Washington Long-Term Cares Fund Update: Employers Advised to Withhold Premiums Starting January 1

Jackson Lewis P.C.
Contact

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has clarified that, starting January 1, “employers will still be legally obligated to pay the full amount owed to state ESD [Employment Security Department] to begin the long-term care program” under the Washington Long-Term Services and Supports Act, until the legislature changes the law.

The Act provides Washington workers with long-term care benefits (called the Washington Cares Fund) and is funded by a payroll tax on Washington workers.

Governor Inslee noted that the state plans to begin collecting premiums from its own employees’ paychecks on January 1, as the statute requires, despite his prior statement that “employers will not be subject to penalties and interest for not withholding fees from employees’ wages” during the legislature’s reconsideration of the law in January when they reconvene.

On December 17, Governor Inslee issued a joint statement with two legislators that supported employers pausing premium collections from Washington employees while the legislature decides whether to amend the law.

In his most recent release, however, the governor warned, “Only the legislature has the authority to eliminate the requirement that employers pay a premium based on withholding from an employee’s wages at this time.”

This change in course is yet another confusing development for employers regarding the Washington Cares Fund, but the governor’s warning suggests that employers should begin collecting premiums from employees checks on January 1 to avoid the chance employers would have to pay the cost of the premiums themselves, if the legislature fails to change the law.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

© Jackson Lewis P.C. | Attorney Advertising

Written by:

Jackson Lewis P.C.
Contact
more
less

Jackson Lewis P.C. on:

Reporters on Deadline

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
Custom Email Digest
- hide
- hide