Long term care benefits are soon to be funded, in part, by a payroll tax in Washington state. The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (LTSS Program), now called the WA Cares Fund, is designed to help pay for long-term care of Washington residents.
To summarize:
- Starting January 1, 2022, a 0.58% premium assessment will be imposed on all Washington employee wages. However, an employee has a one-time opportunity to opt-out if they have comparable private long-term care insurance.
- Starting January 1, 2025, proceeds of this assessment will be used to provide long term services and supports benefits to Washington State residents. Specifically, those who have paid into the fund for a certain amount of time and who need a specific amount of assistance with daily living activities.
WA Cares Fund
Washington State is the first in the nation to adopt a state-run long-term care (LTC) services and support trust program.
In 2019, Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 1323, amending RCW 50B.04 to provide for the state’s long-term care services, known as the WA Cares Fund. Washington, like many other states, has an aging population. Every year, more people over the age of 65 will need some sort of support service. The hope is that by putting this program in place now, Washington will mitigate part of this problem.
What is long term care? What is long term care insurance?
Long term care includes a variety of services designed to meet a person’s health/personal care needs during a period of time. These services help people when they need assistance to perform everyday activities on their own. Examples include bathing, dressing, and cooking meals.
Long term care insurance provides the means to cover part or all of the costs for such services.
What long term care benefits does the WA Cares fund provide?
Individuals with long term care benefits can receive up to $100 per day to cover long-term care costs. The maximum lifetime benefit is $36,500.
These benefits are not available outside of Washington state. And the benefits only cover the employee who is contributing through payroll, not their spouse or dependents.
How do I qualify to receive long term care benefits?
The rules to qualify for long term care benefits from the WA Cares Fund include the following:
You must have worked and contributed to the fund for:
- At least ten years at any point in your life without a break of five or more years within those ten years, or
- Three of the last six years at the time you apply for the benefit, and
- At least 500 hours per year during those years.
Who is subject to this new tax?
All private and public employers with a Washington employee, except for the federal government and federal tribes, must collect the new tax. At this time, there are no exemptions for specific employees.
How much money will be withheld from my paycheck?
Employers must withhold a new 0.58% (.0058) payroll tax from all employee wages, starting January 2022. The tax will be withheld through mandatory paycheck withholdings. All compensation is subject to this tax with no income cap.
For example, if the gross amount of your paycheck (before deductions are withheld) is $2,000, $11.60 will be withheld from your paycheck for this tax.
How can I opt-out of this new payroll tax?
Employees that have their own long-term care insurance policy in place before November 1, 2021 can opt-out permanently from this tax. The long-term care insurance policy must provide equal or better benefits than the WA Cares Fund. Learn more about purchasing long term care benefits. Washington State’s Employment Security Department will provide additional information on how to opt out in the next few months. Also, please note that you may also be exempt from this program if you have a qualified life insurance policy or annuity that includes supplemental coverage for long-term care expenses.
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