The WA Cares Fund is an affordable long-term care insurance program that provides most Washington workers a way to earn long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them.
By contributing 0.58% of your paycheck, you can earn up to $36,500 to pay for covered services and supports including in-home personal care, home modifications, home-delivered meals and more.
As of May 18, Washingtonians who have contributed to WA Cares can begin applying for benefits.
To get started, create a benefits account and fill out a brief online application. You can also call 844-CARE4WA to have a WA Cares team member guide you through the online application.
WA Cares will check whether you’ve met the contribution requirement and care needs requirements. You can meet the contribution requirement through one of three pathways. Any worker can earn full benefits through the temporary and permanent pathways. Near and recent retirees (born before 1968) can also access partial benefits through the transition pathway.
To confirm that you meet the care needs requirement, WA Cares must determine you need help with three or more activities of daily living and will continue to need help for at least 90 days.
Once benefits become available July 1, you can start receiving covered services and supports from a WA Cares provider.
To learn more visit wacaresfund.wa.gov.