Tacoma workers who need long-term care can now tap up to $36,500 a year from Washington's new public insurance program, which began paying out benefits on July 1.

The WA Cares Fund, created by the state Legislature in 2019, is the first publicly funded long-term care insurance program in the country, according to Gov. Bob Ferguson, who announced the launch at a Tuesday, June 30, news conference in Tukwila.

Nearly 3.7 million Washington workers have paid into the fund since 2023 through a mandatory payroll tax of 58 cents per $100 of W-2 wages. That includes W-2 workers across Pierce County, from hospital staff to port workers to small-business employees.

Not everyone can draw benefits immediately. Two eligibility tracks apply, according to the Seattle Times:

Workers who have contributed for at least three years and need help with at least three "activities of daily living" — bathing, eating, or managing medication, among others — became eligible Wednesday, July 1. All other workers can access benefits after contributing for 10 years.

The benefit pays for in-home care aides, transportation to medical appointments, and safety upgrades in the home. The $36,500 annual cap will grow with inflation, according to the official WA Cares Fund website.

Long-term care can exceed $100,000 a year, according to Pierce County's Aging and Disability Resources office. Seven in 10 Washingtonians will need such care in their lifetimes.

Ferguson said nearly a half-million state residents will need long-term care over the next decade, but most lack the savings to cover it.

Pierce County's Aging and Disability Resources is the designated local service provider for the WA Cares Fund in Pierce County. The office will connect eligible beneficiaries with approved services and support.

Christina Keys, a family caregiver advocate who spoke at the governor's event, described how she became her mother's caregiver after a stroke, then her partner's caregiver after he suffered a seizure and a stroke. The household dropped to one income. She said the fund lets families "take a breath and figure out what (they) need to do next."

Sonja Thomas, a professional caregiver with 10 years of experience, said her clients often rely on a "patchwork" of Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs, learning about new resources through word of mouth.

Workers can log in or apply at account.wacaresfund.wa.gov. The site is available in 17 languages. Tacoma employers and community groups can schedule free informational presentations through Pierce County ADR by emailing [email protected] or calling 253-798-4600.

The benefit is portable: workers who move out of Washington can still access it. Out-of-state benefits become available in July 2030.