VA Caregiver Support Program

VA Caregiver Support Stipend Scams

Caregivers and Veterans, recently we learned of a potential scam that included an “e-mail “ about VA Caregiver stipend recoupment and another potential scam that included a “text” asking for personal information to set up an informal meeting. 

If you receive a suspicious email, or text from anyone representing the Department of Veterans Affairs, DO NOT respond to the text, DO NOT open the email or click on any attachments or links. VA does not send emails or texts asking for personal information. In addition, VA does not send threatening emails, or emails claiming to take adverse actions on claimants or beneficiaries (jail or lawsuits). If you receive any of these suspicious texts or emails, or are in doubt about any suspicious communication appearing to be from VA, please contact VA directly at 1 (800) 827-1000.

Protect yourself against potential scams with these tips:

• Do not provide personal, benefits, medical or financial details online or over the phone. Federal agencies will not contact you unless you make a request.
• Do not click on online ads or engage with social media that seem suspicious.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts.
• Do not respond to suspicious texts.
• Work with Veteran service providers you already know.

Visit the Cybercrime Support Network for additional resources to help Veterans, service members, and their families combat cybercrime.

PCAFC Eligibility – Then & Now 

On March 25, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision that set aside VA's definition of “need for supervision, protection, or instruction.” As a result of this decision, VA has made changes to the criteria used to evaluate eligibility for PCAFC when making determinations issued under PCAFC regulations that became effective on October 1, 2020. This is the only criteria that has changed.

Evaluation of PCAFC eligibility includes, among several other criteria, whether the individual is in need of personal care services based on any one of the following as seen in this graphic:

If Veteran or caregiver received a decision under PCAFC based, in part, on VA’s definition of need for supervision, protection, or instruction and disagree with that decision, individuals have options to seek further review of that decision. For more information see PCAFC decisions and PCAFC Eligibility Criteria Fact Sheet (pdf).