Every day, millions of caregivers quietly serve our nation’s veterans — often behind closed doors, out of sight from the public and policymakers. They help veterans eat, bathe, get to appointments, and manage medications. They sacrifice their own health, their savings, and their careers to support a loved one in need.

A bipartisan Senate bill introduced March 6 would expand health care coverage and career transition support for these individuals, and would require a study designed to provide caregivers with a path toward financial security in retirement.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers To Support Veteran Caregivers | More MOAA Advocacy in Action Issues]

“Just as our veterans answered the call to serve our nation, their caregivers also answered the call to step up and serve them,” said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA’s president and CEO. “These dedicated individuals put their own futures on hold — sacrificing financial security, career advancement, and personal well-being — to fulfill the nation's promise to take care of our veterans and provide the care veterans deserve.

“Yet, when their caregiving roles end, whether due to ineligibility for VA caregiver program services or the passing of their loved one, many are left without the support they need to rebuild their lives. The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act is not just an act of gratitude — it’s part of fulfilling a promise on behalf of our nation.”

MOAA, in partnership with the Quality of Life Foundation, has joined forces with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and other veterans organizations to reintroduce this bill (S. 879) in the 119th Congress. The need for enhanced support is increasingly urgent due to the exponential growth of the aging veteran population. Approximately 80% of veterans will require long-term support services as they age, according to VA projections.

[FROM 2024: Senate Bill Offers Caregivers a Path to Long-Term Financial Stability]

The Numbers Are Shocking … and They’re Getting Worse

There are 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. — a population larger than all but four U.S. states. And 74% of them are caring for veterans aged 60 or older, according to a 2024 RAND report — veterans whose need for long-term care is only increasing with time.

These caregivers are not only unpaid, they often pay out of their own pockets for care-related expenses.

For the 55,000 caregivers enrolled in the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), the situation is even more concerning. The original legislation establishing the program in 2011 allowed for a monthly personal stipend to be paid to a designated primary caregiver for providing personal care services to their veteran. 

This designation means caregivers cannot contribute to Social Security and personal retirement accounts, a problem made worse in most veteran households where all income is considered “unearned” – the caregiver stipend, VA disability compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, and Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC), for example.

[MARCH 19 MOAA WEBINAR: Understanding CRDP and CRSC]

These caregivers rely on the stipend, health care, and other services offered through PCAFC. However, when their caregiving role ends, they face challenges returning reentering the workforce and experience financial instability.

One example: A spouse caregiver to a post-9/11 veteran singlehandedly met their family’s needs while tending to her husband’s challenging mental and physical health conditions. She gave up her professional career in education to be a full-time family caregiver for her husband while raising their two young sons.

“I lost my professional identity, my personal income, and my access to contribute to Social Security and my personal retirement accounts,” she said. “I suffered health issues because I would miss my appointments to take him to his appointments.”

[MORE ADVOCACY IN ACTION NEWS: MOAA.org/AIA]

There’s a Simple Solution: Congress Must Act

The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act recognizes the critical role of PCAFC participants and aims to address the financial, professional, and emotional challenges they face. It seeks to extend health coverage, provide bereavement counseling upon a veteran’s death, and support caregivers as they transition into the workforce or retirement. The bill also has the potential to reduce their future reliance on government assistance programs.

Veterans served our nation, and their caregivers stepped up to serve them. We urge lawmakers to help empower caregivers to rebuild their lives and achieve financial security by cosponsoring and passing the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment and Retirement Act.