Effective September 30, 2025, VA has published a final rule which extends the transition period of legacy participants, legacy applicants, and their family caregivers (the legacy cohort) through September 30, 2028.

The extension of the transition period means that legacy participants, legacy applications, and their family caregivers will remain eligible for PCAFC and will not experience a decrease in the monthly stipend amount based on a reassessment for the duration of the transition period (certain exceptions apply).

A legacy participant in the PCAFC is an eligible veteran whose family caregiver(s) was approved and designated by VA before the effective date of the final rule. The eligible veteran continues to be considered a legacy participant so long as their primary family caregiver (approved and designated before the effective date) continues to be approved and designated as such. If a new joint application is received by VA after the effective date that results in approval and designation of the same or a new primary family caregiver, the veteran is no longer considered a legacy participant.

A legacy applicant is a veteran or a service member who submits a joint application for the PCAFC that was received by VA before the effective date of the final rule and for whom a family caregiver(s) was approved and designated on or after the effective date. The veteran or service member will continue to be considered a legacy applicant so long as his or her primary family caregiver (approved and designated after the effective date pursuant to the joint application) also continues to be approved and designated as such.

Questions about this final rule, accessible below, or about support and services available to veterans and their caregivers, can be directed to your local Caregiver Support Program team or to the Caregiver Support Line Monday through Friday, 8:00am-8:00pm Eastern Time, at 1-855-260-3274.