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The Daily Check

Program

VA in-home care and caregiver services

VA programs that arrange or pay for care at home, including a budget veterans can use to hire family.

What it can pay for

Official name
VA Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC): Veteran-Directed Care, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Respite, ADHC, HBPC
Where
Nationwide
Status
Program running
About the amount
Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) is the one component that's a dollar budget, not a service: FY2026 national monthly averages run $1,317 (case-mix level L) to $5,697 (level K); level V* is $22,988. Whole-program ceiling: VA's spending on a veteran's home/community care can't exceed 100% of what VA would pay for nursing-home care (raised from 65% by the Dole Act, FY2026 on).
Housing rules
No ownership rule — services follow the veteran wherever they live. Medical Foster Home is a separate licensed private home, and assets start counting toward the extended-care copay after 181 days of care.
How long it takes
No published timeline. VDC path: enrollment, GEC assessment, 10-10EC, referral to the local AAA/ADRC provider, spending-plan approval, hiring plus background checks, Financial Management Service payroll setup, then services start.
How to apply
Enroll in VA health care (Form 10-10EZ) if not already enrolled, then ask the VA primary-care team's social worker for a 'Geriatrics and Extended Care assessment' for Veteran-Directed Care, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, and respite. Fill out VA Form 10-10EC for the copay determination.
Does not pay for
Not construction money — bigger structural mods go through HISA/SAH/SHA. Assisted-living rent isn't covered except a small 2-VISN pilot (120 veterans). Medical Foster Home rent is usually out of pocket unless the veteran is mandatory-nursing-home-eligible.
Official source
va.gov
Last checked
September 29, 2026