The VA Caregiver Support Program serves the spouse, son, daughter, or friend who cares for the veteran at home. It has two parts.
General caregiver support
The Program of General Caregiver Support Services is open to caregivers of veterans of any era who are enrolled in VA health care. A VA medical center page describes its services as skills training, one-on-one coaching, group support, peer support mentoring, telephone support, online programs, and referrals to VA and community resources (VA Cincinnati Health Care).
Comprehensive assistance for family caregivers
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers has stricter requirements and more benefits. The VA lists requirements that include:
A single or combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or more
A need for in-person personal care for at least six continuous months
The VA lists further requirements on its eligibility page (VA Caregiver Support Program).
For an approved primary family caregiver, the VA lists:
A monthly stipend paid to the caregiver
Access to health insurance through CHAMPVA, for a caregiver who qualifies
Mental health counseling
Travel benefits when traveling with the veteran for care
At least 30 days of respite care per year
A secondary family caregiver can receive mental health counseling and travel benefits.
How to apply
The application for the comprehensive program is VA Form 10-10CG. The VA accepts it online, by mail, or in person with a local Caregiver Support team, and offers the form in English, Spanish, and Tagalog (VA Caregiver Support Program).
The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274. Ask the line to connect you with the Caregiver Support team at the veteran’s VA medical center. In metro Atlanta, that is often the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center.
How this fits with home care hours
The Caregiver Support Program is built around the family caregiver. Regular hours of help from a home care provider come through a different VA benefit, and the VA approves those hours separately. OPA’s guides to Aid and Attendance and VA Community Care and to what to do when VA hours are not enough explain those benefits.
A first step this week
Call 1-855-260-3274 and ask which of the two programs fits your situation.
To ask about care at home for a veteran, see how care starts at OPA.
VA programs and eligibility rules change. Confirm current requirements before acting. Confirm eligibility and benefits with the VA. This is general information, not legal advice.
