OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law an 18-month delay of the state's new long-term care program that creates a defined benefit to help offset the costs of such care.
His signature comes a day after lawmakers gave final approval to the move amid concerns about the program's solvency and criticisms about elements of the underlying law, including people close to retirement who would pay in but not receive the benefit.
“We do have to get this right because this is so important to so many people,” Inslee said.
Because the bill has an emergency clause, it takes effect immediately. The payroll tax that pays for the benefit — which was supposed to start being collected by employers this month — is now delayed until July 1, 2023, and employers are required to refund any premiums that have been collected to date.
Access to the benefit to pay for things like in-home care, home modifications like wheelchair ramps and rides to the doctor is now delayed from Jan. 1, 2025, until July 1, 2026.
Additionally, people born before Jan. 1, 1968, who do not become vested in the program because they do not pay the premium for 10 years can qualify for partial benefits under the bill.
The lifetime maximum of the benefit is $36,500, with annual increases to be determined based on inflation, and the program is funded by workers, who will pay a premium of .58% of total pay per paycheck.
The benefit is not portable, so people who pay into the program but later...
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