WA lawmakers approve out-of-state option for long-term care benefit
Workers may soon be able to bring their state long-term care benefit with them if they move out of Washington.
A bill to allow eligible retirees to access the $36,500 lifetime benefit, even if they move away from Washington, passed the state Senate 27-21 on Wednesday. Under the bill, others who move out of state would also be able to participate in the program if they continue paying into it. The bill now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk.
The WA Cares Fund program applies a 0.58% tax on workers’ paychecks while they’re employed in Washington. Beginning in July 2026, those who qualify can begin accessing the benefit. The money can be used to offset long-term care expenses – like caretaking, equipment and meals – for people who are older, injured, or disabled.
House Bill 2467 addresses one of the biggest criticisms of the program: workers who may spend their whole careers paying into it can’t access the benefit if they move outside of Washington.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/02/29/long-term-care-benefit-washington/
Of course, the GOP has come out against it.