Washington Connection will be unavailable, Washington Healthplanfinder and its call center will have reduced functionality after 5 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Some statewide health and human services and related offices will be unavailable Aug. 14–15. ...read the full news release
2023 DSHS News Releases
Welcome to DSHS' media releases for 2023. You may sort by keyword, release number and date.
To read archived press releases, please choose the appropriate year below:
ICYMI: Critical IT upgrade will impact online benefits portals, etc., starting 8/11
Aug 07 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Norah West, 360-489-5587
Join us July 31 for WA Cares Basics webinar
Jul 27 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Jessica Nelson, 360-628-1043
OLYMPIA -
This month, Washington workers began earning long-term care benefits through the WA Cares Fund. Workers contribute 0.58% of each paycheck to WA Cares during their working years to access a $36,500 lifetime benefit (adjusted annually for inflation) when they need long-term care.
While WA Cares benefits can be used to pay for care in a residential setting like a nursing home, they can also cover services and supports to help ...read the full news release
Critical IT upgrade to social services eligibility system will impact online benefits application portals, statewide call centers and in-person services in August.
Jul 27 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Jessica Nelson, 360-628-1043
Impacts to Washington Connection and Healthplanfinder beginning after 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and runs through 8 a.m. Aug. 16; some statewide health and human services and related offices will be unavailable Aug. 14-15.
July 26, 2023
OLYMPIA – One of Washington state’s public benefits eligibility systems, the Automated Client Eligibility System, will undergo a critical IT upgrade next month that will impact the primary portals Washingtonians use to apply for public benefits ...read the full news release
Washington families to receive last round of pandemic-related food benefits in June-July 2023
Jun 29 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Norah West, 360-489-5587
OLYMPIA — Many families in Washington state will soon have help to pay for groceries while children are home for the summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved the Department of Social and Health Services’ applications for federal COVID-19 relief funding to provide a fourth and final round of Pandemic EBT food assistance for summer 2023 and for children under ...read the full news release
WA Cares July 1 launch will mark critical milestone in preparing Washingtonians for long-term care challenges
Jun 27 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Jessica Nelson, 360-628-1043
OLYMPIA, WA — The WA Cares Fund, Washington state’s new long-term care insurance program, launches on Saturday, July 1, when more than three million Washingtonians will begin earning benefits.
“The kick-off of WA Cares represents a critical step toward addressing the long-term care crisis in our state,” said WA Cares Fund Director Ben Veghte, Ph.D. “Over time, I hope WA Cares will provide Washington families with the feeling of support and security they get from similar social ...read the full news release