OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Inslee has signed bills that modify a state long-term care plan and delay the payroll tax that will pay for it.
The changes allow more people to permanently opt out of the WA Cares Fund.
The Seattle Times reports they include people who live outside the state but work in Washington and military families who rotate through the state.
People close to retirement who wouldn’t be fully vested in the program will now be able to claim partial benefits.
The legislation also delays until 2023 the payroll tax that was supposed to take effect at the beginning of this year.
The one-of-a-kind program passed by Democrats in 2019 is aimed at helping people pay for some care so they can stay in their homes during sickness or old age.