Washington Cares Fund Approved Provider

For decades, Washington families have faced the same difficult question: how do you pay for the help you need to stay in your own home? The WA Cares Fund was created to answer it. Now that benefits are available statewide, eligible working Washingtonians can put their earned benefit toward the home changes, equipment and services that make living at home safer and more independent.

The WA Cares Fund is a public long-term care insurance program for Washington workers. It is managed by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in collaboration with the Health Care Authority and the Employment Security Department. Workers contribute through payroll taxes from each paycheck, and many qualify by paying into WA Cares for 10 years; another path is contributing for 3 years out of the last 6. In return, they earn access to a lifetime benefit that can pay for long-term care services and supports when they need them.

Washington was the first state in the nation to create this kind of program for the broad middle class. Coverage does not depend on pre-existing conditions, and the program is designed so that people do not have to spend down their life savings to get help.

As of this date in 2026, the full benefit amount is $36,500. This is a lifetime total that grows with inflation each year. You can use it on any combination of covered services and supports from a WA Cares provider. Most people will choose services that allow them to stay in their own homes.

To qualify, you must meet two requirements: a contribution requirement and a care needs requirement.

1. The Contribution Requirement

There are three pathways to meet the contribution requirement. A calendar year counts toward the requirement when you worked at least 500 hours. Contributions began July 1, 2023.

2. The Care Needs Requirement

You will meet with a WA Cares team member in person or by phone. They must determine that you need help with three or more activities of daily living and that you will continue to need help for at least 90 days. The activities considered are:

• Bathing
• Bed mobility
• Eating
• Medication management
• Mobility (walking or moving around)
• Transferring (getting in or out of a chair)
• Toileting

Activities where you need supervision, such as monitoring, cueing or set-up assistance, also count.

Other Details to Know

• Exemptions. If you currently have an approved WA Cares exemption, you cannot qualify for benefits. If you properly discontinued an exemption, contributions and hours worked outside of the exemption period will still be counted. Under Senate Bill 5291, active-duty service members can receive automatic exemptions, and affected employees should confirm whether an approved exemption remains in place under the current law before deciding whether to join again in the future.
• Self-employed workers. If you opted in, reported your earnings and paid your premiums, you can qualify. Self-employed people can also choose whether to participate.
• Moving out of state. You can choose to continue participating if you move away, with benefits available to out-of-state participants beginning in July 2030.

Requirements and amounts can change, so we recommend confirming the latest details on the WA Cares qualification page.

You will start by creating a benefits account through SecureAccess Washington, where you can also see your contribution history, fill out the application, and verify your identity. From there, once approved, you receive a letter confirming your benefit amount. If you do not qualify for benefits, you can appeal. If you need help with your account or application, contact WA Cares at 844-CARE4WA (toll free), and language assistance is available. Learn more and visit the WA Cares application page.

The program covers a wide range of services, including in-home personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day services, transportation, nursing services, respite for family caregivers, and care in assisted living, adult family homes and nursing homes. Several covered services are exactly what we do.

Home Modifications

WA Cares covers changes to your home that support your health, safety and independence. That can include:

• Wheelchair ramps
• Accessible bathroom renovations, such as curbless showers and chair-height toilets
• Widened doorways and hallways
• Grab bars and handrails
• Safer kitchen modifications

Home Safety Evaluation

A home safety evaluation is an assessment of your rented or owned home to improve accessibility and reduce potential hazards. This is the same kind of walk-through that begins every project with our free 50-point inspection.

Adaptive Equipment and Technology

Devices that help with daily activities and increase your independence, safety and well-being. You may also be interested in our durable medical equipment services.

Personal Emergency Response Systems

Medical alert systems that signal a monitoring center to call for help in an emergency. See our universal design page for how these fit into a home safety plan.

WA Cares offers sample scenarios to show how the benefit can be used. These are examples only, not guarantees of price, and the total cost varies by area, service mix, and situation. One example shows a home safety renovation, including a ramp to the front door and three widened doorways, estimated at $8,000. It is paired with a personal emergency response system and delivered meals in the same scenario. Another shows a ramp, a bedside commode, a toilet seat riser and a sliding bath bench as part of a plan after an injury. Because the benefit is limited, many people choose to put it toward home modifications that reduce risk and the need for paid care, and compare how different uses of the benefit affect how much money remains available for other covered supports.

Once you are approved to use your benefits, you do not pay out of pocket for covered services. You choose a WA Cares provider, and WA Cares pays them directly on your behalf after approved services and rates are discussed with the provider before work begins. Each covered service has a maximum rate, and providers cannot charge more than that rate or ask you to pay extra. You can browse approved providers through the WA Cares provider directory to compare listings by provider name, services offered, and contact information.