Paid family caregiving with WA Cares
More than 800,000 Washingtonians provide care to a loved one, out of both necessity and love.
Across Washington, many people provide care to a loved one without ever calling themselves caregivers. They are cooking meals for a parent, helping a spouse manage medication, or driving a loved one to appointments. These small acts of care make a big difference but they can also bring emotional and financial challenges.
Beginning in July 2026, 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 a spouse. To use these benefits, the beneficiary must need help with three or more activities of daily living and will continue to need help for at least 90 days. Activities we assess are bathing, transferring, mobility, medication management, toileting, bed mobility and eating.
Chantelle, Provider Policy & Network Development Manager, a panelist on our recent webinar helped explain who can apply to be a paid caregiver and employer options. “Any family member who is related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption including spouses and registered domestic partners. And for those with chosen family, another loved one can also provide care”
Caregivers will have two employment options. They can work through Consumer Direct Care Network Washington or through a registered home care agency. Each option offers different structures for pay, supervision and benefits giving the beneficiary and caregivers flexibility to choose what works best for them.
Kristine, the Provider Network Development Program Manager explained the choice between the two options. “With CDWA, the beneficiary is the managing employer they set the schedule, select who they want to hire and determine the care needs and tasks.” She continues “Home care agencies on the other hand provide supervision and create a plan of care, which may work better for some families”
Both options include requirements such as a background check and safety training. Family caregivers may also qualify for benefits like health insurance, paid time off and retirement depending on which option you choose.
If your loved one has earned benefits, they will be able to authorize services and supports for you as you provide them with care. Visit our website for more information about paid family caregiving. You can also watch a replay of our webinar, Spotlight on paid family caregiving with WA Cares to learn more.