VA Respite Care: A Break for the Family Caregiver
VA can pay for someone else to care for the Veteran for a short time so the family caregiver can rest, run errands or travel.
What it is
VA says respite care is a program that pays for care for a short time when family caregivers need a break, need to run errands, or need to go out of town for a few days.
Two kinds
- Home respite: a caregiver comes to your home, or you go to adult day health care, while the family member takes a break.
- Nursing home respite: you stay a short time at a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home while the family is away.
Who qualifies
All enrolled Veterans qualify if they meet clinical criteria and the service is available in their area. The Veteran needs help with daily living, such as bathing, dressing or meal preparation. Community-based services need additional community care eligibility. Respite is for Veterans whose caregivers are overburdened as well as Veterans who are isolated.
What it costs
VA says a copay may be charged based on your service-connected disability status and your financial information. VA lists extended care copays as none for the first 21 days in a 12-month period; after that, up to $97 a day for inpatient respite and up to $15 a day for daily respite outpatient (2026). Your social worker completes VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services with you to set your amount.
What it costs
How to get it, step by step
- Enroll the Veteran in VA health care: How to apply for VA health care.
- Contact the VA social worker or case manager: Find the social work contact at your VA health care system.
- Complete VA Form 10-10EC (Application for Extended Care Services) with them.
- Ask which kind of respite is offered near you.
- The caregiver can also fill out the caregiver self-assessment on VA's VA Geriatrics: making decisions about care (decision aids and caregiver self-assessment).
Also ask about
VA runs a Caregiver Support Program with a support line for family caregivers of enrolled Veterans. VA lists respite as one benefit for family caregivers in its Comprehensive Assistance program. Ask the Caregiver Support Line whether the Veteran qualifies. See also VA long-term care options.
Where to call and where to go
Phone
- VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Source: caregiver.va.gov
- VA health benefits hotline: 877-222-8387 (877-222-VETS), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Source: va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply
- VA main information line (MyVA411), open 24/7. VA prints the number on its contact page: va.gov/contact-us
- Veterans Crisis Line, 24/7: 988, then press 1. Source: Helpful VA phone numbers
Official pages
- VA: respite care
- Find the social work contact at your VA health care system
- VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services
- VA Caregiver Support Program
- How to apply for VA health care
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