Proposed Bill Creates Tax Credit For Caregivers In Ohio

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — State Rep. Janine Boyd, who hails from Cleveland Heights, recently introduced a bill that would provide a tax credit for some expenses incurred when caring for an ailing family member. To qualify for the credit, the family member needing assistance needs to be at least 18 and need help with at least one activity daily.

Boyd and State Rep. Allison Russo, from Upper Arlington, introduced the Caregiver Expenses Tax Credit on Tuesday. The legislation was inspired by the impending "silver tsunami" which will see an increasingly aging population require more health services and assistance.

“Most of us will become caregivers to a loved one, at some point in our lives. In fact, many of us will need a loved one to become our caregiver. This is one of the least political facts of life we’ll ever debate in the Ohio legislature. Caregivers provide necessary healthcare support, companionship and so much more. Our caregivers take time from their other obligations — work, school, perhaps even their own families — to nurture their loved one back to stability,” said Boyd.

There are currently more Ohio residents who are 60 or older, than there are residents who are 20 or younger, a sign of an aging population.

Boyd cited studies showing an average of 20 percent of a family's income going toward caregiving costs. She worried the burden of caring for a loved one could become prohibitive for many families.

“They shouldn’t have to worry about paying their bills or losing their own homes because they’ve selected to keep their loved one out of institutionalized care. Who among us would not want our caregivers to be whole? This tax credit represents us assisting Ohio’s caregivers stay whole," Boyd said.