A House of Delegates subcommittee has tabled a bill that would establish tax credits for expenses incurred by family members providing care for family members.
The bill, authored by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, was tabled by a 6-2 vote in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources on Wednesday.
A fall 2019 survey from AARP Virginia had indicated strong support statewide for family caregiver income tax credits. Voters aged 40-plus back the idea with 88 percent support statewide.
AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau offered comment on the subcommittee vote:
“On behalf of the more than 1 million family caregivers in Virginia who provide 870 million hours of unpaid care to their loved ones, we are deeply disappointed that the subcommittee voted to table the measure that would have provided a non-refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 to help them offset their out-of-pocket costs. We will continue to fight for assistance for family caregivers during the 2021 General Assembly.
“Family caregivers are the backbone of Virginia’s long-term care system, providing $11.2 billion worth of care per year to family members who could otherwise be in taxpayer-funded institutions. These caregivers spend an average of $7,000 out of their own pockets each year helping their family members, and a state tax credit would have offered a bit of relief.
“On behalf of our more than 1 million members in Virginia, we thank Del. Sam Rasoul for stepping up as chief patron of this bipartisan bill to champion caregivers. We look forward to working with Del. Rasoul, and all of the other legislators who supported the bill, to pass the Family Caregiver Tax Credit in 2021.”
With reporting by Chris Graham
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