THE CREDIT FOR CARING ACT:
What You Need to Know
Background: On May 17, 2017, this bi-partisan proposed bill introduced in the U.S. House and Senate called the Credit for Caring Act, (S.1151/H.R. 2505) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to create a federal, nonrefundable tax credit of up to $3,000 for family caregivers who work while also financially help and assist in caring for their parents, spouses, children with disabilities or other loved ones. Introduced by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Linda Sánchez (D-CA), this bill is an important step toward supporting caregivers that work while caring for family members. AARP and other national organizations have endorsed the Credit for Caring Act. This bill would help defray some of the costs to family caregivers, 78 percent of whom use their own money to assist with caring for a loved one, and help ensure that they can continue working.
Issue: Today, over 40 million Americans provide long term assistance and care for adult loved ones today. Unpaid caregiver costs are estimated to be valued at a staggering $470 billion dollars annually (more than total Medicaid spending in 2013). In addition, an estimated 3.7 million family caregivers provide care to a child younger than 18 with a medical, behavioral or other condition or disability, and 6.5 million family caregivers assist both adults and children. Family caregivers as-sist with necessary daily life functions, including bathing and dressing, preparing meals, manag-ing medications, driving to appointments, and managing finances. (Source: AARP 2016 Survey Report)
What will the Bill Do?
- The Bill would give eligible family caregivers the opportunity to receive a tax credit for 30 percent of the qualified expenses above $2,000 paid to help a loved one, up to a maximum credit amount of $3,000 if the caregiver meets the following criteria:
- Is a spouse, adult child, parent or another relation named under the “dependent” definition
- Helps a loved one, of any age, who meets certain functional or cognitive limitations or other requirements, as certified by a licensed health care practitioner
- May or may not live with the loved one
- Have more than $7,500 in earned income for the taxable year, and
- Can document qualified expenses.
- Index certain dollar amounts and income levels to inflation
- Coordinate with other existing tax provisions to prevent double dipping, and
- Phase out at higher income levels.
Status of the Bill:
This bill was referred to the House, Ways and Means Committee.
What You Can Do:
- Attend a Town Hall in your congressional district
- Contact Your U.S. Senator and House Representatives at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov
U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121.
You can download a copy of this article here: Credit for caring Act.pdf
OTHER NEWS
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ON JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC.
To be valued and loved. To know who you are and that you have the power to make a
difference. These are the aspirations that most mothers have their children. In 1938, in the midst
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JUNE IS AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH
This June, The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. (BWA) joins our nation in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of African American Music Appreciation Month.
The month-long observance, which was first inducted on June 7, 1979, by President Jimmy Carter was christened as Black Music Month. President Barack Obama renamed the national observance as African-American Music Appreciation Month. The observance was created to recognize and celebrate the historical influence African-Americans have had on the music industry and is intended to pay homage to the many artists, writers, songs and albums that have inspired music lovers and shaped American pop culture.
May Is Lupus Awareness Month
In honor of Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America released a new survey they recently commissioned which reveals the need for better public understanding of this devastating autoimmune disease and why early diagnosis is so important.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, “The survey sample was designed to be reflective of the U.S. population’s diverse demographics. Women of color are at two to three times greater risk for developing lupus than Caucasian women. However, over half of respondents (62%) didn’t recognize that minority populations were disproportionately impacted by lupus.
Minority women tend to develop lupus at a younger age, experiencing more serious complications and have higher mortality rates. This was reflected among minority respondents who indicated they were also more worried about developing the disease than others surveyed: 44% compared to 29% of the sample overall.”
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