VA officials work to provide post-9/11 family caregiver benefits
Posted 6/13/2011
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by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
6/13/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A month after the Veterans Affairs Department began processing applications for primary family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans, officials reported steady progress toward delivering the new services and benefits.
VA officials began processing applications for new services May 9, four days after President Barack Obama signed into the law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 into law.
A month later, VA spokesman Drew Brookie reported 1,119 applications in process, with caregiver training programs already under way. Five caregivers have completed the training and require only a final VA home visit before they can begin receiving the new entitlements, Mr. Brookie said.
The new law provides eligible family caregivers who care for severely disabled veterans a monthly stipend, mental-health services and access to health-care insurance if they are not already entitled to care, or services under a health plan. Caregivers also qualify for travel expenses, including lodging and per diem when accompanying their family member for care, comprehensive caregiver training, medical support and respite care.
The benefits extend to family caregivers of veterans who have sustained a serious injury, including traumatic brain injury, psychological trauma or another mental disorder incurred or aggravated in the line of duty after Sept. 11, 2001. The veterans must be unable to perform daily living activities on their own, or need supervision or protection due to their injury or neurological impairment, officials explained. In addition, qualifying veterans must be enrolled in VA health services.
After 625 veterans and family caregivers submitted applications for the new benefits and services the first week VA began accepting them, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki encouraged others to follow suit.
"We are off to a good start, having helped hundreds to apply, but we know there are thousands more who will qualify and need to apply today," he said. "I encourage eligible veterans and their family caregivers to apply now to receive the benefits they have earned."
Mr. Brookie described the steps VA is following to process applications and expedite delivery of the new benefits and services.
Within three business days of receiving an initial application, a VA caregiver-support coordinator contacts the veteran and primary family caregiver to complete the application and schedule caregiver training.
A VA clinical team then coordinates a clinical eligibility assessment. This involves determining what help the veteran needs for everyday activities such as eating, bathing and grooming and whether the veteran needs supervision or protection, Mr. Brookie said.
If the veteran meets clinical eligibility criteria, VA then provides primary family-caregiver training. Caregivers have three ways to complete the training: in the classroom at a local VA medical center or community location, online via a security-protected website, or through self-study using a workbook and DVD.
VA has kicked off the training, providing its first classroom sessions for 12 caregivers June 9 and 10 for 12 in Washington. Additional classroom training tentatively is planned for Durham; Reno, Nevada; and Atlanta Mr. Brookie said.
In addition, several caregivers are completing their training through the self-study option, which Mr. Brookie said is expected to be revised based on the input from classroom training.
The online training is scheduled to be live by June 25, he said.
After the caregiver completes the training, a VA clinician will visit the home to ensure the veteran and caregiver have what they need "to be safe and successful in a home setting," Mr. Brookie said. Five caregivers are now awaiting their home visits, he said.
The home visit is the last requirement before the family caregiver begins receiving a monthly stipend, based on the level of assistance the veteran required, Brookie said. At that point, caregivers without health insurance may also begin receiving health insurance benefits through VA's Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA.
The stipend and health-insurance benefits will be retroactive to the initial application date, Mr. Brookie said.
Secretary Shinseki lauded the new benefits and services, recognizing the sacrifices caregivers make every day to help their loved ones who served in uniform. "They are critical partners with VA in the recovery and comfort of ill and injured veterans, and they deserve our continued training, support and gratitude," he said.
Applications for benefits can be processed by telephone through VA Caregiver Support Line at 855-260-3274, in person at a VA medical centers with a caregiver support coordinator, or by mail or online at www.caregiver.va.gov, using VA's new caregiver application, VA Form 1010-CG.
VA plans to report to Congress on the feasibility of expanding the enhanced services to family caregivers of veterans of all eras, officials said.
Although some of the enhanced benefits are available to pre-9/11 family caregivers now, officials said many of the other newly enacted benefits will require new regulations to serve this population.
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