Introduction

Veterans and their loved ones understand that life in our armed forces comes with many duties and sacrifices, including intensive military training, multiple relocations, lengthy deployments and the very-real threat of facing physical and mental harm. When a veteran has been seriously injured or has aggravated an injury in the line of duty, often a close family member will step up to serve as a caretaker for the veteran’s needs. Sometimes these caregivers themselves need extra help in their mission to make their veteran’s life easier. To support both disabled veterans and their caretakers, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has created a unique VA caregiver program to help lighten some of the heavy realities and responsibilities both face. Know what information you are looking for? Click the section to jump right to some of the most frequently asked questions and information!

1. Caregiver Benefits
2. Monthly Stipend Rate
3. Who Qualifies for the VA Caregiver Program?
4. Requirements for the VA Caregiver Program
5. How to Submit an Application (With Links to Submit Online and in Person)
6. What to do If You Don’t Qualify

VA Caregiver Program

What is the program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)? One VA initiative, the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, is specifically designed to provide training, support, mental health services, a financial stipend and health insurance to the caregivers of eligible disabled veterans. The kind of care that a disabled veteran might require could include:

• Everyday personal needs (such as feeding, bathing and dressing).
• Safety, protection or instruction in their daily living environment.
• Other health and well-being essentials.

VA Caregiver Benefits

Once within the program, a veteran can select one primary caregiver (their main caretaker) and up to two secondary caregivers (who can provide backup for the primary caretaker). Primary caregivers may receive:

• A monthly stipend (paid directly to the caretaker).
• Access to health care insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), if they don’t have health insurance already.
• Mental health counseling.
• Certain travel benefits when traveling with the veteran to appointments.
• At least 30 days of respite care for the veteran per year. Respite is a short-term break for the primary caretaker, allowing someone else to care for the veteran.

Secondary caregivers may receive:

• Mental health counseling.
• Certain travel benefits when traveling with the veteran to appointments.
• At least 30 days of respite care for the veteran per year. Respite is a short-term break for the primary caretaker, allowing someone else to care for the veteran.

VA Caregiver Monthly Stipend Rate

The VA determines any stipend payment on the definition of a “monthly stipend rate.” This means the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) General Schedule (GS) Annual Rate for Grade 4, Step 1, based on the locality pay area in which the eligible veteran resides, divided by 12. The amount and degree of personal care services are divided into two levels, based on if the veteran is able or unable to self-sustain in the community.

• For Level 1: An eligible veteran is determined not to be “unable to self-sustain” in the community. The primary family caregiver’s stipend amount will be 62.5 percent of the monthly stipend rate.
• For Level 2: An eligible veteran is determined to be unable to self-sustain in the community. The primary family caregiver’s stipend amount will be 100 percent of the monthly stipend rate.

Who Qualifies for the VA Caregiver Program?

If you’re a veteran with a service-related disability, you and the people who help care for you could be eligible for some incredibly helpful benefits. Keep reading to see if you meet the qualifications.

Requirements for VA Caregiver Program

Both a disabled veteran and their caregiver(s) must meet certain requirements to enter the program.

VA Caregiver Requirements

To be an approved caregiver in the PCAFC program, a person must be:

• At least 18 years old and at least one of the following must be true:
  • You must be either:

1. 1. 1. A spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member or extended family member of the veteran, or
      2. Someone who lives full-time with the veteran or is willing to do so if designated as a family caregiver.

Veteran Requirements

For a veteran being cared for to be eligible for this program, all of the following must be true:

• The veteran must have a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70 percent or higher.
• The veteran’s service-connected disabilities must have been caused or been made worse by active-duty service during either of these time periods:
  • On or after Sept. 11, 2001, or
  • On or before May 7, 1975.
• The veteran must have been discharged from the U.S. military or have a date of medical discharge.
• The veteran must need at least six months of continuous, in-person personal care services, which may be based on:
  • an inability to perform an activity of daily living (ADL).
  • a need for supervision, protection, or instruction.

Note: On Oct. 1, 2022, the VA intends to further expand the program to include family caregivers of eligible veterans from all eras who were seriously injured in the line of duty.

A Caregiver Program Application

A disabled veteran and their caregiver(s) will need to apply together for entry into the PCAFC. You'll both need to sign and date the forms and answer all questions for your particular role. Some of the information you’ll likely need to provide with your application:

• A VA Form 10-10CG.
• An address, phone number and date of birth for the veteran and each caregiver applicant.
• The name of the VA medical center where the veteran will receive care.
• Health insurance information for the primary family caregiver.
• The Social Security Number or tax ID number for the veteran.

Applying Online

The VA offers a step-by-step explanation of the application process online, including how to prepare your documentation and where to find in-person help if you need it. From that web page, you can even begin filling out Form 10-10CG online and get your application rolling.

Applying in Person

Bring the completed VA Form 10-10CG to your local VA medical center’s Caregiver Support Coordinator. To find your local coordinator, you can:

• Search the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator directory.
• Call the Caregiver Support Line at 1 (855) 260-3274.

Do not send medical records with your application. The VA will follow up after your application is received.

Applying by Mail

You can also send a physical application through the mail. Download the VA Form 10-10CG online, then mail it and all your supporting documents to: Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647\ Phone: 1 (855) 488-8440, option 3 If you need help completing the paperwork or want to check the status of your 10-10CG application, call 1 (855) 488-8440, option 3.

What if You Don’t Qualify?

If the disabled veteran and their caregiver(s) don’t qualify for the PCAFC, there are still other resources available to them. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) offers resources, education and support to caregivers of veterans, but the veteran does not need to have a service-connected condition. No formal application is required. Find out more information about the PGCSS from its online fact sheet. Your local Caregiver Support Coordinator or the VA's Caregiver Support Line at 1 (855) 260-3274 can also help you get services through this program.

Conclusion

When a disabled veteran needs special care, a family member often will show how much they honor their service with a sacrifice of their own — taking exceptional personal care of their veteran. And while many loved ones can handle this responsibility with ease, the VA’s PCAFC makes sure that those caregivers know they don’t have to shoulder all those obligations alone. Still need more details about this program and how it could benefit you? Download the Veterans Affairs Caregivers PCAFC Expansion Booklet online. You can also visit the VA’s Caregiver Support Program website or call its Caregiver Support Line at 1 (855) 260-3274.