AARP Applauds Passage of Connecticut General Assembly Budget

AARP Connecticut applauds house and senate legislators for passing a state budget that includes a caregiver tax credit to support Connecticut’s more than 710,000 family caregivers of adults. We look forward to Governor Lamont signing the final budget into law.

According to AARP’s recent Valuing the Invaluable report, family caregivers in Connecticut provide 460 million hours of unpaid care each year — work that would be worth $10.7 billion annually if paid at the market rate of $23.45 per hour. This unpaid care saves taxpayers billions of dollars and serves as the backbone of the long-term care system, helping millions of older adults remain independent in their homes.

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A caregiver tax credit provides meaningful financial relief to working caregivers, helping them stay in the workforce and making it possible for more adults to remain at home where they want to be rather than relying on taxpayer-funded institutional care.

“We applaud lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for standing with family caregivers by supporting a caregiver tax credit,” said Nora Duncan, AARP Connecticut State Director. “The economic value caregivers provide often comes at a personal cost to their health and financial security. Many are juggling jobs, family responsibilities, and thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses to care for a loved one. Without family caregivers, many more Connecticut residents would be forced into expensive institutional care, driving significantly higher costs for taxpayers and public programs.”