; (v) if applicable, implementation of the activities described in paragraph (3); and (vi) the progress made with respect to meeting the benchmarks for demonstrating improvements required in paragraph (5). (5) Benchmarks for demonstrating improvements An HCBS program improvement State shall cease to be eligible for an increase in the Federal medical assistance percentage under paragraph (1)(A)(i) or (1)(B) or an increase in an applicable Federal matching percentage under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) beginning with the 29th fiscal year quarter that begins on or after the first date on which a State is an HCBS program improvement State, unless, not later than 90 days before the first day of such fiscal year quarter, the State submits to the Secretary a report demonstrating the following improvements: (A) Increased availability of home and community-based services in the State relative to such availability as reported in the State HCBS infrastructure improvement plan and adjusted for demographic changes in the State since the submission of such plan. (B) Increased utilization and availability of home and community-based services by populations with the lowest utilization and availability of such services (as reported in the State HCBS infrastructure improvement plan) relative to the utilization of such services by such populations as reported in such plan and adjusted for demographic changes in the State since the submission of such plan. (C) Evidence that a majority of direct care workers receive competitive wages and benefits. (D) With respect to the percentage of expenditures made by the State for long-term services and supports that are for home and community-based services, in the case of an HCBS program improvement State for which such percentage (as reported in the State HCBS infrastructure improvement plan) was— (i) less than 50 percent, the State demonstrates that the percentage of such expenditures has increased to at least 50 percent since the plan was approved