02-24-2022, 11:11 PM
Caregivers play an important role in the health and well-being of Veterans. The U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a number of services to support Family Caregivers including a monthly
stipend to Primary Family Caregivers of Veterans with moderate and severe needs. A stipend is defined as
a monthly financial payment provided to a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran.
VA bases stipend payments on the definition of “monthly stipend rate,” which 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. VA will apply a specific percentage
of the monthly stipend rate based on the amount and degree of personal care services provided to the eligible
Veteran by the Primary Family Caregiver. The amount and degree of personal care services is divided into
two levels. The distinction between the two levels is based on if the Veteran is determined to be unable to
self-sustain in the community.
Level 1: For an eligible Veteran who is determined not to be "unable to self-sustain" in the
community, the Primary Family Caregiver’s stipend amount will be 62.5% of the monthly stipend
rate. For example the GS rate at Grade 4, Step 1, in Dallas, Texas, for 2020 is $33,638 annually.
Thus the monthly stipend amount for a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran in Dallas,
Texas, at this rate (62.5%) of $33,638 will be approximately$1,751.98.
Level 2: For an eligible Veteran who is determined to be unable to self-sustain in the community,
the Primary Family Caregiver’s stipend amount will be 100% of the monthly stipend rate. For
example the GS rate at Grade 4, Step 1, in Dallas, Texas, for 2020 is $33,638 annually. The 2020
monthly stipend amount for a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran in Dallas, Texas, at
this rate (100%) of $33,638 will be approximately $2,803.17.
The VHA Office of Community Care (VHA OCC) issues the recurring monthly payments and processes
all updates related to the stipend. You may contact VHA OCC for information on the processing activities
for the stipend benefit via the Office of Community Care toll free at 1-877-733-7927 M-F 8:00 am - 8:00
pm EST or Web: https://www.va.gov/communitycare
Eligibility. You may be eligible to participate in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family
Caregivers if you and the Veteran you’re caring for meet all of the requirements listed below.
1. Eligibility requirements for the family caregiver
o You must be at least 18 years old and at least one of these must be true for you.
o You must be either a spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family
member of the Veteran, or Someone who lives full-time with the Veteran, or is willing to
do so if designated as a family caregiver
2. Eligibility requirements for the Veteran --All of these must be true for the Veteran you’re caring
for:
o The Veteran must have a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70% or higher.
The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities must have been caused or made worse by their
active-duty service during one of these periods of time:
On or after September 11, 2001, or
On or before May 7, 1975
o And the Veteran must have been discharged from the U.S. military or have a date of
medical discharge, and need at least 6 months of continuous, in-person personal care
services
Caregiver Responsibilities & Benefits
To provide services the eligible Veteran needs from another person. They include care or assistance to
support the Veteran's:
Health and well-being
Everyday personal needs (like feeding, bathing, and dressing)
Safety, protection, or instruction in their daily living environment
The Veteran can appoint one Primary Family Caregiver (the main caregiver), and up to two Secondary
Family Caregivers (people who serve as backup support to the primary caregiver when needed). Eligible
Primary and Secondary Family Caregivers can receive:
Caregiver education and training
Mental health counseling
Travel, lodging, and financial assistance when traveling with the Veteran to receive care
Eligible Primary Family Caregivers may also receive:
A monthly stipend (payment)
Access to health care benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)—if you don’t already qualify for care or services under another
health care plan
At least 30 days per year of respite care for the Veteran
Application. You and the Veteran will need to apply together and participate in an application process to
determine if you’re eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. You'll
both need to sign and date the application, and answer all questions for your role. You can apply online at
https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefit...10-10cg,by mail. Or in
person. If by mail download and fill out a joint Application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers (VA Form 10-10CG) at https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-10CG.pdf and
mail the form and any supporting documents to:
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Health Eligibility Center
2957 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
If applying in person bring your completed VA Form 10-10CG to your local VA medical center's
Caregiver Support Coordinator. To find the name of your local coordinator, you can contact the Caregiver
Support Line at 855-260-3274 or go to https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp , the VA
Caregiver Support Coordinator directory. Do not send medical records along with the application. VA will
follow up after the application is received. If you need assistance with completing the application or would
like to check the status of your 1010CG application call 1-855-488-8440, option 3. Be sure to check back
for updates or subscribe to receive email updates and information about VA Caregiver Support Program
services.
Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a number of services to support Family Caregivers including a monthly
stipend to Primary Family Caregivers of Veterans with moderate and severe needs. A stipend is defined as
a monthly financial payment provided to a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran.
VA bases stipend payments on the definition of “monthly stipend rate,” which 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. VA will apply a specific percentage
of the monthly stipend rate based on the amount and degree of personal care services provided to the eligible
Veteran by the Primary Family Caregiver. The amount and degree of personal care services is divided into
two levels. The distinction between the two levels is based on if the Veteran is determined to be unable to
self-sustain in the community.
Level 1: For an eligible Veteran who is determined not to be "unable to self-sustain" in the
community, the Primary Family Caregiver’s stipend amount will be 62.5% of the monthly stipend
rate. For example the GS rate at Grade 4, Step 1, in Dallas, Texas, for 2020 is $33,638 annually.
Thus the monthly stipend amount for a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran in Dallas,
Texas, at this rate (62.5%) of $33,638 will be approximately$1,751.98.
Level 2: For an eligible Veteran who is determined to be unable to self-sustain in the community,
the Primary Family Caregiver’s stipend amount will be 100% of the monthly stipend rate. For
example the GS rate at Grade 4, Step 1, in Dallas, Texas, for 2020 is $33,638 annually. The 2020
monthly stipend amount for a Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran in Dallas, Texas, at
this rate (100%) of $33,638 will be approximately $2,803.17.
The VHA Office of Community Care (VHA OCC) issues the recurring monthly payments and processes
all updates related to the stipend. You may contact VHA OCC for information on the processing activities
for the stipend benefit via the Office of Community Care toll free at 1-877-733-7927 M-F 8:00 am - 8:00
pm EST or Web: https://www.va.gov/communitycare
Eligibility. You may be eligible to participate in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family
Caregivers if you and the Veteran you’re caring for meet all of the requirements listed below.
1. Eligibility requirements for the family caregiver
o You must be at least 18 years old and at least one of these must be true for you.
o You must be either a spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family
member of the Veteran, or Someone who lives full-time with the Veteran, or is willing to
do so if designated as a family caregiver
2. Eligibility requirements for the Veteran --All of these must be true for the Veteran you’re caring
for:
o The Veteran must have a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70% or higher.
The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities must have been caused or made worse by their
active-duty service during one of these periods of time:
On or after September 11, 2001, or
On or before May 7, 1975
o And the Veteran must have been discharged from the U.S. military or have a date of
medical discharge, and need at least 6 months of continuous, in-person personal care
services
Caregiver Responsibilities & Benefits
To provide services the eligible Veteran needs from another person. They include care or assistance to
support the Veteran's:
Health and well-being
Everyday personal needs (like feeding, bathing, and dressing)
Safety, protection, or instruction in their daily living environment
The Veteran can appoint one Primary Family Caregiver (the main caregiver), and up to two Secondary
Family Caregivers (people who serve as backup support to the primary caregiver when needed). Eligible
Primary and Secondary Family Caregivers can receive:
Caregiver education and training
Mental health counseling
Travel, lodging, and financial assistance when traveling with the Veteran to receive care
Eligible Primary Family Caregivers may also receive:
A monthly stipend (payment)
Access to health care benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)—if you don’t already qualify for care or services under another
health care plan
At least 30 days per year of respite care for the Veteran
Application. You and the Veteran will need to apply together and participate in an application process to
determine if you’re eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. You'll
both need to sign and date the application, and answer all questions for your role. You can apply online at
https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefit...10-10cg,by mail. Or in
person. If by mail download and fill out a joint Application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers (VA Form 10-10CG) at https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-10CG.pdf and
mail the form and any supporting documents to:
Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Health Eligibility Center
2957 Clairmont Road NE, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
If applying in person bring your completed VA Form 10-10CG to your local VA medical center's
Caregiver Support Coordinator. To find the name of your local coordinator, you can contact the Caregiver
Support Line at 855-260-3274 or go to https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp , the VA
Caregiver Support Coordinator directory. Do not send medical records along with the application. VA will
follow up after the application is received. If you need assistance with completing the application or would
like to check the status of your 1010CG application call 1-855-488-8440, option 3. Be sure to check back
for updates or subscribe to receive email updates and information about VA Caregiver Support Program
services.