What to Know About the VA Caregiver Support Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a program for caregivers of disabled veterans. The VA Caregiver Support Program is described on the VA official sire as a source of “clinical services to caregivers of eligible and covered Veterans enrolled in the VA health care system.
The program’s mission is to promote the health and well-being of family caregivers who care for our Nation’s Veterans, through education, resources, support, and services.”
Support Teams Available At VA Medical Centers
The VA intends Caregiver Support Program Teams to be available “at each VA Medical Center (VAMC) to help caregivers find the right support to meet their needs and to enroll in caregiver programs and services.”
This program has two components, which are General Caregiver Support Services and Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The first option includes mentoring, training, and referral services.
To qualify for this option, veterans must enroll or be enrolled in the Veterans Affairs system and have caregiver. VA.gov says, “Caregivers who participate in PGCSS are called General Caregivers. General Caregivers do not need to be a relative or live with the Veteran.”
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
The second program, the Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, offers “enhanced clinical support for Family Caregivers of eligible veterans” who have a serious injury or illness received in the line of duty in any service era. The criteria for eligibility for this program include having a VA-rated disability at 70% or higher and be in need of care services due to the following as described on the VA official site:
- An inability to perform an activity of daily living.
- A need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury or
- A need for regular or extensive instruction or supervision without which the ability of the Veteran to function in daily life would be seriously impaired.
- Other requirements may apply.
Benefits under this program include:
- A monthly stipend for the primary caregiver.
- Access to health care insurance through CHAMPVA if you do not already have health insurance.
- Mental health counseling.
- Travel benefits when traveling with the Veteran to appointments.
You can learn more about these options via the Department of Veterans Affairs video below.
What the VA Says About Caregiver Support
You can also apply for the Caregiver Support Program at the VA official site.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
