VA Caregiver Stipend Program: Monthly Payments for Family Caregivers

If you're caring for a veteran parent at home, the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) can pay you a monthly stipend — often $1,500 to $3,200 per month — for the care you're already providing.

This is separate from VA Aid and Attendance, which pays the veteran directly. The caregiver stipend goes to you, the caregiver, as compensation for your time.

How the Stipend Works

The VA calculates your monthly payment based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' hourly rate for home health aides in your geographic area. The formula multiplies that local hourly rate by the number of hours the veteran is assessed to need care each week.

Veterans are assigned to one of three tiers based on their care needs:

• Tier 1 (low): Basic ADL assistance — roughly equivalent to 10 hours of care per week
• Tier 2 (moderate): Multiple ADL deficits requiring consistent daily help — roughly equivalent to 25 hours per week
• Tier 3 (high): Extensive personal care and supervision — roughly equivalent to 40 hours per week

At a national average home health aide rate of $17–$19 per hour, monthly stipends typically range from approximately $700 (Tier 1) to $3,200 (Tier 3). In high-cost areas like San Francisco or Boston, Tier 3 payments can exceed $4,000 per month.

Who Qualifies

The veteran must meet all of these criteria:

• Enrolled in VA health care
• Has a serious injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty (on or after September 11, 2001, for PCAFC — expanded eligibility now includes all eras for some services)
• Needs at least six months of continuous personal care assistance
• Unable to perform one or more activities of daily living, or requires supervision for a mental health condition

The caregiver must be at least 18 years old, live with the veteran (or be willing to relocate), and complete the VA's required caregiver training. Family members — spouses, adult children, siblings — are all eligible. The caregiver does not need to be a licensed professional.

What's Included Beyond the Stipend

The caregiver stipend is just one part of the package. Approved primary caregivers also receive:

• Health insurance through CHAMPVA if not already covered
• Mental health counseling and caregiver support groups
• 30 days of respite care per year so you can take breaks
• Travel expenses reimbursed when accompanying the veteran to VA medical appointments
• Caregiver education and training through the VA

These benefits can add thousands of dollars in annual value beyond the monthly stipend itself.

How to Apply

Applications go through your veteran's local VA Medical Center. The process:

1. Complete VA Form 10-10CG (Application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers). Both the veteran and caregiver must sign.
2. Submit to the Caregiver Support Coordinator at your VA Medical Center — find yours through the VA's Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
3. The VA schedules a clinical assessment to evaluate the veteran's care needs and assign a tier.
4. If approved, the caregiver completes required training before stipend payments begin.

Processing typically takes 45–90 days. Payments are retroactive to the application date, so you'll receive a lump sum covering the gap between application and approval.

Caregiver Stipend vs. Aid and Attendance

These two VA programs serve different purposes and can sometimes be combined:

Aid and Attendance is a pension enhancement paid directly to the veteran (up to $2,874/month in 2026). It's based on wartime service and financial need. The veteran spends it however they choose — including paying a family caregiver.

The Caregiver Stipend is paid directly to the caregiver, based on the veteran's clinical care needs. It has no income or asset limits for the veteran. It requires that the injury be service-connected.

If the veteran's injury is service-connected and they have limited assets, they may qualify for both. The stipend alone can transform an unpaid family caregiving arrangement into a sustainable, compensated one. The Caregiver's Budget and Cost-of-Care Planner includes a funding eligibility checklist that helps you determine which VA programs your parent qualifies for.