New Jersey recently released an important update regarding Self-Directed Employees (SDEs) and overtime. For families who use the self-directed model, this announcement may create some immediate questions—and possibly some stress.

Here’s the heart of the update:

The state is returning to the standing policy that SDEs cannot work more than 40 hours per week for one individual.
Any hours beyond 40 must be covered by a different SDE—or by an agency-employed Direct Support Professional (DSP). Overtime will no longer be routinely allowed or funded the way it has been since the height of the COVID emergency.

For many families, that temporary exemption has been a lifeline these past few years. With staffing shortages and unpredictable schedules, allowing SDEs to work extra hours helped bridge the gaps.

But now, the message from the state is clear:
Overtime should not be relied on, and families must plan support differently moving forward.

And that change may feel overwhelming.

Families who use the self-directed model already carry a lot.
Recruiting, hiring, scheduling, payroll complexities, and coverage challenges all fall on the caregiver. When an SDE is sick, unavailable, or simply can’t give more than 40 hours, the responsibility to find backup doesn’t disappear—it falls on the family.

This shift in policy might highlight a question many families have quietly been asking:

“What happens when 40 hours isn’t enough?”

That’s where Heart to Heart can step in.

We deeply respect the self-directed model and the independence and trust it provides. But we also know that life doesn’t always fit neatly into a 40-hour box. People need more support. Families need more help. And no single SDE—no matter how dedicated—can always cover every hour.

Heart to Heart offers families a stable, dependable option when they need more coverage than an SDE can legally provide.

Here’s how we can support you:

• Agency-employed DSPs who can step in to cover hours beyond your SDE’s 40-hour limit
• Reliable scheduling, so families are not left scrambling during gaps
• Fully trained and supervised staff, with oversight you don’t have to manage
• Flexible support options, whether you need a few extra weekly hours or a consistent long-term solution
• A smooth transition, whether you supplement an SDE or shift to agency-delivered services

This policy change isn’t meant to create strain—it’s meant to ensure families have enough support by encouraging additional workers or agency involvement. But for families already stretched thin, it may feel like one more hurdle.

You don’t have to navigate that alone.

Heart to Heart is here to walk with you, help you build a more stable support plan, and make sure your loved one receives the hours of care they truly need—without putting all the pressure on a single SDE or on your family.

If the state’s new overtime limits are affecting your family, reach out. We’re here to help you explore your options and find a path that brings relief, reliability, and peace of mind.