Level 1 (Lower Level of Assistance)
Level 2 (Higher Level of Assistance)
Rest of U.S. (Standard Rate)
San Francisco-San Jose, CA
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Seattle-Tacoma, WA
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT
Manual Entry (Other City/Zip)
Enter the GS-4 Step 1 rate for your specific OPM Locality Pay Area.
Estimated Monthly Stipend: $0.00
Understanding the VA Caregiver Stipend (PCAFC)
The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) provides a monthly financial stipend to primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans. This stipend is not considered income for tax purposes and is designed to acknowledge the significant support provided to Veterans with service-connected disabilities.
How the Stipend is Calculated
The calculation is based on the GS-4 Step 1 hourly rate for the locality where the Veteran resides. The VA uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics data or the OPM General Schedule (GS) tables to determine this base rate. The formula used is:
Veteran is "unable to self-sustain in the community" and requires significant care.
62.5% of the full monthly rate.
Level 2
Veteran requires "continuous supervision and protection" or has the highest care needs.
100% of the full monthly rate.
Example Calculation
If you live in a "Rest of U.S." locality where the 2024 GS-4 Step 1 rate is approximately $17.65 per hour:
Full Base Rate: $17.65 × 40 × 4.35 = $3,071.10
Level 1 Caregiver: $3,071.10 × 0.625 = $1,919.44 per month
Level 2 Caregiver: $3,071.10 × 1.0 = $3,071.10 per month
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this stipend, the Veteran must have a service-connected disability rating (either individual or combined) of 70% or higher. The Veteran must also have been discharged from the U.S. military or have a date of medical discharge. The care provided must be necessary to help the Veteran with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or for supervision/protection needs due to neurological or other impairment.
function calculateStipend() {
var gsRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gsRate').value);
var tier = parseInt(document.getElementById('careLevel').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result-area');
var stipendDisplay = document.getElementById('stipendResult');
var breakdownDisplay = document.getElementById('calc-breakdown');
if (isNaN(gsRate) || gsRate <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid GS-4 Step 1 hourly rate.");
return;
}
// Standard VA Formula: Hourly Rate * 40 (hours) * 4.35 (average weeks per month)
var fullMonthlyRate = gsRate * 40 * 4.35;
var finalStipend = 0;
var tierText = "";
if (tier === 1) {
finalStipend = fullMonthlyRate * 0.625;
tierText = "Level 1 (62.5%)";
} else {
finalStipend = fullMonthlyRate * 1.0;
tierText = "Level 2 (100%)";
}
stipendDisplay.innerText = "$" + finalStipend.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
breakdownDisplay.innerHTML = "Calculation Breakdown:" +
"Base Hourly Rate: $" + gsRate.toFixed(2) + "" +
"Calculated Full Monthly Rate: $" + fullMonthlyRate.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + "" +
"Adjustment for " + tierText + ": $" + finalStipend.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 2});
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}