Longer reads
The decisions families actually face.
September 28, 2026 · 4 min read
How to meet a Medicaid spend-down in New York (excess income)
In short: a spend-down (New York calls it "excess income" or "surplus income") works like a monthly deductible. Each month, once you show medical bills equal to your excess income, Medicaid…
Read the postSeptember 28, 2026 · 4 min read
CDPAP designated representative in New York: who can be one and what they must do
In short: in CDPAP, a designated representative (DR) is the adult who runs the program for a consumer who can't, or doesn't want to, manage it alone. The DR hires, trains, schedules, and…
September 27, 2026 · 4 min read
PPL CDPAP phone number in New York: 1-833-247-5346, offices, fax
In short: the main PPL customer service number for New York CDPAP is 1-833-247-5346, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. The email is nycdpap@pplfirst.com. PPL (Public Partnerships…
September 27, 2026 · 4 min read
How to apply for CDPAP in New York, step by step (2026)
In short: you do not apply to PPL for CDPAP. First you need Medicaid. Then you get the state's home care assessment through the New York Independent Assessor (1-855-222-8350) and ask your…
September 27, 2026 · 3 min read
How to join a pooled income trust in NYC, step by step (MAP-751W)
In short: a pooled income trust lets a person who is disabled or 65 and older keep Medicaid without paying a monthly spend-down. You deposit your "surplus" income into a nonprofit trust…
September 27, 2026 · 3 min read
CDPAP aide not paid by PPL? What to check and what to do
In short: most missing CDPAP paychecks come down to four things: no active service authorization, time entered or approved late, hours over the weekly authorization, or the aide being on…
September 23, 2026 · 17 min read
Immediate Need for Medicaid home care in New York: the expedited path when care cannot wait
Your father came home from the hospital on Friday and cannot get to the bathroom alone. Or a neighbor called to say your mother has not eaten in two days. There is no aide, no home care authorization,…
September 23, 2026 · 14 min read
How to become a CDPAP personal assistant in New York: the steps with PPL, and what keeps you active
A personal assistant (PA) in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is hired by the person receiving care, called the consumer. No agency is involved, and you do not need a certificate or license.
September 23, 2026 · 13 min read
CDPAP excessive hours review in New York: what the 2026 policy means when one assistant works very long weeks
On July 22, 2026, the New York State Department of Health issued MLTC Policy 26.02 for Managed Long Term Care plans and GIS 26 MA/11 for local districts. Both co…
September 23, 2026 · 19 min read
MLTC Policy 26.01: involuntary disenrollment in New York
MLTC Policy 26.01 is the New York State Department of Health rule for how a Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan removes a member who no longer meets the conditions to stay enrolled. It was issued April 7,…
September 17, 2026 · 15 min read
Fair hearing prep checklist when your Medicaid home care hours are cut in New York
This page assumes you already requested a fair hearing, or are about to. If you have not, and the notice is recent, read aid continuing and fair hearings when your home care hours are cut first.
September 17, 2026 · 12 min read
CDPAP fiscal intermediary in New York: what PPL does, what it does not, and what you can still switch
In the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), three parties share the work. The plan or the local district decides who is approved and for how many hours. The consumer,…
September 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Pooled income trust vs spend-down in New York and NYC
A person needs Medicaid home care, whether through an agency aide or the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, but their monthly income is above the Medicaid limit. Sometimes by a lot,…
September 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Can a family member be a paid CDPAP personal assistant in New York?
Often, yes. New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) lets a Medicaid member who is eligible for home care choose their own personal assistant,…
September 10, 2026 · 6 min read
CDPAP vs PCS in New York: choosing self-direction or agency care
New York Medicaid pays for help at home in two main forms. Personal care services (PCS) means a personal care aide, sometimes called a home attendant, employed by a licensed home care agency.
September 10, 2026 · 7 min read
Aid continuing and fair hearings when your home care hours are cut
If a notice says your CDPAP or personal care hours are being reduced, suspended, or ended, the most time-sensitive right you have is called aid continuing (the Department of Health also calls it aid to continue,…
Next step
Need help with this? Get free one-on-one guidance.
If a relative is preparing to become a CDPAP personal assistant, or your family is choosing between CDPAP and agency care, leave your name and email and we will send the free caregiver checklist with a plain-language summary of which rules apply. It is held by this site only and never passed to any agency, intermediary, trust, or attorney. The free public numbers above are always an option too.
You can also call NY Connects free at 1-800-342-9871 or HIICAP at 1-800-701-0501. Free, any age, on Medicaid or not. They do not sell services.
Guided help, free
Want help sorting out your next steps?
For a relative preparing to become a personal assistant, or a family choosing between CDPAP and agency care. Held by this site only, never passed to any agency, intermediary, trust, or attorney.
You can also call NY Connects, New York’s free line for long-term services and supports: 1-800-342-9871. Free, any age, on Medicaid or not. They do not sell services. Relay 7-1-1 HIICAP: 1-800-701-0501.