Good morning!
Discovering the VA’s Caregiver Program was an immeasurable blessing to my family. My husband’s disabilities render him incapable of working, leaving me to take care of him… and our four young children… and keep the house clean… and the yard manicured… and the bills paid (which required me to work full-time hours). In addition to this, I was supposed to somehow also take care of myself. Yeah, right! It didn't work.
Thankfully, the VA recognizes that taking care of disabled veterans is hard work!
This amazing program, which launched in May 2011, provides health care, a monthly stipend (payment), mental health services, counseling, and caregiver training for eligible family caregivers of eligible veterans. The caregiver is also given access to respite care services, which allow the caregiver to place the veteran in the VA's care where round-the-clock caregiving services will be provided for free. Respite care is granted for a certain number of days per year, which cannot be exceeded but does not have to be used, either.
To qualify, veterans must have sustained a serious injury (including brain injury, psychological trauma or mental disorders) that were incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001. These veterans must also require personal care services because their injury renders them inable to perform one or more activities of daily living or causes symptoms/impairments that require the veteran to have supervision and protection. Veterans must also be enrolled in VA health services.
Determine your eligibility using the VA's online questionnaire tool at
http://www.caregiver.va.gov/. You may also call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
Eligible veterans can designate one primary Family Caregiver and two secondary Family Caregivers, but only one stipend amount will be issued. The amount can be divided among the Caregivers. The stipend amount varies depending on your location and the amount of assistance that the veteran requires.
If you believe you may be eligible for these benefits, I strongly urge you to apply. They can change your life. For Caregivers who sometimes have to do everything themselves, the Caregiver Program is a sanity saver.
For more information, please visit http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/caregiver/. The application can then be downloaded, printed, filled out and mailed. Once the application is filed and processed, a Caregiver Support Coordinator will call. The veteran will participate in a phone interview or in-person examination where the veteran's needs will be assessed. If the veteran appears to be eligible, the Caregiver will need to complete a training program organized by the Easter Seals. This training program can be completed online, in a class, or with a DVD and workbook. When the course is completed, a test will be administered. When the test is passed, an in-home visit with a nurse will be required. The nurse comes to the house to evaluate the veteran and the safety of the home. The nurse will make recommendations to the VA's Occupational Therapy department about modifications that can be made to assist the veteran. When the nurse's report is complete, the application will be processed and approved, if appropriate. Shortly after the approval, a check for the stipend will be issued that back pays to the date of your original application. Health care and other benefit information will also be provided.
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