WA Cares is Washington’s public long-term care benefit program. Benefits opened statewide on July 1, 2026. It can help eligible people pay for support with daily life, but living in Washington or needing care is not enough on its own to qualify.
What the benefit pays for
The full benefit is $36,500 in 2026. That is a lifetime total, not an annual allowance or a monthly check, and the amount adjusts for inflation. Your approval letter states the amount available to you.
Covered options include in-home care, certain home changes, equipment, meal delivery and other long-term care supports. Services must meet program rules and come through a WA Cares provider. Spending the benefit on one service leaves less for other needs.
Sources: WA Cares: covered benefits; Washington Governor’s Office: statewide benefit launch
Contributing and qualifying are different steps
Most covered workers contribute 0.58% of wages. A qualifying contribution year generally requires at least 500 hours of work. The program has three contribution pathways:
- Permanent: at least 10 qualifying contribution years for access to the full benefit.
- Temporary: at least three qualifying years within the six years before applying for access to the full benefit.
- Transition: people born before 1968 can earn 10% of the full benefit for each qualifying year, up to the full amount.
The care assessment also matters
WA Cares must determine that you need help with at least three assessed daily activities and that the need is expected to last at least 90 days. The activities include bathing, bed mobility, eating, managing medication, moving around, transferring and toileting. Supervision or cueing can count under the assessment rules.
A diagnosis by itself does not decide the outcome. Describe what happens during an ordinary day and the help someone already provides. A brief recovery after surgery may not meet the duration requirement.
Sources: WA Cares: qualifying for benefits
How to get started
Use the official WA Cares application page to create a benefits account, check your contribution information and apply. If the online process is difficult, call 844-227-3492 for assistance. Applying through our website does not apply for state benefits.
The program reviews contributions and arranges a discussion of care needs. Keep the decision letter. Once approved, check the provider directory and confirm the service, price and authorization before care begins.
Sources: WA Cares: applying for benefits
Can a family member be paid?
WA Cares allows approved benefits to support paid care from an eligible loved one, including a spouse. There is a provider process; do not assume informal care can simply be billed afterward. Ask the program about registration, requirements and the approved start date.
Sources: Washington DSHS: applying for and using WA Cares benefits
Questions to settle before hiring an agency
Ask whether the agency is registered for the service you want and can accept your authorization. Prestigious Home Care participation is not established by this article. Confirm it with both our office and WA Cares.
- What benefit balance has the program approved?
- Which hours or services can be paid from that balance?
- What happens when the benefit runs out?
- How will any private insurance or Medicaid coverage coordinate?
Questions families ask
Does everyone over 65 qualify?
No. WA Cares is based on contributions and care needs, not simply age. Someone who retired before contributing may not have earned a benefit. The program should review the person’s history.
Is WA Cares the same as Medicaid?
No. They are separate programs with different eligibility rules. Ask DSHS how they apply to your situation rather than assuming approval for one means approval for the other.
This is an introductory explanation, not an eligibility determination. The state decides contribution and care-needs eligibility. Check current official rules, especially for exemptions, interrupted work histories or moving out of Washington.