Assistance for Family Caregivers

Am I eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers?

You may be eligible if you and the Veteran you’re caring for meet all of the requirements listed below.

Eligibility requirements for the family caregiver

You must be at least 18 years old and at least one of these must be true for you.

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

Eligibility requirements for the Veteran

All of these must be true for the Veteran you’re caring for.

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

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

What are personal care services?

These are 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

How many caregivers can the eligible Veteran appoint?

The Veteran can appoint:

1 Primary Family Caregiver (the main caregiver), and
Up to 2 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
Learn more about CHAMPVA
At least 30 days per year of respite care for the Veteran

How do I apply for this program?

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 right now.

Apply for caregiver assistance

Note: Each time the Veteran wants to add a new family caregiver, the Veteran and the new caregiver will need to submit a new application. Remember, there can only be 1 Primary and up to 2 Secondary Family Caregivers designated at any one time.

You can also apply:

By mail

Fill out a joint Application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (VA Form 10-10CG).
Download VA Form 10-10CG (PDF)
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

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:

Go to the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator directory, or
Contact the Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

If you need help with filling out the form, call 855-488-8440, option 3. Or you can contact your local Caregiver Support Coordinator.

What if the Veteran I’m caring for doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria for this program?

Family caregivers of Veterans who aren’t eligible for this program may still be able to get support and resources. The VA Caregiver Support Program consists of 2 programs: this Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and another program called the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS). To learn more, you can:

Read about the Program of General Caregiver Support Services
Call the Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
Discuss your options with your local Caregiver Support Coordinator (CSC)
Go to the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator directory

What if the Veteran isn’t enrolled in VA health care yet?

If the Veteran isn’t yet enrolled in VA health care, or is on active duty and undergoing a medical discharge, they’ll first need to apply for VA health care benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ).

Find out how the Veteran can apply for VA health care