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VA To Extend Veteran Assistance Program Through 2028
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to extend eligibility for its Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) to include more so-called "legacy" Veterans and their caregivers, a move expected to benefit thousands who served before 2001.
Newsweek contacted the VA for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
The expansion, set to take effect later this year, will make permanent the eligibility of caregivers for Veterans who were already receiving support before recent policy changes. Previously, many of these "legacy" participants—Veterans injured or seriously ill due to service before 9/11—faced uncertainty about whether they would continue to qualify under updated guidelines.
What To Know
The VA is the second-largest federal department in the U.S, with a workforce of around 470,000, a quarter of them Veterans themselves. It provides disability benefits to approximately 6.2 million Veterans nationwide.
A former U.S. military soldier and volunteer member of Team Red White and Blue serving as an honor guard stands at attention during the Memorial Day ceremony on May 31, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough...
A former U.S. military soldier and volunteer member of Team Red White and Blue serving as an honor guard stands at attention during the Memorial Day ceremony on May 31, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. MoreThe PCAFC offers eligible caregivers financial stipends, access to health insurance, mental health counseling, respite care, and training in medical and caregiving tasks. The program was initially created for post-9/11 Veterans but was expanded in recent years to include those who served before May 7, 1975.
Veterans who served between 1975 and 2001 were expected to be phased in later, a timeline that caused frustration for many.
"The new rule will extend program eligibility for legacy participants, legacy applicants and their family caregivers for three years while VA continues the rulemaking process to refine the program. The extension will ensure that legacy participants and applicants can maintain their benefits and stability during this time," the VA said in a statement.
"Legacy participants are Veterans, service members, and their family caregivers who were participating in PCAFC as of Sept. 30, 2020, and legacy applicants are Veterans, service members, and their family caregivers who applied for PCAFC before Oct. 1, 2020, and were accepted into the program on or after Oct. 1, 2020."
With this new announcement, the VA aims to eliminate gaps in support and provide continuity of care to those who were already approved under the older criteria. The agency also stated it will streamline reassessments and reduce administrative burdens for caregivers. Veteran advocacy groups will no doubt welcome the news.
As reported by Newsweek, the VA also recently announced a temporary expansion of burial benefits for certain veterans and their families.
Recipients will see a temporary increase of these benefits thanks to the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, known as the Dole Act. This benefit from the Dole Act will mean eligible veterans will have their full burial costs covered.
Veterans will also be impacted by President Donald Trump's recent budget bill, as reported by Newsweek. Veterans' programs have historically received bipartisan support and consistent funding increases. Trump's proposed budget continues that trend, with an $83 billion boost over the prior year, largely for mandatory medical care and benefits payouts.
House Republicans are proposing a $453 billion bill for the VA in fiscal year 2026.
While the bill maintains key benefits for Veterans, it also includes a number of changes that could affect how some services are delivered and funded.
The new spending measures, part of the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill passed by the House in May, come as the VA faces a wave of changes, including staff cuts that have triggered protests nationwide.
However, the bill's inclusion of policy items tied to reproductive health, firearm access, and vaccine mandates could limit or reshape access to VA services.
What People Are Saying
VA Secretary Doug Collins in the announcement: "Legacy caregivers have helped shape VA's Caregiver Support Program for many years. This decision underscores VA's commitment to Veterans and caregivers across the nation and will help provide consistency and stability to nearly 15,000 legacy participants for years to come."
What Happens Next
More detailed guidance is likely to be issued by the VA in the coming weeks. Current participants in the program are encouraged to stay in contact with their local Caregiver Support Coordinators for updates.
