Ok im fairly new to being a veterans wife. (10-10-15) i actually just found out about the caregiver program today. My husband is drawing 70% disability between his back ears and ptsd. He still works tho so I'm not sure we would even qualify. I have been trying to research this all day and haven't found an answer to this question. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Welcome to the PEB Forum!
In retrospect, since the National Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 serves as the primary resource and referral center to assist caregivers, they informed us that eligibility for the VA Caregiver Program is based on
any medical (e.g., military service-connected and non-military service-connected) condition in which the
need for personal caregiver services are required.
In contemplation, a veteran is eligible for a Primary or Secondary Family Caregiver under 38 CFR Parts 17 and 71, Section 71.20 if she or he meets all of the following requirements:
a. Did the Veteran or Servicemember (undergoing medical discharge) incur or aggravate a serious injury including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or other mental disorder, in the line of duty, on or after September 11, 2001?
YES/NO
b. Due to the serious injury(ies) sustained by the Veteran or Servicemember, is another person (Caregiver) required to assist with the management of personal care functions required in everyday living?
YES/NO
c. Based on this serious injury, will the Veteran or Servicemember require the assistance of another person (Caregiver) to be able to manage personal care functions required in everyday living for a continuous period of a minimum of six months?
YES/NO
d. Is it clinically in the best interest of the Veteran or Servicemember to participate in the Family Caregiver Program?
YES/NO
e. Will the Veteran or Servicemember receive care at home from the Family Caregiver upon admission into the Family Caregiver Program?
YES/NO
f. Will the Veteran or Servicemember receive ongoing health care from a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) or other VA health care team? (This does not preclude co-management with a community provider).
YES/NO
g. Will the Family Caregiver be providing personal care services without another individual entity, or program providing the same services concurrently?
YES/NO
In summary, being capable of employment by the applicant isn't a clinical criteria for entry into the DoVA Family Caregiver Program albeit it could potentially be viewed as an unfavorable event in my experienced opinion. Take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!