The VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

By Larry Dandridge

This is the first article of a three-part series on veteran caregiver support.

The VA recognizes the important role of family caregivers in supporting the health and wellness of Veterans. As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), you (a Veteran’s Family Member) may be eligible for a monthly stipend (payment) paid directly to you as the Primary Family Caregiver.

Find out if you may be eligible and how to apply for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) at the VA webpage “Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)” at https://bit.ly/4qQVGnr.

Veterans’ family caregivers can also talk with the veteran’s social worker, Caregiver Support Team, and their local VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to learn more about the PCAFC program.

PACT team. Every veteran who is enrolled in VA Healthcare is assigned to a VA Patient Aligned Care Team. The veteran’s PACT team will be comprised of the veteran, those who support the veteran (such as family members and caregivers), and the veteran’s healthcare providers.

According to the VA webpage “Your Primary Care Provider and PACT Team” at https://bit.ly/4hSLmas, the veteran’s VA PACT team will include these types of providers:

Primary care provider. This is the veteran’s main (primary care) doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
Clinical pharmacist. This is a pharmacist who works with the veteran and his or her primary care provider to make sure the veteran is taking the medicines that are right for the veteran’s overall health.
Registered nurse (RN) care manager. This is a nurse who ensures the veteran’s care is coordinated across all providers and services, and aligns with your health goals and care plan.
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) or medical assistant and clerk. These are team members who help to support you and the other healthcare providers on your team.
Social Worker. VA social workers provide a wide range of services to support veterans and their families. They are experts in assisting with access to care and are experts in every part of the veterans’ health care system, from elderly veterans’ care, suicide prevention, financial and housing resources, case management, counseling, VA benefits, and caregiver support programs.
Other specialists as needed. Like mental health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Learn more about VA PACT Teams and how they function at the VA webpage “Patient Care Services (PACT)” at https://bit.ly/3LwRRDS and by watching the videos there at https://bit.ly/3WOhmml (Video 1) and https://bit.ly/3WNWH1S (Video 2).

Caregiver support teams

If you care for a veteran who is enrolled in VA health care, contact the Caregiver Support Team at your local VA facility. They can help you get connected with the resources and support you need. Find your local Caregiver Support Team by searching the VA webpage/search engine titled “Caregiver Support Teams” at https://bit.ly/4qT0qZC.

VA-accredited VSOs

Veterans and their family members should make an appointment with their local VA-accredited VSO to make sure they understand and apply for all of their federal and state benefits. VSOs can also help the veterans’ primary caregivers to understand the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers (PCAFC). VSOs can also help veterans apply for VA healthcare, apply for VA benefits and services, and assist primary caregivers of veterans in applying for the PCAFC Care Caregiver Program.

How to find a VA-accredited VSO. Each SC county has a Veterans Affairs Office.

Veterans can find S.C. County VSOs at https://bit.ly/3qbLVSL.
Find Georgia VSOs at https://bit.ly/44KMVA7.
Find North Carolina County VSOs at https://bit.ly/4ghZqHW.
Veterans and their family members can search for VA-accredited representatives (VSOs) at VBA Regional Offices at https://bit.ly/3WQp0e3.
Search for VSOs nationwide. Veterans and their families can also search for VA-accredited representatives (VSOs, Attorneys, and Claims Agents) nationwide at the VA’s “Accreditation Search” webpage https://bit.ly/3QnCk5M or https://bit.ly/4hQiIa1.

Learn more about VSOs at:

Find a VA Accredited Representative (Attorney, Claims Agent, or VSO) at https://bit.ly/4g9yGdW.
Get Help from a VA-accredited representative of VSO at https://bit.ly/3WwDXmN.
VA Accredited Representative Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at https://bit.ly/3TcLOoK.
VA List of VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (Also called VSOs)” at https://bit.ly/3MuByo9.
VA search tool “Find an Accredited Representative or VSO at https://bit.ly/4g9yGdW.
The SC Department of Veteran Affairs website at https://scdva.sc.gov.

PCAFC webpage. The VA webpage “Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers (PCAFC)” provides information and answers to questions on:

Am I eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers? Family caregivers may be eligible if they and the veteran they are caring for meet all the following requirements:

The caregiver must be at least 18 years old, and at least one of the following conditions must be true for the caregiver;
The caregiver is a spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family member of the veteran; or
The caregiver lives full-time with the veteran, or the family member is willing to live full-time with the veteran, if the VA designates the family member as a “Family caregiver”.

What are the eligibility requirements for the veteran to receive Family Caregiver care under the PCAFC Program? All of these must be true for the veteran that the family caregiver is giving care to:

The veteran has a VA disability rating (individual or combined) of 70% or higher; and
The veteran was discharged from the U.S. military or has a date of medical discharge; and
The veteran needs at least six months of continuous, in-person care services; and
The veteran needs to be enrolled in VA healthcare.

Personal care services are those that the veteran needs from another person. They include care or assistance to support these parts of the Veteran’s life:

Health and well-being.
Everyday personal needs (like feeding, dressing, undressing, and bathing).
Safety, protection, or instruction in their daily living environment.

Continued next week.

Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past VA-accredited VSO, a Patient Adviser at Charleston and Durham VA Medical Centers, a Fisher House Charleston Goodwill Ambassador, and the Veterans Benefits Adviser for his local Association of the US Army (AUSA) Chapter and VFW Post 7383. Larry is also the author of the award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) and a contributing freelance writer with The Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.