The VA caregiver monthly stipend for a primary family caregiver runs roughly $1,896 to $3,793 in 2026, paid through the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). Where you land in that range depends on two things: the veteran’s locality pay area and the care level the VA assigns after a clinical assessment. Secondary caregivers do not receive a monthly payment, though they qualify for other program benefits.
How the VA Calculates the Amount
The stipend is tied to the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule. The VA starts with the annual salary for a GS-4, Step 1 employee in the veteran’s locality pay area, divides by 12, and then applies a percentage based on the veteran’s care needs.1VA Caregiver Support Program. PCAFC Monthly Stipend Fact Sheet
There are two care levels:
- Level 1 pays 62.5% of the monthly rate. The veteran needs help with some daily activities or general supervision but has not been determined unable to self-sustain in the community.
- Level 2 pays 100% of the monthly rate. The VA has determined the veteran is unable to self-sustain in the community, meaning significantly more daily assistance or continuous supervision is required.
That “unable to self-sustain” finding is the pivot point. It roughly doubles the stipend, and the VA makes the call during the clinical assessment based on the veteran’s functional limitations.2eCFR. 38 CFR 71.40 – Caregiver Benefits
2026 Stipend Amounts by Locality
Because the calculation tracks federal locality pay, the dollar figure varies across the country. A few 2026 examples:
In the “Rest of United States” area — the baseline for locations without a designated locality — the GS-4, Step 1 annual salary is $36,409.3OPM.gov. Salary Table 2026-RUS That produces a monthly base of about $3,034. Level 1 comes to roughly $1,896; Level 2 pays the full $3,034.
In the Los Angeles locality, the GS-4, Step 1 salary is $42,446.4OPM.gov. Salary Table 2026-LA Monthly base is about $3,537, yielding roughly $2,211 at Level 1 or $3,537 at Level 2.
In the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland locality, typically the highest-paying area, the GS-4, Step 1 salary is $45,516.5OPM.gov. Salary Table 2026-SF The monthly base is about $3,793, which means roughly $2,371 at Level 1 or $3,793 at Level 2.
To find the exact figure for your area, look up the veteran’s locality on the OPM salary tables, find the GS-4, Step 1 annual salary, divide by 12, and multiply by 0.625 for Level 1 or 1.0 for Level 2. The VA does not publish a single national chart. With dozens of locality pay areas, there are dozens of possible amounts.
Legacy Participants
Caregivers enrolled in the PCAFC before October 1, 2020, may be calculated under a transitional three-tier formula through September 30, 2028. Under that formula, a clinical rating of 1–12 pays 25% of the monthly rate, 13–20 pays 62.5%, and 21 or higher pays 100%. If a legacy caregiver also qualifies under the current Level 1 or Level 2 system, the VA pays whichever amount is higher.2eCFR. 38 CFR 71.40 – Caregiver Benefits
Is the Stipend Taxable?
The VA caregiver stipend is generally not considered taxable income. It’s also excluded when determining eligibility for other federal benefit programs. If your tax situation is complicated, confirming with a tax professional is a reasonable step.
Who Qualifies
Both the veteran and the caregiver have to meet separate eligibility requirements. Missing one side of that pairing is a common reason applications stall.
The Veteran
The veteran must have a serious service-connected injury or illness, which for PCAFC purposes means an individual or combined VA disability rating of 70% or higher. The veteran must also need in-person personal care for at least six continuous months, based on an inability to perform one or more activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, grooming, adjusting prosthetic or orthopedic appliances, toileting, feeding, or mobility), a need for supervision due to neurological or other impairment, or a need for regular instruction without which daily functioning would be seriously impaired.6Veterans Affairs. PCAFC Eligibility Criteria Factsheet
The veteran must be enrolled in VA health care before applying, and must be discharged or have a medical discharge date; active-duty members undergoing medical discharge also qualify.7Veterans Affairs. Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Service era is no longer a barrier. The program originally covered only post-9/11 veterans and has since expanded in phases. As of October 1, 2022, veterans from any service era — including those who served between May 7, 1975, and September 11, 2001 — are eligible if they meet the other requirements.8eCFR. Part 71 – Caregivers Benefits and Certain Medical Benefits Offered to Family Members of Veterans
The Caregiver
The caregiver must be at least 18 and either a family member of the veteran (spouse, child, parent, step-family, or extended family) or someone who lives with the veteran full-time or is willing to do so if designated.6Veterans Affairs. PCAFC Eligibility Criteria Factsheet The caregiver also has to complete VA-required training and be able to provide the personal care services the veteran needs.
How to Apply
Both the veteran and the caregiver complete and sign VA Form 10-10CG.9Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Form 10-10CG – Application for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers One veteran can designate one primary family caregiver and up to two secondary family caregivers on the same form. If only a primary caregiver is being designated, only the veteran and primary caregiver sections need to be completed.
You can submit the form online through VA.gov, mail it to a processing center, or hand-deliver it to the Caregiver Support Team at a local VA medical center. After submission, the VA does an initial review and schedules a clinical assessment — in-home or virtual — to evaluate the veteran’s needs and the caregiver’s ability to provide care. The VA aims to issue a final eligibility decision within 90 days of receiving the application.10VA.gov. PCAFC Application Process Fill in every field and both signatures; missing information is a common cause of delay.
How Payments Are Delivered
Once approved, stipend payments are deposited directly into the primary caregiver’s bank account each month. Direct deposit is mandatory; the VA no longer issues paper checks for PCAFC stipends.11U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) – Requirement for Financial Service Center – (Direct Deposit) Caregivers without a bank account can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program to get set up. After enrolling in direct deposit through the VA’s Customer Engagement Portal, allow up to two weeks for the Financial Services Center to complete the setup; you’ll receive email confirmations at each step.12VA.gov. VA Primary Family Caregiver User Guide for Direct Deposit Enrollment
For payment or direct deposit questions, contact the VA Financial Services Center at 1-877-353-9791.11U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) – Requirement for Financial Service Center – (Direct Deposit)
If You’re Denied or the Level Seems Too Low
If the VA denies your application or assigns a stipend level you think is too low, there are several review options. For decisions issued on or after February 19, 2019, you can pursue any of the following:13VA Caregiver Support Program. PCAFC Decisions – Options for Further Review and Appeal
- VHA Clinical Review Process, handled internally through the Patient Advocate at your local VA medical facility.
- Supplemental Claim, if you have new and relevant evidence that wasn’t part of the record when the original decision was made.
- Higher-Level Review, where a more senior decision-maker in the Caregiver Support Program re-examines your case. Additional evidence cannot be submitted with this option.
- Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, available for all PCAFC decisions regardless of when they were issued.
The VA does not commit to a specific timeline for reviews or appeals, noting that case complexity varies. Separately, the VA has suspended routine annual reassessments during a review of the program’s eligibility criteria; no one is being removed or reduced based on those reassessments during the suspension. You can still request a reassessment if you believe the veteran’s needs have grown enough to warrant a higher stipend level.14VA Caregiver Support Program. PCAFC – Reassessment Update Thorough documentation of the veteran’s care needs and any changes in condition strengthens either path.