Unlocking Your Benefits: Understanding the WA Cares Fund for UW Employees

The Washington Cares Fund represents a significant step towards ensuring that residents of Washington state have access to long-term care services. Established in 2019, this state-mandated long-term care insurance program is designed to provide a safety net for individuals needing assistance with daily living activities as they age or face disabilities. For University of Washington (UW) employees, understanding how this program works and, crucially, How Will We Benefit From Uw Cares Program is essential. This article will break down the WA Cares Fund, outlining its benefits, eligibility criteria, payroll deductions, and available exemptions, ensuring UW employees are well-informed about this important program.

What is the WA Cares Fund?

The WA Cares Fund is not just another payroll deduction; it’s an investment in your future well-being and the well-being of your fellow Washingtonians. It’s a long-term care insurance benefit created by Washington state law. Starting July 1, 2026, eligible individuals can access its benefits to cover a range of long-term care services. These services are broad and designed to support individuals in various settings, potentially including:

Professional in-home care assistance
Necessary medical equipment
Home safety evaluations and modifications to enhance accessibility
Compensation for family members who provide essential care

It’s important to note that the WA Cares Fund operates independently of leave programs. You can utilize WA Cares Fund benefits in conjunction with other programs like Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) and long-term disability insurance, offering a comprehensive support system when you need it most.

How UW Employees Benefit from WA Cares Fund

As a UW employee, you might be wondering, how will we benefit from uw cares program? The benefits are designed to provide crucial support when you or your loved ones require long-term care. Imagine needing assistance with daily tasks due to age, illness, or disability. The WA Cares Fund can help alleviate the financial burden associated with these needs, offering a maximum lifetime benefit of $36,500 starting in 2026. This amount, equivalent to 365 benefit units initially valued at $100 each in 2026, is set to increase over time, ensuring its continued relevance.

This chart illustrates the variety of benefits and services covered under the WA Cares Fund, highlighting its comprehensive approach to long-term care support.

These funds can be used flexibly for a variety of long-term care services and supports, giving you greater control and choice in how you receive care. For UW employees, this means potential peace of mind knowing that a financial resource exists to help manage future long-term care needs, whether for professional services, necessary equipment, or to support family caregivers.

Understanding Payroll Deductions for WA Cares Fund

To fund the WA Cares Fund and ensure its sustainability, a mandatory payroll premium is required for most employees working in Washington state. Starting July 1, 2023, UW employees will see a deduction of 0.58% of gross wages. To put this into perspective, for every $100 earned, $0.58 is contributed to the fund. For an employee earning an annual salary of $50,000, the total yearly premium would be $290, or approximately $12.08 per paycheck (based on 24 paychecks per year). This deduction will be visible starting from the July 10, 2023 paycheck.

It’s important to note that this premium applies to all gross wages, including paid time off like vacation and sick leave, and even cash outs, unless these are categorized as Paid Family & Medical Leave supplemental benefit payments provided by UW. If your work is located in Washington State, you will be subject to these premium deductions.

Program Eligibility: Are You Qualified for WA Cares Fund Benefits?

Eligibility for WA Cares Fund benefits is based on your work history and contributions to the fund. To access these benefits, UW employees must meet specific criteria related to their employment and residency:

Work History Requirement: You must have worked and contributed to the fund for a significant period. This can be met in one of two ways:
- A total of 10 years without a break of five or more consecutive years.
- At least 3 out of the last 6 years at the time of applying for benefits.
Hours Worked: In addition to the years of contribution, you must have worked at least 500 hours per year during the qualifying periods.
Age and Residency: To be eligible for benefits, you must be at least 18 years old and currently reside in Washington state.

There is a special provision for older Washingtonians. Individuals born before January 1, 1968, who may not have contributed to the fund for the full qualifying periods, might still be eligible for pro-rated benefits. More details regarding these partial benefits will be shared by UW as they become available.

Exemptions from WA Cares Fund Premiums: Do You Qualify?

While the WA Cares Fund is mandatory for most employees, certain individuals may be eligible for exemptions from paying the premium. It’s crucial to understand that obtaining an exemption means you will also be ineligible to receive benefits from the WA Cares Fund in the future. Exemptions fall into two main categories: permanent and conditional.

Permanent Exemptions

You may apply for a permanent exemption if you are a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher. If your application is approved by the Employment Security Department (ESD), you will be permanently exempt from WA Cares Fund premiums and permanently ineligible for benefits.

Conditional Exemptions

Conditional exemptions are available to individuals who meet specific circumstances. Starting January 1, 2023, you may qualify for a conditional exemption if you fall into one of these categories:

Out-of-State Residents Working for a WA Employer: If you are employed by a Washington-based employer but your primary and permanent residence is outside of Washington state.
Nonimmigrant Visa Holders: If you are temporarily working in Washington on a nonimmigrant visa.
Military Spouses or Registered Domestic Partners: If you are a spouse or registered domestic partner of an active-duty military member.

It’s essential to understand that conditional exemptions are dependent on your circumstances. If your situation changes and you no longer meet the exemption criteria, you must notify both ESD and UW within 90 days. UW will then begin collecting premiums as required by law. Failure to report a change in status can result in liability for owed premiums. Changes in status include moving your permanent residence to Washington, becoming a permanent U.S. resident (for nonimmigrant visa holders), or changes in military status for military spouses/partners.

This flowchart outlines the steps involved in applying for a WA Cares Fund premium exemption and notifying UW of an approved exemption.

Applying for an Exemption and Notifying UW

If you believe you are eligible for an exemption, here’s how to apply and inform UW:

Apply for Exemption through ESD: Visit the WA Cares Fund website at https://wacaresfund.wa.gov/apply-for-an-exemption/ and follow their instructions to:
- Create a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account or log in if you have one.
- Add “Paid Family and Medical Leave” to your SAW account.
- Create a WA Cares Exemption account.
- Submit your exemption application.
Receive Approval Letter: If your exemption is approved, ESD will send you an approval letter with an effective date. This letter is crucial and different from any status update emails you might receive.
Notify UW Payroll: It is your responsibility to notify UW of your exemption and provide a copy of your ESD approval letter. ESD does not automatically inform UW.
- Initial exemptions will be effective from the calendar quarter after your application is approved, and only if you notify UW.
- If you fail to notify UW, non-refundable premiums might be deducted even after your exemption’s effective date.
Submit Exemption Letter to UW: Complete the webform available at Payroll secure webform and attach a copy of your exemption approval letter.

You can verify your approved exemption status by logging into your SAW account and selecting “Paid Family and Medical Leave.” To confirm that UW Payroll has processed your exemption, check your email for a confirmation message. If you are unsure, you can review your request history in My Requests, ensuring you click “Click here to include closed records” to see past submissions.

Additional Resources for UW Employees

For more detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions, UWHR has compiled a UWHR WA Cares Fund FAQs webpage. You can also explore these external resources for further information about the WA Cares Fund:

Policy Changes and Important Dates

It’s worth noting that the implementation of the WA Cares Fund has seen some policy adjustments. While premium collection was initially slated to begin January 1, 2022, a change in law delayed this to July 1, 2023. Employers were also directed to halt deductions and issue refunds during this period of change. Additionally, a limited-time permanent exemption was available until December 31, 2022, for individuals who had private long-term care insurance purchased before November 1, 2021.

Conclusion: Embracing the Benefits of WA Cares Fund

Understanding how will we benefit from uw cares program is crucial for every UW employee. The WA Cares Fund, while requiring payroll contributions, is designed to offer significant long-term benefits to Washington residents, including UW employees and their families. It provides a safety net for future long-term care needs, offering financial assistance for a range of services and supports. By understanding the program’s benefits, eligibility criteria, and exemption options, UW employees can make informed decisions and prepare for their future long-term care needs with greater confidence.