WA Cares Fund on your pay stub
WA Cares is Washington's long-term care insurance premium: 0.58% of your gross wages, taken from every paycheck with no yearly cap. It comes only out of your pay; employers don't pay a share. On a $60,000 salary that's $13.38 every two weeks, $348 a year.
How to check the WA Cares line on your stub
- Find your gross pay for the period — before any deductions, including overtime, bonuses and commissions.
- Multiply it by 0.0058 (0.58%). That's the premium — $5.80 for every $1,000 you earn.
- Compare it with the WA Cares line (payroll systems may shorten the name). A few cents of difference is rounding.
Pre-tax 401(k) contributions and health insurance don't lower it: the premium is on gross wages. And unlike Social Security, there's no wage limit — it keeps coming out on every dollar, all year.
Want every line checked at once? The pay stub checker and the Washington paycheck calculator work out WA Cares, paid family leave and federal taxes from your pay.
WA Cares by salary
| Salary | Every 2 weeks | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $6.69 | $14.50 | $174 |
| $45,000 | $10.04 | $21.75 | $261 |
| $60,000 | $13.38 | $29.00 | $348 |
| $80,000 | $17.85 | $38.67 | $464 |
| $100,000 | $22.31 | $48.33 | $580 |
| $150,000 | $33.46 | $72.50 | $870 |
| $250,000 | $55.77 | $120.83 | $1,450 |
0.58% of gross wages, no cap. Paid every two weeks (26 paychecks); the monthly column is the yearly total ÷ 12.
What you get for it
WA Cares pays for long-term care once you need help with three or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, moving around or taking medication. It covers more than 40 kinds of care services, including an in-home care provider and changes that make your home safer. The lifetime benefit is $36,500, and it grows with inflation. Benefits became available on July 1, 2026; premiums have been withheld since July 1, 2023.
To qualify, you need one of these, counting each calendar year you worked at least 500 hours:
- 10 years of contributions, or
- 3 of the last 6 years when you apply, or
- if you were born before January 1, 1968, at least one year — a partial benefit of $3,650 for each year you contributed.
It's insurance, not a savings account: if you never use the benefit, the premiums aren't refunded.
Who doesn't pay WA Cares
You can apply to the Employment Security Department for an exemption if you:
- live outside Washington (and work here),
- are an active-duty service member with an off-duty civilian job,
- are the spouse or registered domestic partner of an active-duty service member, or
- are a veteran with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating.
Holders of nonimmigrant work visas have been exempt automatically since January 1, 2026; they can opt in by telling their employer in writing. The old exemption for people with private long-term care insurance closed on December 31, 2022 — people who got it can cancel it and rejoin between January 1, 2026 and June 30, 2028.
If you have an approved exemption and WA Cares is still on your stub, give your employer a copy of the approval.
If you move out of Washington
Since July 2026, you can choose to keep your WA Cares coverage after moving away if you've contributed for at least 3 years (of 500+ hours) — and you must elect it within 1 year of leaving. Benefits for people living outside Washington start in July 2030.
The other Washington line: paid family leave
Most Washington stubs also show Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML). That one is shared with your employer: the 2026 premium is 1.13% of wages, and you pay 71.43% of it — about 0.807% of gross pay, up to $184,500 of wages a year. Washington has no state income tax, so these two premiums are usually the only state lines on the stub.
Washington paycheck calculator · Pay stub checker · Washington bonus tax
Sources
- Washington ESD — Paid Leave employer wage reporting and premiums toolkit (2026) — PFML 1.13% × 71.43% employee share up to $184,500; WA Cares 0.58% of gross wages, no cap
- WA Cares Fund — Exemptions — out-of-state residents, active-duty service members, their spouses or partners, veterans rated 70%+; nonimmigrant work-visa holders exempt automatically from January 1, 2026; private-insurance exemption closed December 31, 2022 (checked 2026-09-27)
- WA Cares Fund — How it works — 0.58% of your paycheck; $36,500 lifetime benefit that grows with inflation; contributions began July 1, 2023; help with 3+ activities of daily living; 40+ care services (checked 2026-09-27)
- WA Cares Fund — Qualifying for benefits — 10 years, or 3 of the past 6, or born before 1968 with 1 year ($3,650 per year); years with 500+ hours count; out-of-state benefits from July 2030 (checked 2026-09-27)
- WA Cares Fund — Toolkit FAQ (updated August 18, 2026) — benefits became available July 1, 2026
- WA Cares Fund — Frequently asked questions — premium can't exceed 0.58%; not capped at the Social Security taxable maximum; no cash-out of contributions
- WA Cares Fund — Portable benefits (March 15, 2024) — from July 2026, continue after moving out of state with 3+ years of 500+ hours, electing within one year of leaving
Questions
What is WA Cares on my pay stub?
Washington's long-term care insurance premium: 0.58% of your gross wages, withheld from every paycheck with no cap. It funds a lifetime benefit of $36,500 (growing with inflation) for long-term care.
How much is WA Cares per paycheck?
0.58% of that paycheck's gross pay — $5.80 per $1,000. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, $13.38.
Is there a maximum for WA Cares?
No. Unlike Social Security and Washington paid family leave, WA Cares has no wage cap — it's taken from all your wages.
Can I opt out of WA Cares?
Only through an approved exemption: living outside Washington, active-duty military, military spouse or partner, or a veteran with a 70%+ service-connected disability rating. Nonimmigrant work-visa holders are exempt automatically. The private-insurance exemption closed at the end of 2022.
Do I get WA Cares premiums back if I leave Washington?
No — premiums aren't refunded. Since July 2026 you can keep your coverage after moving if you've contributed 3+ years and elect within a year of leaving.