What the WA Cares Fund Is
The WA Cares Fund is a long-term care benefit program funded by a payroll deduction on most Washington wages. It launched in July 2023 after a one-year delay. The deduction is 0.58% of gross wages — about $290 per year on a $50,000 salary.
In exchange, eligible workers can access a lifetime benefit of up to $36,500 (indexed to inflation going forward) to pay for personal care and related services later in life.
Who Pays In — and Who's Exempt
Most W-2 employees in Washington pay in. Self-employed workers can opt in voluntarily. Federally recognized tribes and certain federal employees are excluded.
A one-time exemption was available for workers who already held a qualifying private long-term care insurance policy purchased before November 1, 2021. If you applied for that exemption and it was approved, you don't pay in — but you also can't access the WA Cares benefit later.
When You Can Use the Benefit
You qualify to receive benefits when you meet both a contribution requirement and a functional requirement.
Contributions: You've paid into the fund for 10 years total, or for 3 of the last 6 years before claiming. (Newer rules expand portability for people who move out of state and return.)
Functional: You need help with at least three Activities of Daily Living — things like bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, eating, medication management, or mobility. The state uses a CARE-style assessment to confirm.
What the Benefit Covers
The lifetime $36,500 benefit (paid out at roughly $100/day) can be applied to a wide range of care: adult family home rates, in-home caregiver hours, adult day programs, durable medical equipment, home safety modifications (grab bars, ramps), professional care training for family caregivers, and respite care.
It's flexible — you can mix and match what it pays for. It's also limited. At $36,500, the benefit covers roughly 4–10 months of full AFH care, depending on rate. It's not a complete long-term care solution; it's a meaningful supplement.
WA Cares vs. Private LTC Insurance
WA Cares is mandatory, capped, and Washington-only. Private LTC insurance is voluntary, can be much larger ($200,000+ in total benefits), and travels with you if you move.
If you exempted out of WA Cares to keep a private policy, make sure the private policy actually pays out when needed — review your benefit triggers, elimination period, and inflation rider. Long-term care insurance, explained → Some families benefit from holding both private LTC insurance and the WA Cares benefit, since each pays out at its own rate.
Why Families Planning Now Should Care
If your parent is still working in Washington, they're already accumulating eligibility. If they retired in the last few years, they may already be vested or close to it.
Even though the benefit is modest, it can pay for several months of an adult family home or hundreds of in-home care hours — exactly the kind of bridge funding that lets a family take its time choosing a home, or extend private pay before a Medicaid transition. Medicaid vs. private pay →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I check if I qualify? A: Set up an account at the WA Cares Fund website (wacaresfund.wa.gov). It will display your contribution history and eligibility status.
Q: Can I use it for a spouse or parent? A: No — benefits go only to the worker who paid in. You can use yours to pay a family member (including a spouse, in some cases) to provide your care, though.
Q: What if I move out of Washington? A: Recent rule changes allow eligible workers who move away to keep their benefit and use it in another state, with conditions. Check current rules at the WA Cares Fund site.
Q: Will the $36,500 keep up with inflation? A: Yes — the benefit is indexed annually so its purchasing power doesn't erode over time.