Cherish News for Program Recipients, Families and Staff

 

Cherish is looking for employees in nearly all locations! 
Contact Kalee kalee@cherished1.co   (218)263-9000

 

Cherish appreciates our program participants and our staff. 
This news is intended to bring to your attention information that could help.

 

 

You may qualify for a retention bonus if you have been working at Cherish for 2 or more years
https://www.theodysseygroup.com/retentionbonuses

 

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) direct care workers and traditional personal care assistance (PCA) workers may apply for retention bonus and training stipend grant initiatives

HCBS direct care workers and traditional PCA workers may apply for grant initiatives, including a retention bonus and PCA training stipend. The two initiatives are part of the Legislature-created HCBS grant developed to help attract new direct care workers and keep current employees who provide HCBS services to people with disabilities and older adults. Review the Apply for grant initiatives, including retention bonuses and training stipends AASD and DSD eList announcement for information about the retention bonus and training stipend, including application information. Refer to the HCBS Workforce Development Grant webpage for information about the grant initiatives and legislation.

 

 

Human Services Legislation  https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/61/

 

https://www.leg.mn.gov/

 

Governor Walz https://mn.gov/governor/contact/

Governor Walz committed to make Minnesota an age friendly state and announced a PCA wage increase but did not fund it.
Established November as Caregiver month.  Contact Governor Walz to ask for his fiscal support in increasing PCA wages.

 Contact DHS Commissioner Harperstead - she needs to hear from real people: jodi.harpstead@state.mn.us

 

Some issues that may affect you or those you serve:

 

DHS extends temporary waiver allowing certain family
members to be paid for providing PCA services

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDHS/bulletins/35a2726

 

 

 

Family Caregivers

On November 11, 2023  Parents of minors and spouses who have been providing PCA services during the COVID-19 emergency will not be able to continue to provide services.  There is an extreme shortage of Direct Care Workers, so an alternative plan for provision of services is not necessarily a viable option.  Parents and Spouses need some direction on what they are to do, as a crisis is quickly approaching. 

 

Enhanced Waiver rates

Currently PCAs that work for a person receiving more than 10 hours per day of care earn an increased wage.  To qualify for the increase the employee must take the DHS online training,

https://www.minnesotadswtraining.com/?fbclid=IwAR047vSg8kwAMfYPyNGqcoeYSNd-4SM5nGYyyA2HfX09TAtphuOz_ZDnnCw_aem_th_ATlR4HeuZIDSBwE01A0BudtOuRCJQxeXczbS8gSeCcH_D_jRHl9AzVUGk-GvrWFktEbmVapeD95rpab5aY6HKVwU

 

 

Contact your Minnesota Legislators:

Iron Range MN Senator  Robert Farnsworth https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1254 - email Senator Farnsworth's legislative assistant ellie.simpson@senate.mn
Duluth Area MN Senator  Jennifer McEwen https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1241

Iron Range Representatives
Spencer Igo http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15540
Dave Lislegard http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15497
Roger Skraba http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15623
Duluth Area Representatives
Natalie Zeleznikar http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15624
Jeff Dotseth https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15598
Alicia Kozlowski https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15595
Liz Olson https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15469

 

 

 

IRS Notice 2014-7

 

If you Live with the person you are providing services for - you could qualify for an income tax exclusion

 

In January 2014, the IRS issued Notice 2014-7 stating that certain wages earned by employees providing services to individuals on a Medicaid Waiver can be excluded from federal income tax.

 This applies to employees living full time in the home with the Medicaid waiver person they provide services to.

More Information

 

Taxes

If you had to pay into State or Federal Income Tax - you may want to change your W4

2023 Form W-4

.
.
.

Annual training is coming up.  Packets will be arriving right around Sept 1, 2023