Workers can now view WA Cares annual statements and open a benefits account
Washington workers and recent retirees can now see their contributions to the WA Cares Fund. Annual statements showing your WA Cares Fund contribution history are now available by creating a benefits account. You’ll use the SecureAccess Washington system to confirm your identity, enter some basic information and create a WA Cares login.

Get detailed instructions on setting up a benefits account.

The LTSS Trust Commission is meeting from 1-4 p.m. on April 29
The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission works on behalf of Washington workers and long-term care stakeholders to monitor, improve and implement WA Cares. You can join the meeting live on Zoom.

Learn more about the LTSS Trust Commission.

Webinars
Spotlight on paid family caregiving from 11 a.m. to noon on April 8

More than 800,000 Washingtonians provide care to a loved one. Many of us provide care out of both necessity and love, and do so without thinking twice. Whether you’re picking up groceries for your neighbor or helping your dad manage his medications — you are a caregiver.
If the person you're caring for has earned WA Cares Fund benefits, you can become their paid caregiver, even if you're caring for your own spouse. 

We will cover:
How the program works
•    Who is eligible for paid family caregiving
•    How WA Cares can help with care needs
•    Steps to becoming a paid family caregiver
•    Additional support and services available
•    Resources for caregivers

Watch the replay

WA Cares basics from 11 a.m. to noon on April 21

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.
WA Cares provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan.

We will cover:
•    How the program works
•    What long-term care includes
•    How caregiving responsibilities impact families
•    Who contributes to the fund
•    How exemptions work
•    How to qualify for benefits

Watch the replay

All webinars will include an opportunity for audience Q&A and include live captioning. Simultaneous translations will be available.

We’re hiring
Are you looking for a meaningful career that will impact the lives of Washingtonians? Then join our team! Several positions are now open, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Learn more and apply today.

Featured service:
This month’s featured service is a paid family caregiver.

Through WA Cares, you can pay a family member or loved one, which can include a spouse or registered domestic partner, for the care they provide you. The family member can work for a home care agency that assigns them to provide your care or for Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington as an individual provider.

Learn more about what services are covered by WA Cares.

Monthly FAQ: Can a loved one be an authorized user on my WA Cares benefits account and be my paid family caregiver?
A paid family caregiver cannot be making decisions about your payment authorization. This presents a clear conflict of interest.
Learn more about family caregiving.

Request a speaker
Interested in an in-person or virtual presentation on WA Cares for your staff, HR professionals, managers, professional/community organization or other groups? Fill out our speaker request form and we will get back to you with our staff’s availability.

Feature care story
Over 30 years ago, Arun’s parents moved into his home. His father is over 90-years-old, has dementia and needs to be supervised closely. Because Arun and his wife both work full-time jobs, the whole family pitches in to provide caregiving. In a household where family caregiving is built in, it’s important that everyone, not just those who are directly receiving the care, gets the support they need.

Learn more about Arun and his family’s story, and about how WA Cares might help them.

Applications open May 18
Next month, Washington workers can apply for the long-term care benefits they have earned through the WA Cares Fund. Workers who apply when applications open May 18 will have time to be approved before benefits become available July 1.

Approved applicants can use WA Cares benefits for services from a registered provider, including care in their home or in a living facility, home modifications, home-delivered meals, adaptive equipment and more. Learn more about covered benefits.

To apply for benefits, workers must create a WA Cares Fund benefits account. They’ll use the SecureAccess Washington system to confirm their identity, enter some basic information and create their login. Anyone who needs help managing their WA Cares benefits account can set up an authorized user like a loved one or representative.  

For detailed instructions on setting up a benefits account, visit wacaresfund.wa.gov/apply.