The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to propose a rule extending eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) for certain veterans and their family caregivers until September 30, 2028. This extension is intended to provide continuity for "legacy" participants and applicants while the VA continues its rulemaking process.
Legacy participants include veterans, service members, and their family caregivers who were part of PCAFC as of September 30, 2020. Legacy applicants are those who applied before October 1, 2020, and were accepted into the program on or after that date.
“Legacy caregivers have helped shape VA’s Caregiver Support Program for many years,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “This decision underscores VA’s commitment to Veterans and caregivers across the nation and will help provide consistency and stability to nearly 15,000 legacy participants for years to come.”
The PCAFC is an integral component of the VA's broader Caregiver Support Program. It offers enhanced clinical support for family caregivers of eligible veterans who suffered serious injuries in the line of duty. Benefits include education, training, respite care, counseling, technical support, a monthly stipend, access to health care through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and certain travel expenses.
