Virginia Caregivers Need Help: 1 in 5 Virginians is a Family Caregiver

More than 1 million Virginians care for a parent, spouse or other loved one to help them live safely and independently at home. Being a family caregiver is a labor of love, but it can also take a toll.

During the 2019 Virginia General Assembly, AARP fought for common sense solutions to help make family caregivers’ big responsibilities a little easier by asking for a tax credit for caregivers. The legislation did not pass, but we aren't giving up.  We will continue to work for a tax credit for family caregivers during the 2020 session.

If you could benefit from a $1,000 state tax credit, please email gthompson@aarp.org.

Across Virginia, family caregivers assist their parents, spouses and other loved ones so they can remain at home—where they want to be—and out of costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes. These family caregivers help with bathing, dressing, transportation and much more—and many also contribute financially to their loved one’s care. These responsibilities can be emotionally, physically and financially challenging.

The Virginia Family Caregiver Income Tax Credit would be a common-sense step to help make family caregivers’ big responsibilities a little bit easier by providing some financial relief so they can continue to carry on.

If you could benefit from a $1,000 state tax credit, please email gthompson@aarp.org.

What is the Virginia Family Caregivers Income Tax Credit?

• The Virginia Family Caregivers Income Tax Credit would be a non-refundable credit to help offset the amount of state income taxes owed.
• Eligible taxpayers who are family caregivers would receive a credit equal to a percentage of the qualifying expenses incurred by the taxpayer, up to a certain amount.
• Covered expenses could include:
  • adult day care,
  • transportation,
  • home modifications,
  • equipment and assistive technology,
  • home health care aides, and
  • other expenses to help their loved ones remain safe at home.
• Any day-to-day living costs, such as food and clothing do not qualify for the credit.
• Income limits on who is eligible for the credit would ensure it goes to help those family caregivers who need it the most.

If you could benefit from a $1,000 state tax credit, please email gthompson@aarp.org.

Family Caregiving by the Numbers

• More than one million family caregivers in Virginia help their loved ones to live independently –keeping them out of more costly nursing homes, saving taxpayer dollars.
• In Virginia, family caregivers provide 956 million hours of unpaid care – valued at $11.8 billion annually.
• In 2016, family caregivers spent an average of nearly $7,000 per year out of their own pocket, or about 20% of their income when caring for a loved one.

If you could benefit from a $1,000 state tax credit, please email gthompson@aarp.org.