This month I’m going to cover a benefit many veterans and their families have never heard of: Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (CAFC). With this program, the VA pays qualified family members for the time and effort they put into providing Personal Care Services for their disabled veteran spouse, parent, etc.
Personal Care Services are services a Veteran needs help with from another person. They include care or assistance to support these parts of the Veteran’s life.
Personal Care Services:
- Health and well-being
- Everyday personal needs (like feeding, bathing, and dressing)
- Safety, protection, or instruction in their daily living environment
Note: Active-duty service members undergoing a medical discharge will need to apply for VA health care before or after submitting their application for caregiver assistance. There are different aspects for active-duty service members and VA health care. So, make sure you are looking at the correct services available for your circumstance.
Eligibility:
- Veterans considered eligible for this program must meet all of the following requirements:
- Possess a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70% or higher.
- The Veteran was discharged from the U.S. military or has a date of medical discharge.
- The Veteran needs at least 6 months of continuous, in-person personal care services.
- The Veteran must already be enrolled in the VA Health Care system.
A Family Caregiver may be eligible for CAFC if they meet the following requirements:
- They must be at least 18 years old at the time of the application.
And:
- They must be either a spouse, child, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family member (i.e., niece or nephew) of the Veteran.
Or:
- They must live full-time with the Veteran or be willing to live full-time with the Veteran if approved to become a family caregiver.
Applying for CAFC
The Veteran and potential caregivers must apply together (VA Form 10-10CG) and participate in an application process to determine if they’re eligible for CAFC. All applicants must sign and date the application and answer all questions for their role. The Veteran can appoint a total of three caregivers: 1 Primary Family Caregiver and up to 2 Secondary Family Caregivers (backup support to the primary caregiver when needed). Veterans and Family Caregivers can apply online, by mail, or in-person.
Eligible Primary and Secondary Family Caregivers can receive these benefits:
- Caregiver education and training
- Mental health counseling
- Certain travel benefits when traveling with the Veteran to receive care
Eligible Primary Family Caregivers may also receive these benefits:
- A monthly stipend or payment to help with personal costs.
Note: You must be enrolled in direct deposit using the VA customer engagement portal to receive this. - 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.
- Free legal and financial planning assistance related to the needs of the injured Veteran.
- At least 30 days of respite care per year. Respite is a period of rest or a break from caregiving.
- Access to telehealth therapy sessions through our Virtual Psychotherapy Program for Caregivers (VPPC).
- Access to military Commissaries, Exchanges, and recreation retail facilities.
If the Veteran is already enrolled in this program and wants to add a new family caregiver, the Veteran and the new caregiver must submit a new application. Remember, only 1 Primary and up to 2 Secondary Family Caregivers are allowed at any one time.
Looking for more information about any of your benefits with the VA? Make sure you are checking out our whole series: VSO 101!
Explore more with My Military Lifestyle and Career!
No comments yet. Be the first!