Families who provide round the clock care for a disabled veteran often assume that is simply what family does, unpaid. PCAFC under 38 CFR Part 71 exists precisely for them: a monthly stipend tied to local wage rates, CHAMPVA coverage for the caregiver, training, and respite care, all without reducing the veteran's own compensation by a dollar. It is among the most valuable and least applied for benefits in the system.
What PCAFC is
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides a monthly stipend and support to a designated family caregiver of a veteran with a serious service connected injury or illness. It is run under 38 CFR Part 71 and is one of the most valuable benefits a veteran's household can access, yet many families never apply.
What the caregiver can receive
- A monthly stipend (the amount is tied to a federal General Schedule wage rate for your area and the level of care needed);
- CHAMPVA health coverage for the primary caregiver if they have no other health insurance;
- Caregiver training and ongoing support from a Caregiver Support Coordinator;
- Respite care (short-term relief) and access to counseling and mental-health services.
Who is eligible
In general, the veteran must:
- Have a VA service connected disability (the program expanded in 2020 and again to cover veterans of all eras, phased in over time); and
- Need in-person personal care services for at least six months because of an inability to perform activities of daily living, or a need for supervision or protection due to a neurological or other impairment.
The caregiver is usually a spouse, parent, adult child, or other family member, and in some cases someone who lives with the veteran full-time.
Why families overlook this benefit
Families often provide round-the-clock care for years without realizing a formal stipend program exists. PCAFC is separate from the veteran's disability compensation and does not reduce it.
How to apply
- Apply through VA.gov with VA Form 10-10CG, signed by both the veteran and the proposed caregiver.
- A Caregiver Support Coordinator and a clinical team assess eligibility and the level of care.
Sources and legal authority
- VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) program page and 38 CFR Part 71
Related topics
- Aid and attendance for veterans: the SMC route when the veteran needs help with daily living.
- The SMC calculator: estimate the Special Monthly Compensation levels.
Related on this site
Estimate your monthly stipend
Use the VA Caregiver Stipend Calculator to see the Level 1 and Level 2 monthly amounts for your locality, with the exact math behind each figure.
Common questions
What is the VA caregiver stipend (PCAFC)?
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, run under 38 CFR Part 71, pays a monthly stipend to a designated family caregiver of a veteran with a serious service connected injury or illness. The stipend is tied to a federal General Schedule wage rate for your area and the level of care the veteran needs.
Who qualifies for PCAFC?
The veteran must have a service connected disability and need in-person personal care services for at least six months, either from an inability to perform activities of daily living or a need for supervision or protection due to an impairment. The program now covers veterans of all eras. The caregiver is usually a spouse, parent, adult child, or other family member, or in some cases someone living with the veteran full time.
What does the caregiver receive besides the stipend?
CHAMPVA health coverage if the primary caregiver has no other health insurance, caregiver training, ongoing support from a Caregiver Support Coordinator, respite care for short term relief, and access to counseling and mental health services.
Does the caregiver stipend reduce the veteran's disability compensation?
No. PCAFC is separate from disability compensation and does not reduce it. Apply through VA.gov with VA Form 10-10CG, signed by both the veteran and the proposed caregiver; a clinical team then assesses eligibility and the level of care.