Get paid to care for a veteran — the VA's family-caregiver programs
You're already doing the work. The VA has programs that can pay you for it.
Key facts
- Program
- VA Veteran-Directed Care + PCAFC caregiver stipend
- Typical pay
- PCAFC pays a monthly stipend (often ~$1,500–$3,300/month depending on location and level); VDC gives the veteran a flexible budget that can pay family
- Spouses?
- Yes — spouses are commonly the paid/stipended caregiver in VA programs.
- Live-in required?
- Not for this program (rules vary by program).
How it works
If the person you care for is a veteran, the VA runs two of the most generous family-caregiver programs in the country — and they are federal VA programs, separate from Medicaid. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) pays a monthly stipend (tied to local wage rates) to a designated family caregiver of an eligible veteran, now open to all service eras. Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) gives the veteran a monthly flexible budget to hire help — including family members. Aid & Attendance can add to a VA pension for care needs.
Steps to get started
- Confirm the veteran is enrolled in VA health care.
- For PCAFC: apply jointly (VA Form 10-10CG) — the veteran needs a qualifying serious injury/illness and 70%+ service-connected disability rating.
- For VDC: ask the VA social worker or local Aging & Disability Resource Center about openings.
- Document care needs thoroughly — approvals hinge on the functional assessment.
We'll find the money your family qualifies for
cares-ai is building a Caregiver Money companion: answer a few questions, see every program you may qualify for (Medicaid, VA, tax credits), and keep the care log these programs require — in one place. Join the waitlist and we'll email you as soon as the Veterans (all states) eligibility checker opens.
Common questions
Can spouses be paid caregivers by the VA?
Yes — spouses are commonly the paid/stipended caregiver in VA programs.
How much does it pay?
The VA's PCAFC stipend pays PCAFC pays a monthly stipend (often ~$1,500–$3,300/month depending on location and level); VDC gives the veteran a flexible budget that can pay family. Exact amounts depend on assessed care level and local wage rates — treat published figures as estimates until confirmed in writing.
Do I have to live with the person I care for?
Not necessarily for this program, though some related programs do require it. Each program's rules differ.
What documentation is required?
Nearly every caregiver-pay program requires ongoing documentation — daily care notes, timesheets or electronic visit verification, and periodic assessments. Missing or sloppy records are the #1 reason payments get delayed or clawed back. (Keeping this record effortless is exactly what cares-ai is building.)