Washington
Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA)
Self-directed care programs in Washington that let you choose your own personal assistant or pay a family member as your caregiver.
Consumer Direct Care Network Washington
Open - No WaitlistPA Hourly Rate
$22.52 - $26.09
per hour
Monthly Benefit
$2,200 - $5,000
estimated range
What You Can & Can't Do
What You Can Do
- Hire a family member (not spouse) as your individual provider
- Choose and direct your own IP
- Receive among the highest caregiver rates in the nation
- Access the program without a waitlist (state plan benefit)
- Have your IP receive union benefits including health insurance and retirement
- Receive personal care, light housekeeping, and meal preparation
What You Can't Do
- Hire your spouse as a paid IP
- Use IP services for skilled nursing care
- Exceed authorized hours without reassessment
- Skip the required 75-hour Basic Training for your IP
- Receive services in a nursing facility
- Bypass CDWA as the employer of record
How to Apply
Apply for Apple Health (Medicaid)
Ensure coverage through Washington Apple Health at (800) 562-3022.
Contact HCS/AAA
Call Home & Community Services or your Area Agency on Aging at (800) 422-3263.
Complete CARE assessment
A social worker conducts the CARE assessment to determine your personal care needs and authorized hours.
Receive service authorization
Based on your assessment, you receive authorization for a specific number of monthly hours.
Choose your individual provider
Select a family member, friend, or community member as your IP.
IP enrollment through CDWA
Your IP enrolls through CDWA, completes background check, and registers for training.
IP completes Basic Training
Your IP must complete the 75-hour Basic Training within 120 days and begin providing services.
PA Documents & Requirements
What your personal assistant needs to get started in Washington
Government-issued photo ID
Valid identification
Social Security card
For employment and payroll
W-4 tax withholding form
Tax withholding
I-9 Employment Eligibility
Work authorization
Washington DSHS background check
Background check through DSHS Background Check Central Unit
75-hour Basic Training certificate
SEIU 775 Benefits Group training — must be completed within 120 days of hire
CPR/First Aid certification
Required as part of basic training
Direct deposit form
Banking information for payroll
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CDWA in Washington?
Consumer Direct Care Network Washington is the employer of record for individual providers (IPs) who deliver personal care to Medicaid clients in Washington state. You choose and direct your IP.
Can a family member be my IP?
Yes. Family members can serve as paid individual providers. However, spouses are not eligible to be paid IPs in Washington.
What's the pay rate?
IP rates range from $22.52 to $26.09 per hour — among the highest in the nation. Rates are negotiated through SEIU 775.
What training is required?
All IPs must complete a 75-hour Basic Training through the SEIU 775 Benefits Group within 120 days of hire. Continuing education of 12 hours annually is also required.
Is there a waitlist?
No. Washington's personal care program is a Medicaid state plan benefit with no waitlist.
What is the CARE assessment?
The Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evaluation is Washington's standardized tool for determining your personal care hours. It evaluates your needs across multiple functional categories.
Ready to check your eligibility?
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you if you qualify for Washington's CDWA program.