How to Become a Paid Family Caregiver Through the WA Cares Fund, if the person you're caring for has earned WA Cares benefits, you can become a paid caregiver—even if you're caring for your own spouse. Become a paid family caregiver Did you know beginning in July 2026, WA Cares Fund can be used to pay family caregivers? This can help offset caregiving expenses and lost wages. What to consider Am I ready and able to have my loved one rely on me for care? Will I take direction well from my loved one? Am I okay with my loved one being my boss? What if I don’t agree with what they are asking me to do for them? Am I okay with signing a care agreement that my loved one fills out about their care needs? What will I do if I start to feel burned out, or like I can’t do certain things for them anymore? Can I physically do the things that my loved one needs help with? Do I have the time, or appropriate availability, to work when they need me? How to get started To become a paid family caregiver through WA Cares, the person you’re caring for must meet our requirements and apply for benefits. Once approved, they will have two options for in-home care services: Consumer Direct Care Network Washington or a home care agency registered with WA Cares. If they want you to be paid to provide their care, you’ll need to become an employee of one of these providers. You can visit CDWA to learn more about applying to become a paid caregiver with them. To find registered home care agencies in your area, you can visit the WA Cares Provider Network Directory and select the Caregivers/In-Home Personal Care category. If you’re interested in working for a home care agency that isn’t registered yet, you can encourage them to apply. Steps to become a paid caregiver WA Cares benefits become available July 1, 2026. Here’s how the process for becoming a paid family caregiver will work: 1 Check to see if your loved one is eligible to use their WA Cares Fund benefits Your loved one must meet WA Cares contribution and care needs requirements in order to use this benefit. 2 Your loved one will apply to access their benefit Once their application is approved, they will be able to use their benefit to pay you for the care you provide. 3 You apply to work as a caregiver You will become an employee of Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington or a registered home care agency. WA Cares will provide more detail on this process as July 2026 approaches. 4 Start getting paid for providing care to your loved one Once you are hired as a caregiver, your loved one can approve an authorization for the care you provide. Employer options View the caregiving comparison. Consumer Direct Care Network of Washington The beneficiary will be your day-to-day supervisor Beneficiaries will have the option of creating a plan of care to be followed Mileage reimbursement Employee benefits for those who qualify CDWA is unionized Contact CDWA or a home care agency to learn more. Home care agency You’ll have an agency supervisor The agency supervisor will create a plan of care that needs to be followed Mileage reimbursement Employee benefits for those who qualify Some agencies are unionized Caregiver Stories Sisters Sun-Hee and Yunhee stepped back from their nursing careers to provide daily care for their mom. We want her to be safe, happy and content. But we haven’t been working during this time, so we have zero income. A resource like WA Cares would be so helpful in easing that financial aspect. If Sun-Hee & Yunhee’s mom had WA Cares, she could use her benefit for: Paid family caregiver Home-delivered meals Assistive device Image Maria works part time so she can care for her aging parents, but knows many families can’t afford to make that choice. I want my parents to know that I'm here for them if they need help. If Maria’s parents had WA Cares, they could use their benefits for: Paid family caregiver Home safety evaluation Home modifications Image See more care stories Interested in resources for family caregivers? Learn More
Sisters Sun-Hee and Yunhee stepped back from their nursing careers to provide daily care for their mom. We want her to be safe, happy and content. But we haven’t been working during this time, so we have zero income. A resource like WA Cares would be so helpful in easing that financial aspect. If Sun-Hee & Yunhee’s mom had WA Cares, she could use her benefit for: Paid family caregiver Home-delivered meals Assistive device Image
Maria works part time so she can care for her aging parents, but knows many families can’t afford to make that choice. I want my parents to know that I'm here for them if they need help. If Maria’s parents had WA Cares, they could use their benefits for: Paid family caregiver Home safety evaluation Home modifications Image
