Caregiving

caregiver/new-jersey/how-to-get-paid-family-caregiver

{{component: hero}} New Jersey has more than 1.75 million unpaid family caregivers providing roughly $13–$15 billion a year in uncompensated care to neighbors, parents, spouses, and adult children

Brevy Care Team

· 37 min read

By Brevy Care Team

New Jersey has more than 1.75 million unpaid family caregivers providing roughly $13–$15 billion a year in uncompensated care to neighbors, parents, spouses, and adult children with disabilities. And unlike most of its peer states, New Jersey actually does pay a meaningful slice of them. Through the NJ FamilyCare Personal Preference Program (PPP), a spouse, an adult child, a sibling, a niece, a friend, or a neighbor can be hired and paid as a Personal Care Assistant, at average 2025 rates of roughly $35 per hour. This is one of the most important, and most-misunderstood, eldercare benefits in the state. This guide walks through every legitimate 2026 pathway that does pay a family member in New Jersey, the surprisingly liberal rule that makes the spouse pathway possible, and how to stack PPP with state respite, VA stipends, and Family Leave Insurance for households that need more than one program to make caregiving viable. {{/component}}

Key takeaways before you read further

New Jersey lets you pay a spouse. Under the Personal Preference Program (PPP) inside NJ FamilyCare MLTSS, a spouse, adult child, parent of an adult, sibling, in-law, niece, nephew, friend, or neighbor of a Medicaid-enrolled adult can be hired and paid as a Personal Care Assistant. The single statutory exclusion is the parent of a minor-child Medicaid recipient, federally barred under §1915 "legally responsible relative" rules. PPP is the regulatory exception inside NJAC 10:60-3.8 that otherwise excludes legally responsible relatives from agency-based PCA.
PPP rates ran $31–$47 per hour in 2025, averaging roughly $35/hour, among the highest consumer-directed PCA rates in the country. The 2026 PPP rate schedule has not been separately published by NJ DMAHS as of May 2026; verify the exact 2026 rate with your Fiscal Intermediary (Palco for Horizon NJ Health enrollees, PPL for the other four MCOs). Don't conflate this with the $26.68/hour 2024 agency PCA rate, agency PCA and PPP are different products.
PCA is capped at 40 hours per work week under NJAC 10:60-3.8(g) absent extraordinary-circumstances approval. The cap applies to the recipient's authorization, not to one worker's schedule, so multiple PPP workers can share authorized hours.
Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) is NJ's state-funded non-Medicaid program for adults 60+ who meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care standard but earn too much for MLTSS. The JACC service cap is $1,090 per participant per month (plus separate care management), not the $929.88 figure that circulates on aggregator sites. JACC permits a relative to be paid as a "qualified participant-employed provider" subject to county-level rules.
The NJ Wounded Warrior Caregivers Credit is the only enacted state caregiver tax credit in 2026. It refunds up to $675 to a NJ-resident caregiver of a US Armed Services member with a service-connected disability arising from service on or after September 11, 2001. The broader CARE Act (A1581/S2303) and the $2,500 Caregiver Tax Credit (A5776/S4947) are introduced but not enacted as of May 2026.
NJ Family Leave Insurance pays up to $1,119 per week, 85% wage replacement, for up to 12 weeks in 2026, to a NJ-covered employee caring for a family member with a serious health condition. NJ FLI's family definition is one of the broadest in the country: parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, in-law, or "a person whose close association is the equivalent of a family relationship."
The Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) is the front door. Call 1-877-222-3737. NJEASE and ADRC are the same number. The ADRC provides options counseling, screens you for JACC, SRCP, MLTSS, and NJSAVE, and refers you to your county Veterans Service Officer for VA benefits. {{/component}}

The 60-second version

If you are caring for a New Jersey adult who needs nursing-facility-level help at home, the most direct paid path is Personal Preference Program (PPP) inside NJ FamilyCare MLTSS. Your loved one applies for NJ FamilyCare MLTSS, picks one of five MCOs (Aetna, Fidelis, Horizon NJ Health, UnitedHealthcare, or Wellpoint), gets assessed for nursing-facility level of care, asks the Care Manager for PPP enrollment, and hires you as a paid Personal Care Assistant through the assigned Fiscal Intermediary (Palco or PPL).

If you are a spouse, you can be paid through PPP. Read that sentence twice, most national articles on this topic are wrong about it, and PA, OH, and several other states do prohibit spouse-pay. NJ does not. NJAC 10:60-3.8 carves out the family-relative exception for participant-directed services. The only categorical exclusion is the parent of a minor-child Medicaid recipient (a federal rule, not a NJ rule).

If your loved one is age 60+ with countable income at or below 365% FPL ($4,855/month single in 2026) and is not enrolled in MLTSS, Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) can pay a relative as a "qualified participant-employed provider," up to $1,090/month in services plus a copay (0–25% sliding scale by income). Verify spouse eligibility county-by-county at the ADRC.

If your loved one is a wartime veteran, the Aid & Attendance supplement to VA Pension can put up to $2,358/month for a single veteran or higher for a married veteran in their pocket, money they can use to pay you privately. Eligible 70%+ service-connected veterans can also unlock PCAFC stipends of roughly $3,343–$3,575/month at Level 2 in NJ's two locality areas, plus VA Veteran Directed Care (VDC) budgets typically in the $1,800–$2,600/month range.

If you work in NJ and need leave to care for a family member, Family Leave Insurance (FLI) replaces 85% of your wages up to $1,119/week for up to 12 weeks per 12-month period, funded entirely by employee contributions in 2026.

The details, and the catches, are below.

New Jersey pathway map

{{component: table, caption: "New Jersey caregiver payment pathways at a glance (2026)"}}

Pathway	Who pays	Spouse eligible?	Typical 2026 monthly value	Speed to first payment
PPP within MLTSS	NJ FamilyCare (federal + state)	Yes	$31–$47/hr × authorized hours, ≤ 40 hrs/wk	60–120 days
Agency PCA within MLTSS	NJ FamilyCare (federal + state)	Spouse may be hired through agency under PPP-style direction; not via standard agency model	$26–$28/hr (agency rate, worker share lower)	30–90 days
JACC (state-funded, non-Medicaid)	NJ general fund (DoAS)	Verify county-by-county	Up to $1,090/mo in services, sliding-scale copay	60–120 days
Statewide Respite Care (SRCP)	NJ general fund (DoAS)	No (primary caregiver must be unpaid; substitute caregiver is paid)	Annual cap (varies by county; typical $3,500–$4,500/year)	30–60 days
VA PCAFC	VA (federal)	Yes	~$2,089–$3,575/mo tax-free (NJ locality)	30–90 days
VA Veteran Directed Care (VDC)	VA (federal)	Yes	$1,800–$2,600/mo budget	60–120 days
VA Improved Pension with Aid & Attendance	VA (federal)	Spouse paid via veteran	$1,558–$3,843/mo MAPR	90–180 days
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Each row is a separate door. Many NJ households combine three or four. A common veteran-caregiver stack: A&A + PCAFC + FLI for the working spouse. A common civilian stack: PPP + FLI + Wounded Warrior credit (when applicable) + Earned Sick & Safe Days.

The PPP family-relative exception, read this first

The single most important rule in this entire guide is sitting inside NJAC 10:60-3.8, the regulation that limits agency-based PCA in NJ FamilyCare. The default rule, as in most states, is that "legally responsible relatives", spouses, parents of minor children, and legal guardians, cannot be paid as PCAs. But Subsection 3.8(g)(1) carves out an exception for self-directed services authorized through the Personal Preference Program. Inside PPP, the consumer is the common-law employer; the consumer (or their authorized representative) hires whoever they choose, provided the worker is at least 18, passes a criminal background check, and completes orientation.

The categorical PPP exclusions are narrow:

The parent of a minor-child Medicaid recipient cannot be hired as a paid PCA. This is a federal §1915 prohibition, not a NJ rule.
A worker under 18 cannot be hired.
A worker who has not passed background checks cannot be hired.

Everyone else, including a spouse, an adult child, a parent of an adult Medicaid recipient, a sibling, a niece, a nephew, an in-law, a grandchild, a friend, or an unrelated neighbor, can be hired and paid as a PPP PCA.

This is also why the comparison table in the NJ vs. PA / NY / OH / MD section below matters so much. Pennsylvania bans spouse-pay outright through 55 Pa. Code Chapter 52. Ohio does not allow spouse-pay through PASSPORT. New York's CDPAP does allow spouse-pay (after the 2024 reauthorization). Maryland's Community First Choice does. New Jersey is on the more permissive end of the national distribution, and a growing share of NJ FamilyCare's MLTSS population is using PPP for exactly that reason.

The rate, the cap, and the operational mechanics are below.

Pathway 1, Personal Preference Program (PPP) within MLTSS

PPP is the single most important program in this guide. It is the participant-directed (consumer-directed) option inside NJ FamilyCare's Managed Long-Term Services and Supports, what NJ calls MLTSS. It is the NJ equivalent of California's IHSS, New York's CDPAP, Pennsylvania's Services My Way, and Florida's Participant-Directed Option, but with a more generous spouse-pay rule than PA, OH, or NJ's own legacy fee-for-service Medicaid PCA.

What MLTSS is

NJ consolidated nearly all aged-related home- and community-based-services waivers into a single MLTSS structure effective July 1, 2014. The Global Options for Long-Term Care Waiver (GO), Community Resources for People with Disabilities Waiver (CRPD), Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (TBI), and AIDS Community Care Alternatives Program (ACCAP) all rolled into MLTSS on that date. The legacy "ABC waiver" nickname refers to the pre-MLTSS HCBS tiers and should not be used in current consumer materials.

The current legal framework is the NJ FamilyCare Comprehensive 1115 Demonstration, last approved by CMS on April 18, 2024, with a demonstration period running April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028.

The five MLTSS MCOs

Five MCOs administer NJ FamilyCare MLTSS as of 2026:

Aetna Better Health of New Jersey.
Fidelis Care.
Horizon NJ Health.
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.
Wellpoint (rebranded from Amerigroup on 1/1/2024).

A separate Aetna Medicare FIDE-SNP (renamed from Aetna Assure Premier Plus on 1/1/2026) is the Medicare-aligned Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan that combines Medicare with NJ FamilyCare MLTSS for dual-eligibles.

What PPP actually pays

The 2025 PPP rate range was $31–$47/hour, averaging roughly $35/hour. As of May 2026, NJ DMAHS has not separately published a 2026 PPP rate schedule. The 2024 NJ DHS Public Notice on PCA rates (proposing $26.68/hour for the agency PCA rate) applies to agency-based PCA, not PPP, and is not the PPP rate. Verify your 2026 PPP rate directly with your Fiscal Intermediary at PPP enrollment.

A typical PPP participant authorized for 30 hours/week at $35/hour generates $1,050/week, ~$4,550/month, ~$54,600/year in PCA gross wages. A PPP participant at the regulatory cap of 40 hours/week at the same rate generates roughly $72,800/year. PPP is the highest-paying mass-market consumer-directed PCA program in the Northeast.

The 40-hour-per-week cap

PCA services authorized through MLTSS, whether agency or PPP, are capped at 40 hours per calendar work week absent an extraordinary-circumstances approval from the NJ Division of Disability Services or DMAHS, per NJAC 10:60-3.8(g). The cap is on the participant's authorization, not on a single worker's schedule, so two PPP workers can share authorized hours.

This cap is a hard ceiling. NJ MLTSS Care Managers can authorize fewer hours than 40, but cannot routinely authorize more without DMAHS extraordinary-circumstances review.

The Fiscal Intermediary split, Palco vs. PPL

PPP fragmented its Fiscal Intermediary structure in 2025:

Horizon NJ Health enrollees use Palco. Phone: 877-710-0457. Email: Supportnj@palcofirst.com.
Aetna, Fidelis, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint enrollees use Public Partnerships LLC (PPL). Phone: 1-844-880-8702. Email: CS-njppp@pplfirst.com.

A community workgroup convened on December 3, 2025 to address operational gaps from this transition. If you are switching MCOs in 2026, expect to re-paper your PPP employment agreement with the new FI, your PCA's W-2, EIN registration, and EVV setup all need to migrate.

Who can be hired as a PPP PCA

Per the NJ DHS PPP MCO/VF/EA Operations Policy Manual and NJAC 10:60-3.8(g)(1):

A spouse can be hired.
An adult child can be hired.
A parent of an adult Medicaid recipient can be hired.
A parent of a MINOR-CHILD Medicaid recipient cannot be hired (federal §1915 rule).
A sibling, in-law, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, friend, or unrelated worker can be hired.
Live-in caregivers can be paid, and (importantly for federal taxes, see "Tax treatment" below) the participant's home being the PCA's primary residence is what triggers the federal § 131(c) "difficulty-of-care" income exclusion.

Speed to first PPP paycheck

From the day a NJ family applies for MLTSS, the realistic timeline is:

Days 1–14: ADRC intake (1-877-222-3737), County Office on Aging or DDS scheduling for level-of-care assessment.
Days 15–45: NJ FamilyCare financial eligibility determination through County Board of Social Services (NJ FamilyCare income limit for MLTSS is the SSI 300% cap, verify at njfamilycare.dhs.state.nj.us); Plan of Care developed.
Days 45–60: MCO selected; Care Manager assigned; participant elects PPP; FI (Palco or PPL) sends enrollment packet.
Days 60–90: PCA completes background check, signs employment agreement, completes orientation. Sandata-style EVV system configured.
Days 90–120: First PCA shifts logged; first FI paycheck arrives 14 days after first time entry.

Total: typically 60–120 days from MLTSS application to first PPP paycheck. The slow stage is the gap between MCO assignment and FI enrollment, about 14–30 days for most participants. NJ Department of the Public Advocate and the Disability Rights New Jersey legal helpline (1-800-922-7233) are the right calls if you encounter denial or delay.

Pathway 2, Agency-based Personal Care Assistance (PCA)

If your situation doesn't fit PPP, or if you want professional agency oversight rather than self-direction, agency-based PCA is the alternative inside MLTSS. The participant works with a NJ-licensed home care agency (regulated under N.J.A.C. 8:42 and 8:42C and surveyed by NJ Department of Health Health Facilities) that hires the PCA, runs payroll, and handles compliance.

The 2024 NJ DHS Public Notice proposed a $26.68/hour agency PCA rate, the rate the agency bills NJ FamilyCare. The PCA's wage is whatever the agency pays them after employer-side taxes, benefits, training, and admin. Industry typical PCA wages in NJ in 2026 run $15–$19/hour through agencies, meaningfully lower than PPP because the agency takes the difference.

The agency model does NOT permit spouse-pay through the standard worker-employed-by-agency arrangement. If you want to be paid as a spouse, your only Medicaid-financed pathway in NJ is PPP.

Why families pick agency anyway:

The agency handles payroll, taxes, scheduling, and replacement workers when the PCA is sick.
The agency carries workers' compensation and professional liability.
The agency is the responsible party for training and competency.
The participant doesn't have to be a common-law employer with EIN, payroll, and W-2 obligations.

For most families who want a relative paid, PPP wins. For families who want professional staffing without the employer-side workload, agency wins.

Pathway 3, Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC)

JACC is NJ's state-funded, non-Medicaid program for adults age 60 or older who meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care standard but exceed MLTSS Medicaid financial limits. It is administered by the NJ Division of Aging Services (DoAS).

Eligibility (2026)

Age 60 or older.
Nursing Facility Level of Care.
Countable income at or below 365% of the Federal Poverty Level: $4,855/month single, $6,582/month couple in 2026.
Countable assets at or below $40,000 single / $60,000 couple.
NOT enrolled in MLTSS, NJ FamilyCare, the TBI Fund, Alzheimer's Adult Day Services, the Statewide Respite Care Program (SRCP), the Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP), or the Congregate Housing Services Program. JACC is mutually exclusive with these programs.

The "and not enrolled in MLTSS" rule is the one most families miss. JACC is for the population that is too high-income for MLTSS but cannot afford private home care. If your loved one is on MLTSS, they can't also be on JACC, they're in PPP territory instead.

What JACC pays

Per the NJ DoAS official program page, the JACC service cap is $1,090 per participant per month (plus separate care management). Some aggregator websites cite $929.88; that figure is incorrect. Use $1,090.

JACC services include:

Personal care services (delivered by qualified service providers OR by qualified participant-employed providers, the relative-pay door).
Adult day services.
Home-delivered meals.
Personal emergency response systems (PERS).
Respite (in-home or institutional).
Assistive devices and minor home modifications.
Caregiver/participant training.
Transportation.
Chore services.

Can a spouse be paid under JACC?

The DoAS official page authorizes "qualified service providers OR qualified participant-employed providers" to deliver personal care under JACC. Spouse-specific approval and county-level provider rules must be confirmed at the participant's local ADRC before any worker is hired. JACC is administered through a network of County Offices on Aging across all 21 NJ counties, and operational rules vary slightly by county.

The JACC copay

JACC participants pay a 0–25% copay based on income, applied as a sliding scale. The copay is itself capped against the participant's monthly JACC service authorization.

How to apply

Through the Aging & Disability Resource Connection at 1-877-222-3737 or directly through your county Office on Aging. Find your county listing at nj.gov/humanservices/doas/assistance/county-offices/.

JACC has historically operated under a budget-cycle cap and may carry a waitlist. Verify your county's current waitlist status at intake. Some NJ counties run essentially zero waitlist; others can have 6–12 month queues.

Pathway 4, Statewide Respite Care Program (SRCP)

SRCP is a state-funded program designed to give a primary unpaid family caregiver a break, by paying a substitute caregiver for a defined block of respite hours per year. The primary caregiver themselves cannot be paid by SRCP.

Eligibility (2026)

The care recipient is functionally impaired (cannot perform certain activities of daily living without assistance).
The primary caregiver provides unpaid care.
Care recipient income at or below $2,982/month gross single / $5,964/month gross married (3 × SSI FBR).
Care recipient assets at or below $40,000 single / $60,000 married.
NOT enrolled in MLTSS, JACC, Alzheimer's Adult Day Services, or the Congregate Housing Services Program.

What SRCP pays

SRCP pays a substitute caregiver, who is not the primary unpaid family caregiver, for in-home or institutional respite hours, up to a county-specific annual cap. Typical caps run $3,500–$4,500 per year depending on county budget, but the exact figure should be verified through the county Office on Aging.

A different family member (e.g., the primary caregiver's adult child providing respite to a parent caring for grandma) may be hired as the substitute respite worker, depending on county provider rules. The primary caregiver themselves cannot.

How to apply

Through the ADRC at 1-877-222-3737 or your county Office on Aging.

Pathway 5, VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

PCAFC is the only federal program that pays a family caregiver, including a spouse, directly via a monthly tax-free stipend. It is run by the VA's Caregiver Support Program.

New Jersey's veteran population is approximately 335,000–360,000 depending on data source. NJ veterans are served primarily by the VA New Jersey Health Care System with hospitals at East Orange (973-676-1000) and Lyons (908-647-0180), plus Wilmington VAMC (800-461-8262) for South Jersey veterans in Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties. NJ also has the Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Brick and outpatient clinics throughout the state.

Eligibility (38 CFR Part 71)

The veteran must:

Be rated 70% or higher service-connected (or have an equivalent functional impairment under the post-2020 criteria).
Be in need of personal-care services for a minimum of six continuous months.
Be enrolled in VA health care.

The family caregiver must be:

At least 18 years old.
A spouse, child, parent, stepfamily member, extended family member, or someone who lives with the veteran full-time.

Stipend formula

The PCAFC monthly stipend is calculated as:

OPM GS-4 Step 1 base × applicable BLS-area locality adjustment ÷ 12, multiplied by 0.625 (Level 1) or 1.00 (Level 2, "unable to self-sustain in the community").

Level 2 is the "higher need" tier, paid to a Primary Family Caregiver of a veteran who is unable to self-sustain in the community without continual personal care.

NJ-specific 2026 stipend estimates

NJ veterans fall into two OPM locality areas, and the stipend changes by locality.

{{component: table, caption: "2026 PCAFC monthly stipend estimates by NJ locality area"}}

NJ County	OPM Locality Area	Level 1 (~0.625x)	Level 2 (~1.0x)
Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Passaic, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Warren	NY-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA	~$2,234/mo	~$3,575/mo
Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May, Mercer	Philadelphia–Reading–Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD	~$2,089/mo	~$3,343/mo
{{/component}}

These are 2026 estimates, recompute against the live VA Stipend Calculator using the veteran's exact zip code before relying on the figures.

The legacy cohort cliff

VA's final rule at 90 FR 47891 (published September 29, 2025; effective September 30, 2025) extended the PCAFC legacy participants' transition period through September 30, 2028. Legacy participants are veterans who joined PCAFC before October 1, 2020, under the pre-2020 eligibility criteria. After September 30, 2028, legacy participants must satisfy the post-2020 PCAFC criteria or lose eligibility. If your NJ veteran joined PCAFC before October 2020, start planning the 2027–2028 reassessment with the VA NJ Health Care System Caregiver Support Coordinator now.

How to apply

Through the Caregiver Support Program at the veteran's VA medical center, via www.caregiver.va.gov, by calling the Caregiver Stipend Team at 1-833-930-0816, or by calling the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. Application is on VA Form 10-10CG; expect 30–90 days from a complete application to first stipend.

Pathway 6, VA Veteran Directed Care (VDC)

VDC is administered jointly by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the VA at the federal level, with local administration by NJ Area Agencies on Aging or Centers for Independent Living in partnership with VA medical centers.

VDC is the federal-funds pathway that pays a spouse to be a caregiver. The veteran receives a monthly self-directed budget, typically $1,800–$2,600/month depending on assessed need, and uses it to hire their own caregivers, including a spouse, adult children, friends, or in-laws.

Eligibility

Veteran is 18+ and enrolled in VA health care.
Veteran is clinically appropriate for HCBS, as assessed by their VA medical center's HCBS team.
Veteran is willing and able to direct their own care, or designates a representative.

NJ VDC operational status

NJ VDC participation in 2026 should be confirmed by phone before relying on VDC as a pathway. NJ is listed by ACL as a participating state, but operational availability at individual VAMCs varies year-over-year. Call:

VA NJ Health Care System East Orange: 973-676-1000.
VA NJ Health Care System Lyons: 908-647-0180.
Wilmington VAMC (for South Jersey): 800-461-8262.

Ask for the HCBS Coordinator and confirm VDC enrollment is open at that facility for the current fiscal year.

Stacking

VDC and PCAFC cannot both pay the same family member for the same hours, but a household can have one caregiver paid through PCAFC and a different caregiver paid through VDC. VDC and Aid & Attendance can stack: A&A is a pension supplement to the veteran; VDC is a caregiver wage paid via the Fiscal Intermediary.

Pathway 7, VA Improved Pension with Aid & Attendance (A&A)

A&A is not a family-caregiver wage program per se, it is a wartime pension supplement that gives the veteran or surviving spouse the income to afford a caregiver, who can be a family member. But it stacks cleanly with every other pathway in this guide.

2026 Maximum Annual Pension Rates (MAPRs), effective Dec 1, 2025 – Nov 30, 2026

{{component: table, caption: "2026 VA Aid & Attendance maximum annual pension rates"}}

A&A category	Approximate monthly
Single veteran, A&A	~$2,358
Surviving spouse alone, A&A	~$1,558
Veteran + spouse, A&A	~$2,874 (estimated)
Two veterans married, both A&A	~$3,843 (estimated)
{{/component}}

Recompute against the live VA Pension Rates page (va.gov/pension/veterans-pension-rates/) before relying on figures, the December 1, 2025 COLA was 2.5%, and small adjustments may apply.

Net-worth and look-back rules

Net-worth limit (38 CFR § 3.274): $163,699 as of 12/1/2025 (annually indexed).
Look-back (38 CFR § 3.276): 36 months from claim filing, with a 1–5 year potential penalty period for asset transfers.

Who can help, and who can't

38 USC § 5905 prohibits unaccredited persons from charging a fee for assisting with VA pension claims. NJ has accredited Veteran Service Officers in all 21 counties through the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) and via the county VSO network. Use them, they're free and accredited. Avoid any "pension consultant" who charges to file your A&A claim.

NJ-only veteran resources

NJ DMAVA Office of Veterans Services: veteran-benefits navigation across all 21 counties.
NJ Vet2Vet 24/7 peer-support helpline: 1-866-838-7654.
Two NJ Veterans Memorial Homes: Menlo Park (732-452-4100) and Paramus (201-967-7676), plus Vineland (856-405-1318), state-operated long-term care for NJ veterans.

Pathway adjacent to all of the above, NJ Family Leave Insurance (FLI)

NJ FLI is not a caregiver wage, it's a wage-replacement benefit for NJ-employed workers who need to take time off to care for a family member with a serious health condition. But it stacks with every Medicaid/VA pathway in this guide and is one of the most generous in the country.

2026 figures

Maximum benefit: $1,119/week (up from $1,081 in 2025).
Wage replacement rate: 85% of average weekly wages.
Maximum duration: 12 consecutive weeks in a 12-month period, OR 8 weeks intermittently in 24 separate days.
2026 FLI taxable wage base: $171,100.
Funding: Employee contribution only in 2026 (employers do not pay into FLI).
Apply at: myleavebenefits.nj.gov.

NJ's broad family definition

NJ FLI's family definition is one of the broadest in the country. It includes:

Parent, parent-in-law.
Spouse, civil union partner, domestic partner.
Child (biological, adopted, foster, stepchild, legal ward, and the equivalent for a domestic partner's child).
Sibling.
Grandparent and grandparent-in-law.
Grandchild.
Any other individual related by blood to the employee.
"A person whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship", the NJ-specific catch-all that covers "chosen family" relationships, friends, neighbors, and other functionally-family caregivers.

That last bullet is the rule that distinguishes NJ FLI from most other state programs. If you've been the primary caregiver for a longtime neighbor or close friend, NJ FLI covers that relationship.

Statutory authority

N.J.S.A. 43:21-25 et seq., as amended by P.L. 2019, c.37 (the 2019 expansion that increased the maximum to 12 weeks and the wage-replacement rate to 85%).

NJ Earned Sick & Safe Days Act

Under the NJ Earned Sick & Safe Days Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11D-1 et seq.), effective October 29, 2018, all NJ employees regardless of employer size accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per benefit year, with up to 40 unused hours rolling into the next year.

The leave may be used to care for a family member, defined broadly to include biological/adopted/foster/stepchildren, parent, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, civil-union partner, grandparent, grandchild, or "a person whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship", the same catch-all as FLI.

For most NJ caregivers, the operational stack is:

Use Earned Sick Leave for short, urgent absences (medical appointments, hospitalizations).
Bridge with FLI for sustained leave (post-discharge weeks, end-of-life care).
Combine with PPP wages if the caregiver is also the paid PCA.

NJ Wounded Warrior Caregivers Credit (the only enacted state caregiver credit)

NJ has one enacted state tax credit specifically for caregivers: the Wounded Warrior Caregivers Credit, codified at P.L. 2017, c.67 (N.J.S.A. 54A:4-15).

The credit

The credit equals 100% of the qualifying veteran's federal disability compensation OR $675, whichever is less.
The credit is refundable. That means even caregivers with no NJ income tax liability receive a refund check.
Income limits: $100,000 (joint, head of household, qualifying widow/widower) or $50,000 (single, married filing separately).

Who qualifies

The qualifying veteran must be:

A US Armed Services member (active or veteran).
With a service-connected disability arising from service on or after September 11, 2001.

The caregiver must be a NJ resident, not a paid commercial caregiver, and the qualifying veteran must live with the caregiver for more than half the year.

How to claim

File Schedule NJ-WWC with your NJ-1040 if you have a NJ tax liability.
Non-filers claim the refund on Form NJ-1040-HW.

Proposed but not yet enacted: CARE Act and broader Caregiver Tax Credit

Two broader caregiver tax credits remain proposed in the NJ Legislature as of May 2026:

CARE Act (A1581 / S2303)

The Caregiver Assistance Reimbursement and Empowerment Act (CARE Act) would create a 22.5% non-refundable credit on up to $3,000 in qualified care expenses, capped at $675. The income limits mirror the Wounded Warrior credit ($100K joint / $50K single). The CARE Act is currently introduced; the 221st Legislature has held committee referrals but no floor vote.

Caregiver Tax Credit (A5776 / S4947)

A broader bill would create a $2,500 refundable Caregiver Tax Credit. The bill is in committee. Tracking link: pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5776_I1.HTM.

Until either bill is signed, the only enacted NJ caregiver tax credit is the Wounded Warrior credit. Article framing must say "introduced, not enacted" until passage is confirmed.

Federal IRC § 131(c) and NJ tax conformity, the section most articles get wrong

This is one of the most consequential and least-discussed tax questions for NJ-paid family caregivers.

The federal rule (in your favor)

IRS Notice 2014-7 (issued January 3, 2014) and IRC § 131(c) treat qualified Medicaid waiver payments to a live-in care provider as "difficulty-of-care" payments excludable from federal gross income. To qualify:

The payments must be made by a state Medicaid waiver program (or a certified Medicaid provider acting under a waiver). NJ FamilyCare PPP payments through PPL or Palco qualify as Medicaid waiver payments.
The PCA's home and the care recipient's home must be the same, the live-in test.

A NJ PPP PCA paid through PPL or Palco who lives with the participant typically reports $0 federal taxable wages on their W-2 box 1, even though they earned $50,000 or $70,000 of gross pay.

The Tax Court in Feigh v. Commissioner, 152 T.C. 267 (2019), affirmed by the 9th Circuit in 2020, plus IRS Notice 2020-15 (March 2020), confirm that a taxpayer may elect to treat difficulty-of-care payments as earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, even when the payments are excluded from gross income. For low- and moderate-income NJ caregivers with qualifying children, this election is often worth $3,000–$7,000 a year in federal EITC alone. Don't skip it.

The NJ rule (uncertain, get a NJ CPA)

NJ Gross Income Tax conformity to IRC § 131(c) is unsettled. NJ does not automatically conform to the federal Internal Revenue Code; NJ GIT is a separate state-level scheme codified at N.J.S.A. 54A:1-1 et seq. NJ Division of Taxation has not issued a clear ruling on whether IRS Notice 2014-7's exclusion carries over to NJ GIT for live-in PPP PCAs.

Action item. Talk to a NJ-licensed CPA before April 15, 2027 about your PPP wages. Do not assume your federal § 131(c) exclusion automatically zeroes out your NJ tax. If your CPA concludes NJ does conform, document the position. If your CPA concludes NJ does not conform, budget for NJ GIT at the applicable bracket (NJ GIT rates run 1.4%–10.75%; most PPP caregivers fall in the 1.4%–5.525% bands).

NJ Earned Income Tax Credit

NJ has a state EITC equal to 40% of the federal EITC in 2026 (codified at N.J.S.A. 54A:4-7). If you make the federal Feigh / Notice 2020-15 election to treat your excluded waiver payments as earned income for federal EITC, the same election typically carries over to your NJ state EITC computation, adding meaningfully to your refund.

How to set up PPP, step-by-step

If you're going to be paid as a family caregiver through NJ FamilyCare, this is your operational playbook.

Step 1, Confirm Medicaid eligibility for the care recipient

Apply at the County Board of Social Services (covid-relief and online options at njfamilycare.dhs.state.nj.us). For NJ FamilyCare MLTSS in 2026, the income standard is 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate ($2,982/month single in 2026), with applicable countable-asset limits. NJ has spousal-impoverishment protections; ask the Income Maintenance Specialist for the Community Spouse Resource Allowance calculation.

Step 2, Apply for MLTSS

Through the County Office on Aging or by calling the ADRC at 1-877-222-3737. Request an MLTSS clinical assessment. The state contracts with assessment vendors who visit the home and complete the Pre-Admission Screening / NJ Choice Assessment for Nursing Facility Level of Care.

Step 3, Pick an MCO

Aetna Better Health, Fidelis Care, Horizon NJ Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, or Wellpoint. Each offers different provider networks, supplemental benefits, and Care Manager teams. Before selecting, verify that the participant's existing primary care provider, specialists, and DMEs are in-network.

Step 4, Care Manager assessment

The MCO assigns a Care Manager who completes a Plan of Care, including a needs assessment. The Plan of Care authorizes weekly hours of personal care services, plus any other waiver services (home-delivered meals, adult day services, home modifications, durable medical equipment).

Step 5, Elect PPP at the assessment

Tell the Care Manager at the assessment that you want PPP. If you don't ask, the CM will default to the agency model. The CM documents the participant's role as Common-Law Employer and refers the participant to the Fiscal Intermediary, Palco for Horizon NJ Health, PPL for the other four MCOs.

Step 6, FI enrollment

The FI sends an employer welcome packet with EIN application (FIs typically handle the federal EIN application as IRC § 3504 agent), state withholding registration with the NJ Division of Taxation, and NJ Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance account opening.

Step 7, Identify the PCA

The participant identifies a PCA, including a spouse or other adult relative. The exclusion is the parent of a minor-child Medicaid recipient.

Step 8, PCA background check

The PCA must complete:

NJ State Police Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) check under N.J.S.A. 30:4D-17 and parallel statutes.
A national fingerprint check via NJ's IdentoGO vendor if required by the MCO.

The Fiscal Intermediary typically coordinates the CHRI process and provides instructions.

Step 9, PCA orientation and training

The FI provides orientation covering:

The participant's Plan of Care.
Mandated-reporter status under NJ's Adult Protective Services framework (N.J.A.C. 10:5).
EVV requirements.
Time-keeping.
Infection control and emergency procedures.

Step 10, Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)

Per 21st Century Cures Act § 12006 (codified at 42 USC § 1396b(l)), all Medicaid-paid personal-care services delivered in the home must use Electronic Visit Verification. The PCA logs each shift's start, location, and end via a smartphone app or a participant-home phone-based check-in.

Step 11, Set the PCA wage

The Common-Law Employer (the participant or representative) sets the PCA's hourly wage at or below the FI's published maximum PPP wage rate. Verify the 2026 rate at FI enrollment, the 2025 range was $31–$47/hour.

Step 12, Time-keeping and pay

The PCA logs time via the FI's EVV-integrated system. The FI runs biweekly or semi-monthly payroll, withholds federal income tax (or excludes under § 131(c) for live-in workers), FICA, FUTA, and applicable NJ state withholdings, and issues a W-2 at year-end.

Step 13, Mandatory-reporter status

All PCAs are mandated reporters of suspected elder abuse under NJ's Adult Protective Services framework. Suspected abuse should be reported to 1-800-792-8820 (NJ Adult Protective Services intake).

Step 14, Workers' compensation

NJ workers' compensation law (N.J.S.A. 34:15) generally requires household employers to carry workers' compensation insurance for employees working 25+ hours per week. The Fiscal Intermediary typically procures workers' compensation coverage for PPP PCAs; confirm with your FI at intake.

A 30-day playbook for newly-diagnosed NJ families

Use this when a parent has just been diagnosed with a serious condition (dementia, stroke, advanced Parkinson's, terminal cancer) and you know you'll be the primary caregiver.

Days 1–3. Call ADRC 1-877-222-3737 to be routed to your county Office on Aging. Schedule a free needs assessment. While on hold, write down: the care recipient's diagnoses, current medications, primary insurance(s), Medicare/Medicaid status, monthly income, and assets.

Days 4–7. Apply for NJ FamilyCare through your County Board of Social Services, even if you're not sure your loved one will qualify, the "deny" letter starts the appeal clock. Request the MLTSS clinical assessment in parallel. If the care recipient is 60+ and probably above the MLTSS income limit, also apply for JACC through the ADRC.

Days 8–14. Receive the assessment; receive the level-of-care determination. Pick an MCO. Tell your Care Manager at the first call that you want PPP.

Days 15–21. Fiscal Intermediary (Palco or PPL) enrollment paperwork arrives. Identify your PCA (spouse OK; only exclusion is parent of minor-child). Begin background checks (CHRI, IdentoGO if required). Complete PCA orientation.

Days 22–28. First PCA shifts logged via EVV. First FI paycheck arrives within ~14 days of first time entry.

Days 29–30. If a wartime veteran, file for VA Aid & Attendance through your county VSO and screen for PCAFC eligibility at VA NJ Health Care System (East Orange or Lyons) or Wilmington VAMC. If you're employed in NJ and need extended leave, file for NJ Family Leave Insurance at myleavebenefits.nj.gov.

NJ vs. NY / PA / OH / MD, the comparison most families want

NJ is on the more permissive end of the national distribution on family caregiver payment. Here is how it stacks up against neighboring and peer states.

{{component: table, caption: "Spouse-pay rules and rates: NJ vs. NY, PA, OH, MD (2026)"}}

Pathway / state	Spouse paid?	Adult child paid?	Hourly rate range (2026)	Typical wait time
NJ, PPP within MLTSS	Yes	Yes	~$31–$47/hr (2025 range; 2026 verify with FI)	60–120 days
NJ, JACC	Verify county-by-county	Yes	Up to $1,090/mo cap	60–120 days
NY, CDPAP (1915(c) MLTC)	Yes (post-2024 reauthorization)	Yes	$18–$22/hr (downstate), $16–$18/hr (upstate)	30–60 days
PA, Services My Way (CHC / OBRA / Act 150)	No	Yes	~$13–$16/hr (county-banded)	30–90 days
OH, PASSPORT + MyCare Ohio Self-Directed	No	Yes	$13–$15/hr	30–60 days
MD, Community First Choice (CFC)	Yes	Yes	$14–$16/hr	60–90 days
{{/component}}

Two things stand out. First, the NJ PPP rate is meaningfully higher than its peer-state alternatives, the result of NJ's longer history with consumer-directed services and higher cost-of-living adjustments. Second, NJ and NY are the two Northeast states where a spouse can be paid through the standard Medicaid pathway. PA cannot. OH cannot.

NJ FIDE-SNPs, the Medicare-aligned MLTSS option

For dual-eligibles (Medicare + NJ FamilyCare MLTSS), the Fully Integrated Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (FIDE-SNP) product combines both programs in a single MCO. NJ FIDE-SNPs operating in 2026 are:

Aetna Medicare FIDE (HMO D-SNP, renamed from Aetna Assure Premier Plus on 1/1/2026).
Horizon NJ TotalCare FIDE-SNP.
UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete NJ FIDE.
Wellpoint Dual Advantage where MLTSS-aligned.

Caregiver supports, in-home support, respite, caregiver education, vary by plan and are listed as Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) in each plan's Evidence of Coverage. CMS Final Rule 4205-F, effective CY 2026, requires SSBCI OTC-credits for healthy food and utilities to be tied to a verified qualifying chronic condition.

PACE, the alternative to MLTSS for some dual-eligibles

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a fully capitated Medicare + Medicaid alternative for adults 55+ who meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care standard but live in a PACE service area. PACE itself does not pay family caregivers, it provides comprehensive medical, social, and long-term care services through an interdisciplinary team.

NJ DHS announced statewide PACE expansion on January 8, 2026, with the National PACE Association confirming on February 4, 2026 that all 21 NJ counties will have PACE access.

Existing NJ PACE operators (2026):

LIFE St. Francis (Trinity Health PACE), Trenton.
Lutheran Senior LIFE, Jersey City.
Capital Health LIFE, Hamilton.
Beacon of LIFE.
Inspira LIFE.

2026 PACE awardees with sites in development (CMS approval and build cycles run 18–24 months):

WelbeHealth, Sussex, Warren, Morris.
Senior LIFE, Hunterdon.
Plus East Brunswick (Middlesex), Plainfield (Union), Bridgewater/Wayne (Somerset/Passaic), Newark/Paramus (Essex/Bergen).

If your loved one is interested in PACE rather than MLTSS, find your nearest operator at njpaceassoc.org.

Adult Family Care, what NJ does NOT have

NJ does not have a robust Medicaid-financed Adult Family Care program comparable to Massachusetts' AFC, Rhode Island's Shared Living, or Indiana's Structured Family Caregiving.

NJ Adult Family Care Homes (AFCH) is a licensure category under N.J.S.A. 26:2H and N.J.A.C. 8:43H allowing an unrelated caregiver to provide home-based care to up to 3 adults in the caregiver's residence. This is a residential licensure category, not a Medicaid caregiver-pay program.

NJ families seeking the "live-in family caregiver gets paid by Medicaid" model should be routed to PPP, not AFC. PPP is the right pathway. AFC in NJ is licensure for non-related boarders, not a wage program for relatives.

Federal threats to NJ caregiver pay (2026–2028)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Pub. L. 119-21, signed July 4, 2025, contains several provisions affecting NJ FamilyCare MLTSS and PPP economics. NJ DMAHS is publishing implementation guidance at nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/obbba/medicaid-federal-changes.shtml.

Community-engagement (work) requirements. Beginning Fall 2026, ACA expansion-population adults aged 19–64 receiving Medicaid must demonstrate 80 hours/month of qualifying activities (work, study, volunteering, job training) with statutory exemptions. NJ has a sizeable expansion population.
Retroactive eligibility shortened. Reduces retroactive Medicaid eligibility to 60 days for non-expansion enrollees and 30 days for expansion enrollees.
Provider-tax safe-harbor phasedown. The Medicaid hold-harmless safe-harbor decreases from 6% to 3.5% in ACA-expansion states between FY 2028 and FY 2034, affecting NJ MCO assessment and MLTSS capitation funding.
Standalone HCBS waiver authority (the bright spot, 2028+). Beginning July 1, 2028, HHS may approve new 1915(c) HCBS waivers covering individuals who do not yet meet a nursing-facility level of care, an unprecedented expansion.

Article framing should remain "phased rollout beginning Fall 2026" rather than asserting specific operational impacts.

NJ legislation worth watching (2024–2026 sessions)

A1581 / S2303, CARE Act, $675 caregiver tax credit. Introduced; not enacted.
A5776 / S4947, Caregiver Tax Credit, $2,500 refundable. Introduced; not enacted.
NJ FLI rate updates, 2026 rates confirmed at $1,119/wk, 85% replacement, $171,100 wage base.
NJ Medicaid OBBBA implementation guidance, verify quarterly at the DMAHS OBBBA page.
PPP rate schedule for 2026, anticipated DMAHS publication; confirm at FI before relying on 2025 figures.

14 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my spouse be paid as my caregiver in New Jersey?

Yes, through the Personal Preference Program (PPP) inside NJ FamilyCare MLTSS. This is one of the most consequential differences between New Jersey and many of its peer states. NJAC 10:60-3.8(g)(1) carves out the family-relative exception for participant-directed services in NJ. The only categorical exclusion is the parent of a minor-child Medicaid recipient (a federal §1915 prohibition, not a NJ rule). Spouses, adult children, parents of adult Medicaid recipients, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and unrelated workers are all eligible to be hired and paid as PPP PCAs.

2. How much does PPP pay in 2026?

The 2025 PPP rate range was $31–$47/hour, averaging roughly $35/hour. The 2026 PPP rate schedule has not been separately published by NJ DMAHS as of May 2026; verify the exact 2026 rate at PPP enrollment with your Fiscal Intermediary (Palco for Horizon NJ Health, PPL for the other four MCOs). Don't conflate this with the $26.68/hour 2024 agency PCA rate, agency PCA and PPP are different products.

3. How many hours a week can I work as a PPP PCA?

Up to 40 hours per calendar work week, per NJAC 10:60-3.8(g). The cap applies to the participant's authorization, not to a single worker's schedule. Multiple PPP PCAs can share authorized hours. Authorization above 40 hours requires extraordinary-circumstances approval from the NJ Division of Disability Services or DMAHS.

4. How long does it take to start getting paid through PPP?

Typically 60–120 days from the day you first call the ADRC, assuming a participant who is straightforwardly NJ FamilyCare-eligible and has no appeal. The slowest stage for most families is the gap between MCO assignment and Fiscal Intermediary enrollment (about 14–30 days). The Disability Rights New Jersey legal helpline (1-800-922-7233) is the right call if you encounter denial or delay.

5. Are my PPP wages tax-free?

Federal: yes, if you live with the care recipient. IRS Notice 2014-7 and IRC § 131(c) treat qualified Medicaid waiver payments to a live-in care provider as difficulty-of-care payments excludable from federal gross income. NJ: uncertain. NJ Gross Income Tax does not automatically conform to the federal Internal Revenue Code, and NJ Division of Taxation has not issued a clear ruling on whether IRS Notice 2014-7's exclusion carries over to NJ GIT. Talk to a NJ-licensed CPA before April 15, 2027.

6. Can I claim the federal EITC if my PPP wages are excluded under § 131(c)?

Yes, and you should. The Tax Court in Feigh v. Commissioner (2019), affirmed by the 9th Circuit (2020), and IRS Notice 2020-15 confirm that you may elect to treat difficulty-of-care payments as earned income for EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit purposes. For low-income NJ caregivers with qualifying children, this election is often worth $3,000–$7,000 in federal EITC, plus an additional NJ state EITC equal to 40% of the federal credit.

7. What's the difference between PPP and JACC?

PPP is for adults enrolled in NJ FamilyCare MLTSS, the Medicaid pathway. PPP pays $31–$47/hour up to 40 hours/week.

JACC is for adults age 60+ who are NOT enrolled in MLTSS (typically because they exceed the income limit) but meet a Nursing Facility Level of Care standard and have countable income at or below 365% FPL. JACC's service cap is $1,090/month plus separate care management. JACC participants pay a 0–25% sliding-scale copay.

The two programs are mutually exclusive. If your loved one is on MLTSS, they cannot also be on JACC.

8. Can I get paid for caring for my spouse through JACC?

Spouse-pay under JACC is permitted only as a "qualified participant-employed provider" under DoAS rules, and operational requirements vary county-by-county. Confirm specific spouse-pay availability at your county Office on Aging or via the ADRC at 1-877-222-3737 before assuming spouse-pay is available in your county.

9. What about caring for a veteran, what's the highest paid stack?

A married wartime NJ veteran can typically combine: VA Aid & Attendance (~$2,874/month for a married veteran), VA Veteran Directed Care ($1,800–$2,600/month paid to a spouse as caregiver), and VA PCAFC stipend (if a different family member is the PCAFC primary caregiver, $3,343–$3,575/month at Level 2 in NJ's two locality areas), plus NJ Wounded Warrior Caregivers Credit ($675/year refund if the veteran's disability is service-connected post-9/11). Total monthly value: easily $7,000–$9,000 when fully stacked. The catch: each program has its own paperwork and accreditation rules. Use a free NJ-accredited County VSO, never a paid pension consultant, to navigate.

10. How does PCAFC differ from VDC?

PCAFC is a monthly tax-free stipend paid by VA directly to a primary family caregiver (including a spouse) of a veteran rated 70%+ service-connected with qualifying functional impairment. NJ Level 2 stipends in 2026 are approximately $3,343–$3,575/month depending on locality area.

VDC gives the veteran a self-directed monthly budget ($1,800–$2,600/month typically) to spend on the caregivers and supports of their choice, including hiring a spouse, adult child, or friend as a paid worker through a Fiscal Intermediary.

Both can exist in one household, but not for the same hours of the same caregiver.

11. What's the NJ Wounded Warrior Caregivers Credit and who qualifies?

P.L. 2017, c.67 (N.J.S.A. 54A:4-15) establishes a refundable NJ Gross Income Tax credit equal to 100% of the qualifying veteran's federal disability compensation OR $675, whichever is less. The qualifying veteran must be a US Armed Services member with a service-connected disability arising from service on or after September 11, 2001. Income limits: $100,000 (joint/HoH/QW) or $50,000 (single/MFS). Filed via Schedule NJ-WWC; non-filers use Form NJ-1040-HW.

12. What is NJ Family Leave Insurance (FLI), and can I use it to take time off to care for my parent?

Yes. NJ FLI replaces 85% of your wages up to $1,119/week in 2026 for up to 12 weeks per 12-month period, to care for a family member with a serious health condition. NJ's family definition is among the broadest in the country: parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, in-law, or "a person whose close association is the equivalent of a family relationship." FLI is funded entirely by employee contributions in 2026; the FLI taxable wage base is $171,100. Apply at myleavebenefits.nj.gov.

13. How does Earned Sick & Safe Leave fit in?

The NJ Earned Sick & Safe Days Act entitles all NJ employees to 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours per benefit year, regardless of employer size. The leave can be used to care for a broadly-defined family member (the same broad definition as FLI). For most caregivers, the operational stack is: use Earned Sick Leave for short urgent absences (medical appointments, hospitalizations); bridge with FLI for sustained leave (post-discharge weeks, end-of-life care); combine with PPP wages if the caregiver is also the paid PCA.

14. Where do I start if I'm completely overwhelmed?

Make exactly two phone calls today:

Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC): 1-877-222-3737, they will route you to your county Office on Aging and start the JACC, SRCP, and (if applicable) MLTSS processes.
NJ Adult Protective Services 1-800-792-8820, if you're worried about safety. NJ Vet2Vet 1-866-838-7654 for veteran families.

Then sit down with a notebook and write the basics: your loved one's diagnoses, medications, current insurance, monthly income, assets, and the names and ages of any other family members who might share caregiving. That notebook is the document every assessor, social worker, and accredited VSO will ask you to read from over the next 90 days.

New Jersey crisis lines and helplines

Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) / NJEASE: 1-877-222-3737, the NJ-wide ADRC, the first call most families should make.
NJ Adult Protective Services hotline: 1-800-792-8820 (24/7).
NJ Vet2Vet 24/7 peer-support helpline: 1-866-838-7654.
Disability Rights New Jersey: 1-800-922-7233, free legal advocacy on Medicaid LTSS, MLTSS denials, and PPP appeals.
NJ Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-877-582-6995, investigates complaints in nursing homes and assisted living.
NJ DMAVA Office of Veterans Services: 1-888-865-8387.
VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274.
VA Caregiver Stipend Team: 1-833-930-0816.
PPL (PPP Fiscal Intermediary for Aetna, Fidelis, UHC, Wellpoint): 1-844-880-8702 (CS-njppp@pplfirst.com).
Palco (PPP Fiscal Intermediary for Horizon NJ Health): 877-710-0457 (Supportnj@palcofirst.com).
NJ FLI / Earned Sick Leave: myleavebenefits.nj.gov.
NJ Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-572-7233.
2-1-1 NJ: general health-and-human-services 211.

Where to start today

Call ADRC 1-877-222-3737 and request a county Office on Aging assessment for both MLTSS screening and (if applicable) JACC eligibility.
Apply for NJ FamilyCare through your County Board of Social Services, even if you're not sure your loved one will qualify. The "deny" letter starts the appeal clock.
If your loved one is a veteran, call your county Veterans Service Officer (find them via NJ DMAVA at 1-888-865-8387) and ask for a free VSO to file Aid & Attendance and screen for PCAFC.
Write down your loved one's diagnoses, medications, monthly income, and assets in one notebook. Take it to every appointment.
Talk to a NJ-licensed CPA who knows IRC § 131(c) federal/state interaction before April 15, 2027.