The Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP)

PASP is a self-directed program that provides routine, non-medical personal care assistance to adults with permanent disabilities who are employed, preparing for employment, involved in community volunteer work or attending school. The goal of the PASP is to support individuals with physical disabilities so that they may remain active participants in their community. The PASP offers participants choice, flexibility, control and the opportunity to manage their personal care 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.

Here's how the PASP works:

A needs assessment is completed to determine the number of hours a participant will receive, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Hours are then converted to a monthly budget. With assistance from a County Coordinator, participants develop a cash management plan (CMP) outlining exactly how their monthly budgets will be spent. The CMP includes details such as who they will hire, what services will be provided and what rates each worker will be paid. A fiscal intermediary service organization then distributes the monthly budget to purchase services as identified in the CMP.


Eligible applicants must:

• Reside in New Jersey
• Have a permanent physical disability
• Be between the ages 18 and 70 years old
• 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 min. of 20 hours per month.


PASP program 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


Monthly budgets can be used to:

• Hire workers to assist with tasks related to personal care, household management, driving or using public transportation
• Purchase chore or errand services to assist with banking, shopping, cleaning, laundry, food preparation, or delivery of prepared foods
• Purchase supplies and/or equipment to enhance or promote independence


Who can participants hire?

The choice is up to them! Participants can choose to hire friends, neighbors, family, independent employees or agency services


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
Internet Address: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dds


KEY STAFF
Dianna Maurone, PASP Program Administrator
Susannah Combs, PASP Program Manager

NJ Support Services Provider Program (SSP)

SSPs (Support Service Providers) enable individuals who are deaf-blind to have greater access to their communities and to connect with other people, reducing communication barriers that otherwise would result in social isolation, incapability to live independently, and inability to participate as citizens within mainstream society.