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Veterans Benefits
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is open to veterans who were injured or experienced an aggravated injury in the line of duty after September 11, 2001 OR on or before May 7, 1975.
Veterans who were injured or experienced illness as a result of military service may require the help of a caregiver for activities of daily living. This is also true for veterans experiencing mental disorders like PTSD.
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Caregivers of veterans are often family members who assist with home care, transportation to health care appointments, and other daily tasks. They often take on the role of a home health aide but lack the financial support.
To help support these family caregivers, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. This program provides VA health care benefits, monthly stipends, coverage of travel expenses, and other types of financial support to the caregivers of eligible veterans.
Those who are eligible for this program can receive a number of caregiver benefits. Here’s what disabled veterans and their family members should know about this caregiver support program.
How to Get Approved for the VA Caregiver Program
Veterans who were injured or experienced illness as a result of military service may require the help of a caregiver for activities of daily living. This is also true for veterans experiencing mental disorders like PTSD.
Caregivers of veterans are often family members who assist with home care, transportation to health care appointments, and other daily tasks. They often take on the role of a home health aide but lack the financial support.
How Does The VA Determine Eligibility?
The VA MISSION Act expanded benefits for veterans and their caregivers by opening access to PCAFC. This expansion began on October 1, 2020 with the first of two phases. The VA is rolling out the phases as follows: • Phase 1: Family caregivers of veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty on or before May 7, 1975 will be eligible for the program. • Phase 2: After two years, family caregivers of
Veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty between May 7, 1975, and September 10, 2001 will be eligible for the program.
Eligibility for Caregivers
The following are the VA’s requirements for PCAFC eligibility as they apply to caregivers. Family caregivers must be: • 18 years of age or older, AND • A spouse, son, daughter, parent, step family 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.
Effective October 1, 2022, these eligibility requirements will expand to include veterans who were seriously injured in the line of duty after May 7, 1975 and before September 11, 2001. You can learn more about eligibility requirements from your local Veterans Service Office.
Raymond Allen Jr. U.S. Army SFC (RET.) Volusia County Veterans Services 123 West Indiana Avenue DeLand, Florida 32720 Phone: 386-740-5102 Fax: 386-740-5101
386-734-2931
1592 South SR-15-A | DeLand, FL 32720 www.TheEyeSpecialists.com
