An Overview of Financial Support for Veterans with Blood Cancer and Their Caregivers

The essential role of care partners is sometimes overlooked. These individuals provide critical emotional, physical, and logistical support, often guiding and accompanying people through every step of their experience with cancer. Recognizing their contributions is key to understanding the full picture of care and improving overall health outcomes.

As someone who supported my husband through his experience with multiple myeloma, I came to understand the many dimensions of support in a very personal way. I didn’t fully recognize how my approach affected him until he pointed it out to me after asking him questions about how he was doing. He turned to me and said, “cancer is only a small part of who I am”. He was, at this point, able to care for himself most of the time. I had become too close to his illness. I reevaluated the situation, gave him the space he needed, and made myself available when he needed additional assistance. It gave him back the sense of independence he always enjoyed, and it gave me back a sense of independence as well. My role shifted in various ways over the years, depending on the level of support and involvement that was needed

Supporting Care Partners of All Ages

Estimates from 2020 show that there are over 53 million adult caregivers in the US. and according to the American Association of Caregiving Youth, approximately 5.4 million youth under the age of 18 provide care to a relative. 

Being a care partner takes a toll on a person’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. This is especially concerning for youth because every aspect of life can be affected, including school, socialization, and mental development. Additionally, these young care partners often receive no income for their efforts. However, in some states, there are programs that allow trained adult family care partners to receive a stipend for providing care to a loved one.

State and Local Resources 

There are state and local resources that may assist with the care of a family member. State assistance can come in the form of federal programs, grants, and potential compensation through Medicaid waivers. Some of the waivers allow for direct payments to care partners for eligible individuals. Children under the age of 18 are not eligible for compensation.  Federal programs like the National Family Caregiver Support Program provide grants to states for care partner support.

The need for help isn’t just financial. Sometimes, getting a break from caregiving, time away, even for an hour or two, can go a long way in re-energizing your body, soul, and mind. Look out for local programs that offer in-home or facility assistance for respite care.

Benefits for Veterans 

There are many benefits and resources that veterans are entitled to, but may be unaware of.  

The Veteran’s Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is a program that is available to spouses, sons, daughters, and extended family members who are over the age of 18 and live with or are willing to live with the veteran who requires care. 

To be eligible for the program, veterans or service members undergoing medical discharge must meet eligibility requirements that include:

• Being considered 70% disabled through the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
• Requiring a minimum of 6 months of in-person personal care.
• Participation in the program is in the individual’s best interest.
• Personal care from the family caregiver is not regularly provided by someone else.
• Receives or will receive care at home if a family caregiver is designated.
• Receiving or being expected to receive ongoing care from a Primary Care Team if a family caregiver is designated.

 Managing Caregiver Benefits

To be eligible to be a family caregiver, an individual must be at least 18 years old and must:

• Be either:
  • A spouse, son, daughter, or extended family member of the veteran, or 
  • Live fill-time with the veteran or be willing to live full time with the veteran if you are designated as a family caregiver
• Complete caregiver training.  

The caregiver must be appointed by the veteran. The care recipient can also appoint a secondary caregiver. Separate applications will be required. The criteria will remain the same. Only one will be acting in that capacity at a time.

Eligible primary and secondary family caregivers can receive these benefits:

• Caregiving education and training
• Mental health counseling
• Travel, lodging, and financial assistance when traveling with the veteran to receive care
• A monthly stipend (payment)
• Access to health care benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) if you don’t already qualify for care or services under another health care plan

 Additional Benefits

Some veterans may also be unaware of the many other benefits that are available to them that can help them manage consumer and medical debt and secure financial help with care partnering, should the need arise.

Other benefits include:

• Consumer and medical debt relief: Income requirements may be required, as well as proof of the debt and proof of the ability to repay. There are circumstances where the debt can be drastically reduced or even eliminated.
• Healthcare: Usually available through TriCare, and provides a comprehensive range of services, including preventive care, inpatient care, and specialized care.
• Disability Compensation: The Monthly amount is based on your disability rating and details about your dependent family members.
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Burial benefits

Spouses and family members may also qualify for benefits through the veteran’s military service record. All of the forms you will need are located online at va.gov. They can be filled out in your local VA office or mailed. 

If you need more information or help filling out your forms, call the VA at 866-400-1238 (TTY: 711). They are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. 

You can also dial 211 for more information on available resources. 

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Sources: 

• https://www.caregiving.org/research/caregiving-in-the-us/
• https://aacy.org/