SB 143 – Family Caregiver Tax Credit

Senator Spiros Mantzavinos last week introduced Senate Bill 143 to support Delaware’s aging seniors and their family caregivers.

Senate Bill 143 would create a family caregiver tax credit in Delaware worth up to $2,000 a year per household that could be applied toward the cost of home improvements required for the care of a family member, the purchase or lease of equipment needed to carry out daily living activities, or support services such as employing a home health aide, specialized transportation or day programs for seniors.

If signed into law, the nonrefundable tax credit would be available to qualifying family caregivers who earn less than $150,000, starting with their next state tax filing.

The legislation fulfills a key recommendation from the 2015 Caregiver Support Blueprint for Delaware, the final report issued by the Family Caregiving Task Force. Among other findings, the task force found that nearly half of all Delawareans age 35 or older were currently or had previously provided unpaid care to an adult loved one who was ill, frail, elderly or had a physical or mental disability. Additionally, the task force predicted a caregiving gap caused by Delaware’s growing proportion of citizens aged 60 and older. 

Senate Bill 143 Sponsors	Yes Votes	No Votes
Mantzavinos, Ennis, Lockman, Walsh
Griffith, Baumbach, Brady, K.Johnson, Lambert, Mitchell, Ramone, M.Smith
Current Status: Senate Health & Social Services 5/19/21

“As someone who is caring for an elderly parent, I know first-hand about the stress that comes with it plus how difficult and expensive it can be to juggle their household bills and the financial burden that comes with caring for an aging family member, regardless of whether they live alone, with a family member or in a long-term care facility,” said Mantzavinos.

“I also know we can do more to support the desire of most seniors to stay in their own homes and their own communities for as long as they can,” he said. “My hope is these measures will help make it a little easier for our neighbors while also giving them some assurance that we are committed to promoting the health and well-being of both our senior citizens, the families who love them, and their caregivers.”