AARP Wants $5,000 Trump Promised
In the waning days of his winning campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised Americans that he would champion a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit for working caregivers. The AARP, which represents 38 million Americans age 55 and older, plans to hold him to his word, the group’s officials said today.
Specifically, AARP wants passage of the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, proposed legislation that would provide a credit amount that would be 30% of the qualified expenses paid or incurred by family members and loved ones who provide unpaid caregiving above $2,000, up to a maximum credit amount of $5,000.
The legislation is “a common-sense solution,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president, said at a press conference today. “Over 48 million Americans are taking care of an ailing family member and 68% are women and 68% are in workforce and it’s costing them on average $7,200 a year. This adds to the economic strain they feel. They’re cutting back on spending and reducing what they contribute for their own retirement.”
The legislation is designed to help working family caregivers offset the cost of caregiving expenses such as a home care aide, adult day services, home modifications, assistive technology, respite care, transportation and other supports that help them and their loved ones, according to the bill, which is co-sponsored by Senators Michael Bennet and Shelley Moore Capito, and Representatives Mike Carey and Linda Sánchez.
Lawmakers failed to pass the legislation this year, but that could change in 2024, LeaMond said. That’s because family caregivers themselves “had a bit of a political moment this year,” thanks to AARP, which asked both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris how they’d relieve the financial strain on caregivers.
“Trump is on record as supporting the caregiver’s tax credit,” she said, noting that he voiced support for the credit at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City shortly before the election.
Currently 20% of Americans provide caregiving services, totaling some $600 billion of unpaid services annually, to allow parents, spouses and loved ones to live independently at home instead of in a costly nursing home, using Medicare and Medicaid benefits that the government would pay the tab for, the AARP said.
A new AARP survey found that 90% of Americans age 50 or older said they would strongly or somewhat strongly support the proposal. There was also consistent support for the proposal between men and women as well as across racial and ethnic groups, said Margie Omero, a pollster and principal at research firm GBAO, which conducted the AARP research.
If the legislation is passed, eligible caregivers would receive the credit if the care recipient meets certain functional or cognitive limitations or other requirements certified by a licensed healthcare practitioner.
The bill includes provisions to prevent double-dipping with existing tax provisions. Unlike the existing child and dependent care credit, the caregiver credit would help family caregivers who care for non-dependents or who do not live with the person they are assisting.
Caregivers with higher incomes would be ineligible for the tax credit, according to the bills.
LeaMond said that there is no cost estimates for the bipartisan legislation.
The emerging Trump tax plan, which includes renewing the expiring 2017 tax cuts and the promise of eliminating taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security, is estimated to add $9.7 trillion to the national debt over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
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