Caregiver Program for Post-9/11 Veterans

A caregiver helping a veteran

The VA recognizes that family caregivers provide crucial support in caring for our veterans; they help by allowing the veteran to stay in the homes and communities they once fought for which has been shown to enhance their overall health and wellbeing. Under the “Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,” seriously injured post-9/11 veterans and family caregivers may be eligible for additional VA services through ‘Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. (1)

Eligible veterans include those who sustained a serious injury (including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder) incurred or aggravated after 9/11 in the line of duty. Further, the veteran must be in need of personal care services for at least 6 months because of an inability to perform one or more of their activities of daily living and/or need supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological impairment or injury. (2)

Eligible caregivers include the veteran’s spouse, child (at least 18 years of age), parent, step-family member, extended family member, and/or someone who lives with the veteran on full-time basis. Moreover, qualifying caregivers may be eligible to receive the following services under this program: monthly stipend; travel expenses (which includes lodging and per diem while accompanying veterans who are undergoing care); health insurance (if the caregiver is not already entitled to care or services under a health care plan); mental health services and counseling; comprehensive VA Caregiver training provided by Easter Seals; and respite care (if not less than 30 days per year).

If you think you may be eligible under the VA family caregiver program and want to download an application, you may click here. The application allows veterans to designate one primary family caregiver and up to two secondary family caregivers. (3)

In fact, many of our eligible veteran clients receive this benefit and have told us how appreciative they are for the help and support. In one instance, a veteran client with a 10% service-connected disability rating for a traumatic brain injury qualified for services under this program. Approval for disability-related veteran’s benefits, including caregiver assistance, can provide further supportive evidence for a Social Security Disability claim. Many veterans may qualify for disability benefits from both the VA and the Social Security Administration, depending on the case.

Disability Attorneys of Michigan strictly specializes in disability benefits – both Social Security and VA Disability claims. Contact us today for your free consultation or to see how we can help you win the benefits you deserve. 888-678-5839.

  1. PL 111-163. For more information, see http://www.caregiver.va.gov/pdfs/CaregiverFactSheet_Apply.pdfand http://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/support_benefits.asp.
  2. For consideration, veterans must be enrolled for VA health services.
  3. Caregiver Support Coordinators are available at every VA Medical Center to help veterans and their caregivers with the application process. To find a Coordinator near you, you can visit http://www.caregiver.va.gov/helpasp. Additional assistance with the process is available by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387).

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Disability Attorneys of Michigan
30500 Van Dyke Ave, Ste. 400
Warren, Michigan 48093
Phone: (888) 678-5839

 

 

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- Christine C.