Becoming a paid caregiver in Washington.

Spouses can not be paid.

There is free or low cost help for unpaid caregivers through the Family Caregiver Support Program.

Yes you can! I forget how to go about it, but talk to a social worker from your spouse's doctor or hospital and they can help you.

I worked in Long Term Care and spouses were unable to become paid caregivers.

Yes! As an individual provider through CDWA. Go to the website for Department of Social and Health Services. There will be a link.

Yup I was a caregiver for my daughter until she just got to much for me

Once the new long term care act kicks in I believe you can but that's 3 years away.

It may depend on which division of DSHS you are working with but I know with DDA, a spouse cannot be paid CG. Im a case manager.

Hey me too

Me too, but for return to work :)

This question had not come up for me. Thanks for the responses.

There seems to be conflicting answers so I'll throw mine into the mix.

In Washington, my mother could not be a paid caregiver for my dad, but my younger sibling could. Family can, but not spouses in my experience.

You can hire a caregiver of course, free of charge as long as your spouse does not receive the disability maximum.

Spouses can’t get paid, so if you wanna get paid you’ll have to get divorced. That’s what my ex wife and her new husband did when she was paralyzed by Guillain-Barré… she’s now permanently disabled, in part by loss of some fine motor control but also from heart failure and brain damage.