Personal Assistance Service Program (PASP)
The PASP is a personal care assistance program that provides up to 40 hours per week of routine, non-medical personal care assistance to adults with permanent physical disabilities between the ages 18-70 who are employed, preparing for employment, attending school or involved in community volunteer work and who are able to self-direct their own services.
Personal assistants help with personal care tasks including, but not limited to: bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, preparing meals, shopping, light house keeping, driving or using public transportation.
The goal of this program is to support individuals with physical disabilities so that they can remain active in their community. The PASP offers participants choice, flexibility, control and the opportunity to manage their own personal care assistance services.
Eligibility is not income based, but there is a cost share based on income. The PASP is administered through County offices with oversight and funding provided by the Division of Disability Services.
PASP participants:
- Receive a monthly budget to purchase services
- Create their own individualized plan to direct their personal care needs
- Choose who will provide the services
- Tailor the services to meet their schedule and needs
Here's how it works:
An assessment is completed to determine the number of hours a participant will receive. Those hours are then converted to a monthly budget. The monthly budget, which is managed by a fiscal intermediary organization, is used by the participant to purchase required services. With assistance from a County Coordinator, participants will develop and follow a cash management plan (CMP), which outlines exactly how their monthly budget will be spent.
ELIGIBILITY
Participants must:
- reside in New Jersey
- have a permanent physical disability and require assistance with activities of daily living
- be between the ages 18 and 70
- live in the community
- be capable of directing and supervising their own services
- be employed, preparing for employment through a vocational training program, in school, or actively volunteering in the community for a minimum of 20 hours per month
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in learning more about PASP or applying for the program, your County Coordinator is your first point of contact. County Coordinators screen and enroll eligible participants, work with participants to develop cash management plans, and support participants as they manage their monthly budgets. Use the link below to find the contact information for the Coordinator serving your county.
PASP County Coordinator Directory
FISCAL INTERMEDIARY
SELF DIRECTED SERVICES (SDS) FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF CAU
Call toll free: 1-877-354-9944
80 West Grand Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
https://sdsfiscal.org
TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS
9/29/21: Orientation to PASP Webinar at 12:00 PM
STATE CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
New Jersey statute provides for the establishment of the Statewide Consumer Advisory Council On Personal Assistance Services (hereinafter referred to as the PASP Advisory Council). The primary objective of the PASP Advisory Council is to advise the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services on matters related to personal care assistance services and, more specifically, to advise the Division of Disability Services (DDS) on matters related to the Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP). Click here for additional information about the council, including agendas and meeting minutes.
REGULATIONS
PASP Regulations (N.J.A.C. 10:140)
PROPOSED REGULATORY AMENDMENTS (FOR PUBLIC COMMENT)
COVID-19 GUIDANCE
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NASDP) COVID training resources and videos
The Care Academy--FREE COVID Certification Class
COVID-19 Guidance for Individuals and Families of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
DHS’ Corona Virus information page
CONTACT INFORMATION
Division of Disability Services
11A Quakerbridge Plaza, Mercerville NJ
(Mailing: PO Box 705 Trenton NJ 08625)
Telephone: 1-888-285-3036
Fax: 609-341-2256
KEY STAFF
Susannah Combs, PASP Program Manager
