Senior Helpers Spokane and North Idaho

Eligibility

General

Washington supports unpaid family caregivers of adults; program-specific assessment and local eligibility determine services.

WA specifics

Local family caregiver support programs provide assessment and resources.

What it provides

• Caregiver information training counseling and respite may be available based on assessment and local funding.

Eligibility

General

Community First Choice is a Medicaid state-plan home/community service option for eligible people with qualifying functional needs; it is not restricted to age 65 or older.

WA specifics

CFC is a state-plan option rather than the COPES waiver; assessment and person-centered service planning apply.

What it provides

• Approved personal assistance and related community supports based on assessment.

Eligibility

General

Older Americans Act supportive and nutrition services generally serve adults age 60 or older; individual services can have additional criteria and specified exceptions.

WA specifics

Services are subject to local availability and funding; the OAA does not guarantee an individual entitlement.

What it provides

• Locally available nutrition and supportive services may include meals and in-home assistance.

Eligibility

General

Additional pension benefits for qualifying Veterans or survivors who satisfy VA pension eligibility and the medical requirements for Aid and Attendance or Housebound status; being an older veteran or spouse alone does not qualify.

WA specifics

This is a federal VA benefit rather than a state-specific grant; Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits cannot be received together.

What it provides

• Increased monthly VA pension based on the applicable MAPR less countable income.

Eligibility

General

Washington residents age 18 or older who have earned WA Cares benefits through qualifying contributions and need help with at least three daily activities for at least 90 days as determined by the program.

WA specifics

Statewide benefits began July 1 2026. Full benefits can be earned after three qualifying years within the preceding six years or ten qualifying years; workers born before 1968 may qualify for partial benefits. A qualifying year requires at least 500 covered work hours. Services must come from registered WA Cares providers.

What it provides

• Approved beneficiaries may use earned benefits for in-home care or eligible facility care.
• Covered supports may include home modifications and adaptive equipment or paying a qualifying family caregiver.
• The full lifetime benefit is up to $36,500 in 2026 and partial benefits depend on qualifying years.

Eligibility

General

Washington residents eligible for noninstitutional categorically needy Apple Health or its alternative benefit plan who meet the MPC functional assessment and do not require an institutional level of care.

WA specifics

MPC differs from Community First Choice and COPES. Personal care can be authorized at home or in eligible adult family homes and assisted living facilities contracted for adult residential care. Financial eligibility follows the qualifying Apple Health coverage category.

What it provides

• Authorized personal-care help with daily activities.
• Assessment-based nursing support may also be available when not already provided through another resource.

Eligibility

General

Meet Washington general eligibility plus Medicare Part A entitlement or qualifying SSA Low-Income Subsidy enrollment under current state rule.

WA specifics

QDWI has separate under-65 employment disability and income rules; QI-1 is subject to federal funding and cannot be combined with Medicaid.

What it provides

• QMB pays Medicare premiums and applicable cost sharing; SLMB and QI-1 pay Part B premiums; QDWI pays Part A premiums.

Eligibility

General

Washington household meeting LIHEAP net-income and other eligibility criteria; local providers determine eligibility.

WA specifics

Assistance depends on income household size home heating costs and local funding; eligible repair and replacement supports can be available.

What it provides

• Eligible home-energy costs and certain unsafe heating or cooling system repair/replacement.

Eligibility

General

Eligible Washington homeowners age 61 or older or meeting qualifying disability/veteran criteria; ownership principal-residence and income rules apply.

WA specifics

Apply through county assessor using the applicable tax-year county thresholds; Exemption and tax-deferral programs have distinct rules.

What it provides

• Qualifying reduction of property tax based on county income tier and exempt levies.