Rubio Demands Answers From VA for Caregiver Stipend Denials, Delays

Press Release

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) urged U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to provide an explanation for blanket and vague denials of applicants and legacy participants from the department's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), which provides stipends to veterans for caregiving. The letter asks the VA for clarification on denials without reasoning and what efforts are being taken to speed up the appeals process, so that applicants and legacy participants can understand their next steps.

"The PCAFC stipend ensures these veterans, their caregivers, and their families have a better quality of life by alleviating financial concerns since the caregiver cannot work due to their role in providing daily assistance and support to the veteran. It can also help pay for other support services for the veteran," Rubio wrote. "In working with constituents who have been denied, seeing general statements such as the veteran "no longer meets the program criteria," is not helpful to the veteran or their families in understanding why they have been denied. This blanket denial also does little in helping them to prepare the appropriate documentation and materials in pursuing an appeal. It has also come to my attention that the veterans are met with the same vague denial upon appeal with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA)."

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