Answer: Yes, both professional caregivers, and spouses, or family members of Veterans may receive tax-free money to provide care for veterans.
VA Family Caregiver Program
The Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 allows VA to provide benefits to eligible Caregivers (a parent, spouse, child, step-family member, extended family member, or an individual who lives with the Veteran, but is not a family member) who support the Veteran. The law distinguishes between Veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001 (Post-9/11 Veterans), and those Veterans whose injuries were incurred prior to Sept. 11, 2001 (pre-9/11 Veterans).
Who Is Eligible For The VA Family Caregiver Program?
Veterans eligible for this program are those who sustained a serious injury – including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder – incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, on or after September 11, 2001.
Veterans eligible for this program must also be in need of personal care services because of an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living and/or need supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment or injury.
To be eligible for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, Veterans must first be enrolled in VA health services, and can designate one primary Family Caregiver and up to two secondary Family Caregivers.
Services Available to Family Caregivers through this Program
Caregivers are entitled to not only a monthly stipend, but travel expenses including lodging and per diem while accompanying Veterans undergoing care, access to health care insurance(if the caregiver is not already entitled to care under a health plan), mental health services and counseling, VA caregiver training, and Respite care.
For more information please call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274, or visit http://www/caregiver.va.gov/support/