The VA Caregiver Support Program: Resources for Families of Veterans in PA

If you are caring for a veteran — a spouse, a parent, a sibling — the VA has programs specifically designed to support you. The VA Caregiver Support Program provides financial assistance, health insurance, mental health support, and respite care to eligible caregivers of veterans. For families in Pennsylvania, understanding these benefits and connecting them with community resources like SarahCare can make an enormous difference. 

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) 

PCAFC is the VA’s primary caregiver support program. It provides a monthly financial stipend, health insurance coverage, mental health services, respite care, and peer support to eligible caregivers of veterans with serious injuries or illnesses. 

To qualify for PCAFC, the veteran must: 

• Have a serious injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the line of duty on or after May 7, 1975 (as of MISSION Act expansion — eligibility expanded to pre-9/11 era veterans in stages through 2020 onward) 

• Require personal care services for a minimum of six months due to an inability to perform activities of daily living or due to a need for supervision or protection 

• Be enrolled in VA health care 

The caregiver must be at least 18 years old, a family member or someone who lives with the veteran, and able to provide the required level of personal care. 

How Respite Benefits Connect to SarahCare 

PCAFC includes a respite care benefit — up to 30 days per year of VA-funded respite care for the caregiver. Adult day care is an eligible form of respite under VA guidelines. Using SarahCare’s adult day program as part of the caregiver’s respite plan allows the family caregiver to work, rest, or attend to their own needs during the day while the veteran receives structured professional care at our Jenkintown center. 

For a detailed explanation of how VA benefits pay for adult day care specifically, see: VA Benefits for Adult Day Care: What Veterans in Pennsylvania Need to Know. 

What We See in Practice 

Caregiver families who are enrolled in PCAFC often come to us after years of managing alone, wondering why no one told them about the respite benefit sooner. The program exists specifically because the VA recognizes that caregivers burn out — and that caregiver burnout leads directly to higher-cost care for the veteran. Using SarahCare as a regular weekday respite destination isn’t just permitted under PCAFC — it’s exactly the kind of use the benefit was designed for. 

The Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) 

For caregivers of veterans who don’t qualify for PCAFC, the VA also offers the Program of General Caregiver Support Services — which provides education, peer support groups, coaching, and connection to community resources. PGCSS is available for caregivers of any enrolled veteran, regardless of era or injury type. 

How to Access VA Caregiver Support in Pennsylvania 

Contact the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–10 PM ET; Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM ET). A VA Caregiver Support Coordinator at the VAMC Philadelphia can also assist with PCAFC applications. Applications can be submitted online at va.gov/family-member-benefits/comprehensive-assistance-for-family-caregivers. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

 Ready to Learn More? 

Schedule a free tour of SarahCare Adult Day Center in Jenkintown. 

Call us: 215-999-1200  or contact us here.

Written by Carolyn Choates  |  Assistant Marketing Manager, SarahCare 

Carolyn Choates works with veteran families at SarahCare Jenkintown, helping caregivers of veterans understand and access VA caregiver support benefits alongside adult day services.