Va Sends Out Caregiver Benefits

[Berta]

VA Issuing First Payments to Caregivers

"WASHINGTON (July 1, 2011) - The Department of Veterans Affairs will send

out more than $430,000 in stipend payments to nearly 200 Family

Caregivers of Veterans in July. These Family Caregivers were the first

to complete their Caregiver training under the program of Comprehensive

Assistance for Family Caregivers. The first payments to 96 recipients

were issued today.

"This is a long-awaited day for many Family Caregivers who diligently

worked to achieve this landmark legislation to enhance services for

Family Caregivers," said VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. "I am proud VA

can now offer direct support to the loved ones who give the Veterans we

serve a greater quality of life by allowing them to remain at home

surrounded by family and friends."

Family Caregivers will receive an average $1,600 in monthly stipend

payments. The initial payments will average $2,500 because the first

stipend checks are retroactive to the date of application. The amount

of the stipend is based on the condition of the Veteran and the amount

of care they require as well as the geographic location where the

Veteran resides. An additional 80 stipend payments will be released

from the U.S. Treasury on July 8 bringing the total to 176 Family

Caregivers receiving the stipend in July.

"We continue to process and approve applications on a daily basis" said

Deborah Amdur, VA's Chief Consultant for Care Management and Social

Work. "It has been profoundly gratifying to receive messages from Family

Caregivers about the value of this program."

Since May 9, nearly 1,250 Caregivers of Veterans who were seriously

injured in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, have applied

for the Program. A core caregiver training curriculum is a required

component of the program. This comprehensive training, which was

developed by Easter Seals in collaboration with VA clinical experts, has

received many positive comments from Family Caregivers. In addition to

the training, eligible Family Caregivers can also access mental health

services and are provided health care insurance, if they are not already

entitled to care or services under a health plan.

Veterans may review the criteria for eligibility and download the Family

Caregiver program application (VA CG 10-10) at www.caregiver.va.gov.

The application enables the Veteran to designate a primary Family

Caregiver and secondary Family Caregivers if needed. Caregiver Support

Coordinators are stationed at every VA medical center to assist with

coordinating the training or assist Caregivers in locating available

services.

Support for all Caregivers is also available via the national Caregiver

Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. Caregivers of Veterans from all eras are

encouraged to use the Website and Support Line to learn about more than

two dozen supportive services VA offers to Family Caregivers. "

# # #

[john999]

"Line of duty after 9/11" sticks in my throat. My wife quit her job to help me at home. Now we both live off my disability. Both she and I suffer from my disability. Her SSA will be less and our income was cut by 20,000 a year. How is it fair just because I was in a different war?

[USNDW]

Hang in there, it will change.

I got my benefit yesterday, a denial letter. No interview, no exam, no collection of records, notta. So I called the 800# listed for the appeal and began asking this nice lady about the process, since I am 100% P&T, and qualify for GWOT (Sorry John) we should have had an interview where we could have given them medical records and then an exam should have been scheduled. The gal at the 800# was very confused and she asked what my ratings were, I began telling her. When I was done she could not believe it, she said "Oh my God", I said, "Yeah I know" so imagine my surprise when she tells me the gal who denied me, isn't even a caregiver Representative.

WTF??? So here we go with another VA program where the instruction says one thing and the VA employees say another. I think this one may actually warrant a formal complaint

[Pete53]

Looks like their is a lot of bugs in another VA program

[john999]

Why treat one group of vets differently from another? I don't begrudge 9/11 vets a paid caregiver. I want one also since my wife does this for me. I like others here are officially housebound. Why do we not get this benefit?

[Commander Bob]

"...Support for all Caregivers is also available via the national Caregiver

Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. Caregivers of Veterans from all eras are

encouraged to use the Website and Support Line to learn about more than

two dozen supportive services VA offers to Family Caregivers. "

# # #

http://www.caregiver.va.gov/support_landing.asp

[Commander Bob]

Why treat one group of vets differently from another? I don't begrudge 9/11 vets a paid caregiver. I want one also since my wife does this for me. I like others here are officially housebound. Why do we not get this benefit?

I would hope this new program would be expanded to all veteran's caregivers,someday. Historically, the VA has expanded other specialized programs to all veterans from all wars...??? I remember in the early 1980s, I helped with the implementation of the "Vietnam Veterans Outreach Centers" program. This was for Vietnam Vets only. Our motto was "Help without Hassles". Later it was expanded to include all qualified veterans from all wars.

I am glad to see the beginning of a much needed program.

We just need to keep breathing, John.

Bob

Edited July 2, 2011 by Commander Bob