How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in NJ

FAQs & Resources

NJ DDD: FAQ

Who is Eligible for DDD?

To qualify for services through the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), you must:

• Have a chronic physical and/or intellectual disability
• The disability must have started before age 22
• It must be expected to be lifelong
• It must limit your ability to care for yourself and live independently

When Can You Receive Services?

DDD services begin at age 21. Individuals in school can stay in educational services until age 21.
‍
Ages 18–21:
• Services are provided through the NJ Children’s System of Care (PerformCare)
• Important to plan transition with your IEP team and transition coordinator

How Can I Apply for DDD?

You must complete an Application for Determination of Eligibility.

Use the FULL Application if:
• You've never applied before
OR
• You've received PerformCare services but did not complete their formal eligibility application

Use the SHORT Application if:
• You were already determined eligible by DDD
OR
• You were approved through PerformCare

How Do I Submit a DDD
Application?

You can submit your completed application and documents in the following ways:

📍 In Person
• Hand-deliver your application and supporting documentation Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm to the Community Services Office for the applicant's county of residence.

📬 By Mail
• Mail your application and supporting documentation to DDD Intake at the Community Services Office for the applicant's county of residence.

📧 By Email
• Scan the completed, signed application and all supporting documents and submit as an attachment to: DDD.NJApply@dhs.nj.gov.
• Please include the following in the email subject line: Intake Application - Individual's Initials - County of Residence
(SAMPLE: Intake Application JS Mercer County).

After You Apply:

⏳ Review can take up to 60 days
• Missing documents may delay the process

Need Help Applying?

📧 Email: DDD.BeforeYouApply@dhs.nj.gov
📞 Contact or visit your local Community Services Office
🌍 Language assistance is available if needed

What Services Are Available
Through DDD?

DDD provides support through Medicaid waiver programs:

• Supports Program
• Community Care Program

These help individuals live more independently in the community.

NJCAT: FAQ

The NJCAT (New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool) is used by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to assess an individual's support needs in self-care, behavior, and medical areas. Results from this assessment place an individual into a specific Tier (A, B, C, D, E or F), which directly determines their annual service budget.

After the NJCAT assessment, individuals are placed into a tier that determines their annual budget and level of need.

How is the NJCAT Completed?

A trained Division facilitator will schedule an in-person, virtual, or phone meeting with you and your guardian, if you have one. It can be helpful to have additional people participate in themeeting who know you and spend time with you – for example, other family members, service providers and caregivers.

You can also look at a sample NJCAT (or sample NJCAT in Spanish) before attending the face-to-face NJCAT meeting.

The facilitator will use a computer to access the NJCAT online but will ask the questions out loud. You and the other meeting participants can talk about the question and the facilitator will enter the answer based on the consensus of the group. The facilitator will submit the completed NJCAT electronically to the Rutgers University Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute (DDPI), where the scores are tabulated, and the tier is established.

What the NJCAT Tier Determines

The assigned tier dictates the amount of funding an individual receives under DDD waiver programs (such as the Supports Program or the Community Care Program). Budgets typically allocate funding. The main categories are divided into two tracks based on clinical needs:

‍Base Tiers (A, B, C, D, E): Assigned based on functional and daily living skills. Tier A represents the highest level of independence, while Tier E indicates the highest level of comprehensive support needed.

‍Acuity Tiers (Aa, Ba, Ca, Da, Ea): These sub-tiers have an “a” added at the end (e.g., “Da”). They are assigned to individuals who fall into a base tier but require additional clinical supports due to significant medical or behavioral needs.

‍Exception Tiers (F, Fa): These are extremely rare and used only in highly exceptional cases.

Tier A (Lowest Need)

Profile
• Mostly independent
• Minimal supervision needed
• Little to no behavioral or medical concerns

‍Typical Needs
• Light support (check-ins, minimal DSP hours)
• May attend day program or work
• Can manage many daily living skills

Tier B (Low-Moderate Need)

Profile
• Some support needed with daily living skills
• Occasional supervision required
• Mild behavioral or medical needs

Typical Needs
• Part-time DSP support
• Day program or supported employment
• Help with routines and structure

Tier C (Moderate Need)

Profile
• Regular supervision required
• Noticeable support needs with ADLs
• Possible behavioral or medical concerns

Typical Needs
• Consistent DSP hours
• Day programs with supervision
• Structured environment

Tier D (High Need)

Profile
• Significant supervision required
• Ongoing behavioral challenges and/or medical needs
• Requires hands-on support daily.
‍
Typical Needs
• High DSP hours
• Behavioral supports
• Possibly specialized day programs or services.

Tier E (Highest Need)

Profile
• Requires constant or near-constant supervision
• Significant medical and/or behavioral needs
• Limited independence

Typical Needs
• 1:1 or intensive staffing support
• Residential care often required
• Multiple services (behavioral, medical, habilitation)

Tier F (Rare)

Individuals in Tier F may qualify for:
• 24/7 staffing supports
• Group home or supervised living placement
• In-home intensive staffing (if self-directed)
• Behavioral and clinical services
• Nursing supports

How This Applies to Each Area

Self-Care
1 → Fully independent
2 → Needs reminders
3 → Needs some physical help
4 → Fully dependent

Behavioral
1 → No behaviors
2 → Occasional, manageable behaviors
3 → Frequent behaviors needing intervention
4 → Serious behaviors (safety risk, constant supervision)

Medical
1 → Healthy/stable
2 → Mild conditions (routine meds)
3 → Ongoing medical needs (monitoring required)
4 → Complex care (skilled/nursing level support)

These scores are weighted together and used to calculate the overall NJCAT score, which determines the Tier (A–F)

If someone answers mostly:
1s and 2s → Likely lower tier (A/B)
3s → Likely mid-tier (C)
4s in behavior or medical → Likely higher tier (D/E)

How Does NJCAT Determine
Funding?

The answers provided in these three areas are used by Rutgers University to calculate your total functional score, which assigns the individual to a specific Tier (A through E, or Aa-Ea for individuals with high clinical acuity). This tier dictates the individual’s annual budget in either the Supports Program or the Community Care Program.

Understanding NJ DDD

How It Works