VA programs that can pay family caregivers

Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

Pays a monthly stipend to an approved Primary Family Caregiver. VA.gov lists eligibility that includes: the Veteran has a VA service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher, needs in-person personal care services for at least 6 continuous months, and the caregiver is at least 18 and is a family member or lives with the Veteran full time. Apply with VA Form 10-10CG.

How the stipend is calculated

VA starts from the federal GS grade 4, step 1 annual salary (from OPM) for the locality pay area where the Veteran lives, and divides it by 12. Level 1 caregivers get 62.5% of that monthly figure. Level 2 caregivers get 100% – that applies when VA decides the Veteran is "unable to self-sustain in the community". VA's own example: in Dallas in 2022, GS-4 step 1 paid $34,916 a year, which works out to about $1,818.54 a month at Level 1 and about $2,909.67 at Level 2. To estimate this year's amount, look up your locality's GS-4 step 1 salary in OPM's 2026 pay tables.

Veteran-Directed Care (VDC)

Eligible Veterans get a flexible budget to hire their own care workers, which can include family members. Ask your VA medical center social worker whether VDC is offered locally.

Can you use both? Reported that a PCAFC primary caregiver generally cannot also be paid through VDC – confirm with VA.