How Can You Get Approved for the VA Caregiver and Family Program
The VA provides benefits to disabled veterans in the form of monthly monetary benefits, medical care, and more. But, sometimes a disabled veteran needs additional assistance to manage day-to-day life. In certain circumstances, the VA will approve and provide benefits to a VA caregiver–an adult family member who lives with the veteran and provides necessary assistance with personal care, safety, and other daily necessities.
Here’s what you need to know about the VA caregiver program, who qualifies, how to apply, and what benefits may be available.
Table of Contents
Who is Eligible for a VA Caregiver?
There are two parts to determining eligibility for the VA caregiver program. First, the veteran must be eligible for caregiver services. Then, the proposed caregiver must also qualify.
Veteran Qualifications
To qualify for a VA caregiver, a disabled veteran must:
- Have a VA disability rating of at least 70%, either from a single service-connected condition or two or more conditions with a combined rating of 70% or greater
- Have been discharged from the military or have a medical discharge date, and
- Need continuous personal care services for at least six months
For VA purposes, “personal services” means care or assistance that supports the veteran’s health and well-being, assists with day-to-day personal care such as bathing, eating, and dressing, or supports safety, protection, or instruction in their day-to-day environment. Any serious medical condition which makes this type of assistance necessary may qualify. A veteran might need day-to-day assistance because a physical disability prevents them from attending to activities of daily life like dressing and feeding themselves, or because a cognitive impairment or mental health disorder makes it unsafe for them to be left on their own.
Previously, the caregiver program was only open to veterans who served during certain time periods. However, that changed in 2022. Now, assistance is available to caregivers of eligible veterans from all eras.
Caregiver Qualifications
To be designated a family caregiver, a person must be at least 18 years of age. They must also fall into one of two categories:
- A member of the veteran’s family, including a spouse, child, parent, step-family member, or member of the extended family, OR
- Someone who lives full-time with the veteran, or is willing to live full-time with the veteran if approves as a family caregiver
Benefits for Family Caregivers
The VA offers qualified family caregivers certain support and benefits. Some services and support are intended to help the caregiver provide care or handle the stresses and costs associated with the care. These include:
- Caregiver education and training
- Mental health counseling
- Travel, lodging, and financial assistance when traveling with the veteran for healthcare
- Respite care for the veteran to allow the caregiver time away
The VA will also approve up to two secondary caregivers, who can provide backup for the primary caregiver as needed.
Other benefits provide more direct support to the caregiver. These include:
- A monthly stipend
- Medical care through CHAMPVA
Unlike most types of benefits offered by the VA, the amount of the caregiver stipend depends in part on where the veteran lives. A formula is applied based on the level of the veteran’s personal care needs and the government service (GS) pay scales for the local area. Like other VA benefits, the amount of the stipend is updated annually.
The VA also offers legal and financial planning services to assist veterans and their caretakers with matters like preparing a simple will, household budgeting, drafting of powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives and guardianship documents, retirement planning, and more.
Applying for VA Caregiver Assistance
Applying for caregiver assistance will require information from and about both the veteran and the proposed caregiver. You can apply online. You’ll want to review the information needed in advance in case you need to gather documents or information. This will include detailed information about the veteran’s daily need for assistance and the service-connected condition or conditions that make that assistance necessary.
If the veteran isn’t already enrolled in VA healthcare, they will need to apply.
The caregiver determination process moves fairly quickly–the goal is to have a successful applicant designated as a family caregiver within 90 days of receipt of the joint application from the veteran and proposed caregiver. Cooperation from the proposed caregiver will be required during the process. For example, the VA may need more information from the caregiver to assess eligibility. And, the caregiver will need to participate in training before being designated as a family caregiver.
Depending on the veteran’s medical condition, the medical records available, and whether and when the veteran last had a C&P examination, an exam may be required as part of the caregiver application process. This examination will help the VA determine things like what type of assistance the veteran needs, what type of ongoing care they are receiving, and what safety concerns may exist.
If the application is denied, you may appeal the decision.
Both the Veteran and the Caregiver Must Meet Certain Obligations
In addition to the initial qualifications, both the veteran and the caregiver will have certain responsibilities during the care relationship. For example, the veteran will be required to work with a primary care team, which must include a VA primary care provider. The caregiver will be expected to update the care support program with certain information and to work with the veterans primary care team.
The caregiver should ensure that both they and the veteran they are caring for have a clear understanding of these responsibilities, so they do not accidentally jeopardize the veteran’s care or the caregiver’s ability to continue to provide services and receive benefits.
Need Help With VA Caregiver Approval or Other Veterans Benefits?
At Veterans Help Group, we know how challenging the process of securing the benefits you deserve can be. Our advocates are dedicated to helping disabled veterans and their families get the VA disability benefits and related benefits they deserve. Whether you’re just applying or have been denied and want to fight that denial, we’re here to help. To learn more about how we put our skills and knowledge to work for people like you every day, call 855-855-8992 right now, or fill out our contact form here.
