Bill > HB1026

This bill addresses benefit sharing within Washington state's Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Program, which provides long-term care benefits. Specifically, the bill allows a qualified individual to transfer some or all of their available benefit units to their spouse under two scenarios: first, when the spouse does not currently qualify as a program participant but meets the functional eligibility criteria for receiving benefits after an evaluation; and second, when the spouse is already a qualified participant but has exhausted their own benefit units. When a qualified individual transfers benefit units to their spouse, the transferred units will be deducted from the original individual's total available benefit units. This provision aims to provide more flexibility for couples in accessing long-term care benefits and ensures that spouses can support each other's care needs within the existing LTSS Trust Program framework. The bill adds a new section to Chapter 50B.04 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which governs the state's long-term care trust program.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1026&Year=2025&Initiative=false