Switching to PPL is Simpler Than You Think

Claudia G., a personal assistant for her mother Alice P. under New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), has a message for those reluctant to switch to PPL, the program’s new statewide fiscal intermediary — change doesn’t have to be scary, just get it done!

Claudia began the transition process for her and her mother with a phone call to PPL. “I asked what the switch entailed, and they sent me something via my cell phone with the [PPL and tracking] numbers to plug in and the website I needed to go to,” she explained, noting the process was straightforward and mostly involved uploading some documents and answering a few questions.

During the paperwork completion process, Claudia had an additional question. A call to PPL got answers.

“PPL walked me through it,” Claudia said. “The process was fairly simple. It probably took me at most 45 minutes.”

Before starting the transition process, Claudia recommends having:

• A pen and paper handy to take notes
• The name of the fiscal intermediary you currently work with
• Your Medicaid Client Identification Number (CIN) if you are a consumer
• Your consumer’s name and address or phone number if you are a PA

Registrants should also save the PPL ID and tracking numbers provided by PPL agents.

Although PPL’s online registration system, PPL@Home, allows you to save and return to your application, Claudia’s advice is, “once you start the process, finish it.”

“And if you don’t understand something, just reach out to PPL on the phone,” she said. “They were great as far as giving information and helping me complete the process.”

A pleasant surprise for Claudia after registering were the benefits she qualified for under PPL such as a 401K and higher pay. “I always questioned why we only got three hours a year of vacation pay [in the past], which didn’t seem fair, but that’s the way it was done,” she said. “There are benefits to registering.”

Claudia encourages personal assistants and consumers like her and her mother to make the switch to PPL. “I think it’s going to be positive,” she said. “So far, my experience has gone well, and this is the future.” She continues, “The sooner you do it the better; it will help you avoid having last-minute struggles and make things smoother for you and the person you care for.”

Hear more about Claudia’s registration experience in this video:

Click Here for Claudia’s Video Interview

All current CDPAP consumers and personal assistants will need to make the switch to PPL as New York’s statewide fiscal intermediary by March 28, 2025. To complete the process today, visit pplfirst.com/cdpap or call 1-833-247-5346.