January 2026 Monthly Newsletter

Webinars

Join us for a WA Cares basics webinar from 11 a.m. - noon on Jan. 14.

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan.

We will cover:

• How the program works
• What long-term care includes
• How caregiving responsibilities impact families
• Who contributes to the fund
• How exemptions work
• How to qualify for benefits 

 Register today 

Join us for our upcoming webinar Spotlight on the WA Cares application from 10 - 11 a.m. on Jan. 27.

Once you meet the contribution and care needs requirements, you’ll be able to start using your benefits. You can create your online account starting in April 2026, apply for benefits starting in mid-May and get benefits in July. 

You (or someone helping you) will create an online account to apply. After we get your application, we’ll check how many years you’ve contributed to WA Cares. Then we’ll send you a contribution determination letter, which will tell you whether you’ve met the contribution requirement and the benefit amount you’ve earned. 

We will cover:

• How the program works
• Account creation
• Requesting your contribution determination
• Completing your intake call
• Reviewing your benefit determination

Register today

If you are interested in more information about webinars, please update your e-mail preferences to include ‘announcements of webinars and events’ so you can receive the most up-to-date information directly to your inbox.

Monthly FAQ: Can I apply to participate in the pilot program?

A small group of people who live in Lewis, Mason, Spokane and Thurston counties can apply for early access to benefits. If you participate, you’ll have the opportunity to give us feedback on your experience along the way. We’ll use your input to improve our processes as we start to offer benefits to all Washingtonians.

We’re gathering information from interested pilot participants now. Find out if you qualify or contact our team to get started.

Providers

WA Cares Fund provider applications are now open.

The WA Cares Fund is registering qualified providers to offer covered long-term services and supports to eligible beneficiaries. Applications are now open and providers will be able to offer services starting in July 2026. Learn more.

If you are an interested provider, please update your e-mail preferences to include ‘provider information’ so you can receive the most up-to-date provider information directly to your inbox.

LTSS Trust Commission

The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission, which works on behalf of Washington employees and long-term care stakeholders to improve, monitor and implement WA Cares, held a Commission meeting from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 10. Learn more about the Commission. 

If you are interested in the LTSS Trust Commission please update your preferences to include “Updates on LTSS Trust Commission meetings and recommendations” so you can receive the most up-to-date information directly to your inbox.

Fund fact: We spent last year building systems, expanding partnerships and preparing to launch benefits in 2026.

We’re proud to reflect on a year of meaningful progress and collaboration in 2025. Throughout the year, our team focused on building systems and resources to support providers and beneficiaries. We strengthened our statewide partnerships, expanded outreach and more. We’re proud of our team’s achievements this year and look forward to sharing even more program updates and resources for workers, beneficiaries, employers and providers in 2026!  Learn more in our monthly news item.

Toolkit

Our outreach toolkit has been refreshed with a new fact sheet, social media content, poster and more! These resources are intended for employers, business and professional organizations, community groups and anyone who wants to communicate about the WA Cares Fund. Explore our updated materials and start sharing today!

Featured video

We’re hiring! Interested in joining our team or know someone else who could be a good fit? Take a look at our open positions and share with your networks or learn more about working at WA Cares.

Request a speaker

 Interested in an in-person or virtual presentation on WA Cares for your staff, HR professionals, managers, professional/community organization, or other groups? Fill out our speaker request form and we will get back to you with our staff’s availability.