VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

PCAFC supports approved family caregivers of eligible Veterans who need at least six months of continuous in-person personal care because of a serious service-connected disability.

Eligible Veteran needing sustained in-person personal careAdult family member or qualifying live-in caregiver applying jointly with the VeteranApproved Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver

Entitlement facts

Benefit type: Government benefit. A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route. Taxonomy definition →
What it unlocks: Caregiver education and training, coaching and support, mental-health counseling, beneficiary travel for approved care, at least 30 days of respite care per year, and for the Primary Family Caregiver a monthly stipend and possible CHAMPVA coverage when other health insurance is unavailable, plus certain commissary and exchange privileges.
Who qualifies: Eligible Veteran needing sustained in-person personal care; Adult family member or qualifying live-in caregiver applying jointly with the Veteran; Approved Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver
Requirements: The Veteran must have an individual or combined VA disability rating of at least 70%, be discharged or have a medical-discharge date, need at least six months of continuous in-person personal care, and be enrolled in VA health care. A caregiver must be at least 18 and be family or live full time with the Veteran or agree to do so; both must apply together, complete assessments, and the caregiver must complete required training and home-care review.
How to activate: The Veteran and each proposed caregiver jointly apply online or with VA Form 10-10CG, identify the Veteran's VA medical center, and participate in interviews, clinical evaluation, caregiver training, and a home-care assessment. The approved Primary Caregiver enrolls in direct deposit for any stipend and reports material changes promptly.
Cost basis: No-cost access. The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.
Cost and fees: Applying and approved supports are free, but not every caregiver benefit applies to Secondary Caregivers and CHAMPVA has its own eligibility and cost-sharing rules. VA determines need, caregiver designation, stipend level, and continued eligibility; changes in care, residence, institutionalization, health, or relationship can change or end benefits and overpayments can be recovered.
Geography: US, VA health-care and Caregiver Support Program service areas
Personalization: Published eligibility is not described as individually targeted.

EVIDENCE / 1 SOURCE

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

Check the provider's final terms immediately before applying, depositing funds, spending, or changing a paid relationship.

01U.S. Department of Veterans Affairsprovider↗

MACHINE RECORD

{
  "id": "va-comprehensive-family-caregivers",
  "name": "VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers",
  "provider": "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs",
  "entitlement_type": "government-benefit",
  "entitlement_type_label": "Government benefit",
  "entitlement_type_context": {
    "definition": "A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.",
    "domain": "public-benefits",
    "archetype": "direct-program",
    "agent_instruction": "Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."
  },
  "summary": "PCAFC supports approved family caregivers of eligible Veterans who need at least six months of continuous in-person personal care because of a serious service-connected disability.",
  "benefit": {
    "description": "Caregiver education and training, coaching and support, mental-health counseling, beneficiary travel for approved care, at least 30 days of respite care per year, and for the Primary Family Caregiver a monthly stipend and possible CHAMPVA coverage when other health insurance is unavailable, plus certain commissary and exchange privileges.",
    "estimated_value_usd": null
  },
  "discovery": {
    "focus": "public-service",
    "has_estimated_dollar_value": false
  },
  "access": {
    "relationships": [
      "Eligible Veteran needing sustained in-person personal care",
      "Adult family member or qualifying live-in caregiver applying jointly with the Veteran",
      "Approved Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver"
    ],
    "requirements": "The Veteran must have an individual or combined VA disability rating of at least 70%, be discharged or have a medical-discharge date, need at least six months of continuous in-person personal care, and be enrolled in VA health care. A caregiver must be at least 18 and be family or live full time with the Veteran or agree to do so; both must apply together, complete assessments, and the caregiver must complete required training and home-care review.",
    "activation": "The Veteran and each proposed caregiver jointly apply online or with VA Form 10-10CG, identify the Veteran's VA medical center, and participate in interviews, clinical evaluation, caregiver training, and a home-care assessment. The approved Primary Caregiver enrolls in direct deposit for any stipend and reports material changes promptly.",
    "cost_basis": "no-cost",
    "cost_basis_label": "No-cost access",
    "cost_basis_context": {
      "classification": "free",
      "definition": "The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.",
      "agent_instruction": "Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.",
      "variation_patterns": null,
      "does_not_mean": null
    },
    "fees": "Applying and approved supports are free, but not every caregiver benefit applies to Secondary Caregivers and CHAMPVA has its own eligibility and cost-sharing rules. VA determines need, caregiver designation, stipend level, and continued eligibility; changes in care, residence, institutionalization, health, or relationship can change or end benefits and overpayments can be recovered.",
    "personalized": false,
    "regions": [
      "US",
      "VA health-care and Caregiver Support Program service areas"
    ],
    "expires": null
  },
  "status": "verified",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-04",
  "claim_url": "https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/apply-form-10-10cg/",
  "source_url": "https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/",
  "source": {
    "primary_url": "https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/",
    "evidence": [
      {
        "source": "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs",
        "url": "https://www.va.gov/family-and-caregiver-benefits/health-and-disability/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers/",
        "kind": "provider",
        "checked_at": "2026-08-04"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parent": null,
  "coverage": {
    "level": "national",
    "family": "veterans-and-military",
    "jurisdiction": "United States",
    "maturity": "direct"
  },
  "web_url": "/benefits/va-comprehensive-family-caregivers",
  "taxonomy": {
    "version": "1.0",
    "url": "/api/v1/taxonomy"
  }
}

View JSON ↗

VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

Entitlement facts

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

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