OLYMPIA - Washington is ranked second in the nation for supporting older residents and people with disabilities, according to the AARP. The 2023 Long-Term Services and Supports State Scorecard is compiled every three years by the AARP, the Commonwealth Fund, The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Scan Foundation. The report focuses on how the Department of Social and Health Services performs in more than ...read the full news release
2023 DSHS News Releases
Welcome to DSHS' news releases for 2023. You may search by keyword and release number.
To read archived news releases, please choose the appropriate year below:
AARP ranks Washington #2 in the nation for long-term care, support of family caregivers
Sep 28 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Jessica Nelson, 360-628-1043
DSHS launches claims process to replace stolen food benefits for Washingtonians
Sep 05 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Norah West, 360-489-5587
OLYMPIA, WA — People whose food benefits were stolen through card skimming or other similar fraudulent activity can now submit a claim to the Department of Social and Health Services to have some of those benefits replaced. The U.S. Congress passed a law earlier this year that enables state agencies administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as ...read the full news release
Disaster cash assistance available to eligible Washingtonians affected by recent eastern Washington wildfires
Sep 01 2023
DSHS Office of Communications, Norah West, 360-489-5587
OLYMPIA — As of Aug. 31, eligible Washington residents affected by recent wildfires in eastern Washington can apply through the Department of Social and Health Services for emergency cash assistance to help meet their immediate needs. DSHS is now able to access funding through a new proclamation from Governor Inslee to activate this temporary program that ...read the full news release
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
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.
In just a few days, one of ...read the full news release
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