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Can our family get VA support when a family member provides daily care?

The short answer

Yes.

Your loved one needs to be enrolled in VA health care, and a family member needs to be providing daily personal care. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers can pay a monthly stipend to the Primary Family Caregiver. It needs a VA rating of 70 percent or higher, individual or combined, and at least 6 continuous months of in-person personal care. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services is the broader Caregiver Support Program. It does not pay that stipend. It offers training, coaching, and peer support, and it does not require the 70 percent rating.

Salleha Chaudhry
Last reviewed October 15, 2026

What you can do

  1. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers needs your loved one enrolled in VA health care. A free accredited VSO can help with this.
  2. The stipend needs a VA rating of 70 percent or higher and at least 6 months of daily hands-on care, supervision, or instruction. The application is VA Form 10-10CG. A free accredited VSO can help with this.
  3. The family member must be at least 18, and be a spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family member, or live with your loved one full time.
  4. If the 70 percent rating is not in place, the Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers training and peer support. There is no application form. The local team does a short intake, and your loved one has to agree.
  5. The Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274. It is not a crisis line.

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FAQs

Q: Does the Program of General Caregiver Support Services pay a stipend?

No. That program offers training, coaching, and peer support. It does not pay the stipend. The stipend is from the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, and it needs a VA rating of 70 percent or higher.

Q: How old does the family member have to be for the stipend program?

At least 18. The family member also has to be a spouse, son, daughter, parent, stepfamily member, or extended family member, or live with your loved one full time.