personal Preference Program

Have you heard of state Medicaid programs that allow a family member or friend to become a paid caregiver?

New Jersey's Personal Preference Program is a Medicaid-based program that allows caregivers to choose who cares for their loved one instead of having an agency hire someone of their choice.¹

The program offers more flexibility because you can:¹

• Choose the support services you want
• Hire people you know such as relatives or friends
• Have greater independence and control over your life

My experience with the enrollment process

Getting all this started was a bit time-consuming. The first step was applying and waiting for a phone call. After the call, my son was scheduled to have an evaluation done by an in-home nurse. The evaluation would determine the final number of hours we would receive on a monthly basis.

Once the evaluation was complete, my son was assigned a financial consultant who provided us with a monthly budget and finalized my hiring. My husband was assigned as "the employer" and negotiated my hourly wage within the given budget.

Tracking my time and getting paid

Timesheets are based on a 40-hour work week, though as a live-in caregiver, sometimes you can clock more (I often do not). I can update my timesheets through an app on my phone or through an online website.

Once my timesheet is submitted, my husband (the "employer") approves the time through an app for employers. Payment is issued by-weekly via direct deposit or a check in the mail.

What are the benefits of enrolling in the program?

As a mom of 3, one being a rare disease child, I truly understand the challenges that come with each day. Navigating appointments, educational needs, insurance issues, therapies, and everything else unexpected that comes up is a full-time, unpaid job.

Working a typical job is most likely not in the cards for me. New Jersey's Personal Preference Program has allowed me to care for my son the way he deserves, earn an income doing things I am already doing, and have independence. It certainly isn't an income you can live off of, but it did help me earn my own money as a stay-at-home mom.

As I mentioned before, getting all of this set up is a bit of a pain but once you're enrolled, it's ongoing. My income has to be shown at insurance renewal each year but often does not count since it is coming from the government.

Does your state offer a similar program?

Not all states have this specific program or the same guidelines as New Jersey, so I recommend checking out your state's website or visiting your county social services office. Another resource is USAGov's page: Get paid as a caregiver for a family member

If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.

Do you have experience with this program or something similar? Tell us about it in the comments below.