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I am compelled to write this because many veterans are financially challenged and do not know of the VA Caregiver fund. I am not an expert, but I know a few things. The premise for the Caregiver funds is to generally to pay someone, a loved one for the constant care of the veteran. It is based on locality, and I think it tops off at $2100/month. I strongly suggest using the DAV rep to get it started.
http://www.familyofavet.com/va_caregiver_program.html
http://www.familyofavet.com/va_caregiver_program.html
Posted in these groups: 
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Disabled Veterans
Health Disabled Veterans
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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I have heard of this in post deployment briefings as well. Make use of all available resources and spread the word to assist all who need it and may qualify!
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MAJ Ken Landgren
I think many folks will qualify as the VA does not really advertise this, and by random I found out about it.
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Thanks for posting Ken. By the question title I thought you were going to post information on both the Veterans Affairs and Social Security Care Giver programs. Thank you for posting the VA Caregiver program link. I tried to find information on the Social Security webpage but that is a very difficult page to negotiate. One thing that really bothers me about the Social Security web system [HHS at its finest] is that even though I am registered the only information I can find out is my own estimated benefits and actual contributions to the Social Security "program."
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Make an appointment at the SS office. They will help you, they have really helped me.
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LTC Stephen F.
Ken I will try to make an appointment. We live in the grater Washington, DC area which probably has a million or so Social Security beneficiaries.
The last time we went to the Social Security process we were going to register my wife because they require you to go to the office to register for online access to your benefit information and you can not update your address until you register. I was interested that they, unlike DoD, DFAS, and VA, are not interested in your physical address until you are actually drawing Social Security benefits. We were number 60 or so in line in a hot smelly waiting area which nauseated my wife so we left.
When you called, did you call specifically to discuss/register the Social Security Care Giver process?
The last time we went to the Social Security process we were going to register my wife because they require you to go to the office to register for online access to your benefit information and you can not update your address until you register. I was interested that they, unlike DoD, DFAS, and VA, are not interested in your physical address until you are actually drawing Social Security benefits. We were number 60 or so in line in a hot smelly waiting area which nauseated my wife so we left.
When you called, did you call specifically to discuss/register the Social Security Care Giver process?
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MAJ Ken Landgren
That’s the basis of Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 2014.
George Vradenburg of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s says Alzheimer’s is “the sinkhole of the 21st century.”
“Give enough care, earn some credit” will be the new model for Social Security if U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey has her way.
She cites the millions of Americans who leave the workforce or scale back their hours to provide care for dependent loved ones.
Introduced in July, Lowey’s proposed Social Security Caregiver Credit Act aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens of people like Karen Garner, who faces the unsettling prospect of trading off her retirement in order to care for her husband Jim, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2012.
The bill would allow Garner to collect Social Security benefits and reduce her work hours so she can spend more time looking after her husband.
“It would be the answer to my prayers,” said Garner, 49, and a mother of two in Newport News, VA. “I’ve heard stories from so many other caregivers who are struggling, saying they had to quit their jobs or had to sell their homes.
“As a caregiver, I thinking if I spend all our savings right now, what am I going to do to support myself and my children? I’m never going to retire because I’m spending down our retirement right now.”
Lowey describes her legislation as a measure that would provide a “modest” boost in future Social Security benefits for qualifying individuals. In particular, she says, it would provide women, who comprise 66 per cent of unpaid caregivers, with more economic stability.
Rep. Nita Lowey is pushing for Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 2014
Rep. Nita Lowey is pushing for Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 2014
“Caregivers are often torn by the impossible choice of taking care of a family member, or earning less for themselves and their family,” the Democratic representative from New York wrote in an email to AlzLive.com. “My bill would provide them the peace of mind that, when they retire, they won’t be financially punished for providing needed care for loved ones.”
Qualifying individuals would have to:
•Spend more than 80 hours a month providing unpaid care to a dependent relative or chronically dependent individual.
•Earn no more than the average national wage (around $45,000 for an individual).
A spokesperson with Lowey’s office explained the credit varies on an income-based “sliding scale,” so someone who does not work would receive a credit of around $22,000 a year, while someone who earns $33,000 would receive a credit of about $5,500.
Vradenburg, chairman and co-founder of the advocacy organization UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, described Lowey’s bill as an important social tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s, for American families and for the federal budget.
“If we’re drawn out of the workforce, our lifetime earnings are going to be reduced, and we think caregivers, in fairness, ought to get a social security credit for the amount of time they’re providing care,” Vradenburg said from Washington, D.C.
“This is an appropriate, fair mitigation for the burden that individuals take on by leaving the workforce to go care for their loved ones.”
Linda Holloway’s story
Linda Holloway, who lives in New Orleans, says she would have qualified had the Social Security
George Vradenburg of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s says Alzheimer’s is “the sinkhole of the 21st century.”
“Give enough care, earn some credit” will be the new model for Social Security if U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey has her way.
She cites the millions of Americans who leave the workforce or scale back their hours to provide care for dependent loved ones.
Introduced in July, Lowey’s proposed Social Security Caregiver Credit Act aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens of people like Karen Garner, who faces the unsettling prospect of trading off her retirement in order to care for her husband Jim, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s in 2012.
The bill would allow Garner to collect Social Security benefits and reduce her work hours so she can spend more time looking after her husband.
“It would be the answer to my prayers,” said Garner, 49, and a mother of two in Newport News, VA. “I’ve heard stories from so many other caregivers who are struggling, saying they had to quit their jobs or had to sell their homes.
“As a caregiver, I thinking if I spend all our savings right now, what am I going to do to support myself and my children? I’m never going to retire because I’m spending down our retirement right now.”
Lowey describes her legislation as a measure that would provide a “modest” boost in future Social Security benefits for qualifying individuals. In particular, she says, it would provide women, who comprise 66 per cent of unpaid caregivers, with more economic stability.
Rep. Nita Lowey is pushing for Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 2014
Rep. Nita Lowey is pushing for Social Security Caregiver Credit Act 2014
“Caregivers are often torn by the impossible choice of taking care of a family member, or earning less for themselves and their family,” the Democratic representative from New York wrote in an email to AlzLive.com. “My bill would provide them the peace of mind that, when they retire, they won’t be financially punished for providing needed care for loved ones.”
Qualifying individuals would have to:
•Spend more than 80 hours a month providing unpaid care to a dependent relative or chronically dependent individual.
•Earn no more than the average national wage (around $45,000 for an individual).
A spokesperson with Lowey’s office explained the credit varies on an income-based “sliding scale,” so someone who does not work would receive a credit of around $22,000 a year, while someone who earns $33,000 would receive a credit of about $5,500.
Vradenburg, chairman and co-founder of the advocacy organization UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, described Lowey’s bill as an important social tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s, for American families and for the federal budget.
“If we’re drawn out of the workforce, our lifetime earnings are going to be reduced, and we think caregivers, in fairness, ought to get a social security credit for the amount of time they’re providing care,” Vradenburg said from Washington, D.C.
“This is an appropriate, fair mitigation for the burden that individuals take on by leaving the workforce to go care for their loved ones.”
Linda Holloway’s story
Linda Holloway, who lives in New Orleans, says she would have qualified had the Social Security
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