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FAQ #25046

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If I am a long-term family caregiver, how much money in wages and other benefits could I lose during my employment career?

Related resource areas: Family Caregiving


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Caregivers can lose more than $650,000 over their caregiving and work career. These costs are due to reducing the number of hours worked, being passed over for promotions, taking leaves of absence, retiring early or quitting entirely.

When caregivers are not working they lose wages, and pension and social security benefits do not accrue. The actual loss to you as an individual would need to be calculated by you personally.

Remember that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mandates that if you work for an employer with 50 or more employees within a 75 mile radius you have access to an unpaid leave of absence for family caregiving. Check this option out with your employer also.

Browse related FAQs by tag: family caregiving, elderly, financialcaregiving

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