WA Cares Fund Employer Newsletter

Stay tuned for more information on our next webinar, WA Cares Conversations: Economic Inequality and Caregiving.

Fund Fact: Near-retirees earn partial benefits

Near-retirees who were born before January 1, 1968, will earn partial benefits for each year they work, available at any point in their lives when they need care. For each year they work and contribute at least 500 hours (about 10 hours per week), they will earn 10% of the full benefit amount.

For example, someone in this age group who works and contributes 500 hours or more per year for three years would earn 30% of the benefit amount or just under $11,000 (adjusted for inflation). Someone else might work 500+ hours after contributions start in July then retire at the end of 2023, earning 10% of the benefit amount.

Near-retirees can also access the full benefit amount if they meet requirements for one of the other pathways. Benefits become available July 2026 for people who have met contribution requirements and need care.

Monthly FAQ: How long will $36,500 typically last?

While WA Cares benefits can be used to pay for care in a residential setting like a nursing home, they can also cover services and supports to help you stay at home – things like training and paying a family caregiver, paying a professional in-home caregiver, home safety modifications, home-delivered meals, transportation, and assistive technology like medication reminder devices.

The benefit won’t cover 100% of care for everyone, but it could cover around 20 hours per week of home care for about a year. This is roughly the amount of in-home care the average Medicaid client receives right now. About a third of people need care for a year or less, and for those people WA Cares may be able to cover all the care they need. For others, WA Cares provides families with immediate relief and breathing room to plan for future care costs.

New exemption applications available

Beginning this month, Washington workers became eligible for exemptions from WA Cares if any of the following apply to them:

• They live outside of Washington.
• They are the spouse or registered domestic partner of an active-duty service member of the U.S. armed forces.
• They have non-immigrant work visas.
• They are veterans with a 70% service-connected disability rating or higher.

Workers will qualify for these exemptions only as long as these circumstances apply. If workers no longer qualify for their exemption, they will be required to notify the Employment Security Department and their employer within 90 days. Exception: Veterans with a 70% service-connected disability rating or higher will receive a permanent exemption.

Learn more about exemptions.