Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions? Good.. because we have answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions? Good.. because we have answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions? Good.. because we have answers.

Overview

What is the VA Caregiver Support Program (CSP) Legal and Financial Planning Services Program?

The MISSION Act expanded services under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) to include legal and financial planning services related to the needs of the injured Veteran. CSP is implementing these services through contracted services.

How will legal and financial planning services be implemented?

A pilot period of four weeks was conducted in March 2023 for three east coast VISNs, referring eligible Primary Family Caregivers and their Veterans for legal and financial planning services handled by personal legal and financial Concierges. At the conclusion of the Pilot phase in April 2023, legal and financial planning services were rolled out to all VISNs. The contact center will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What additional services could become available?

Additional online support related to these services such as website access, on-line trainings, and live webinars will be added as they become available.

How is eligibility determined?

Participants must be enrolled as a Primary Family Caregiver in VA’s PCAFC program. All participants are verified by local Caregiver Support Program (CSP) staff, either via direct referral or through website registration.

How do I access services if I am eligible?

Once enrollment for PCAFC is confirmed, the CSP team member can refer the Primary Family Caregiver and/or eligible Veteran for legal and financial planning services.

Can referrals be made for a Caregiver after their Veteran passes away?

Yes, for up to 90 days after the Veteran passes.

How are services provided?

Legal and financial planning services will be available through this web portal, a 24-hour contact center, certified financial counselors and paralegals, and a national network of licensed attorneys. Translation services for verbal and written communications are available as well.

What services are provided?

Primary Family Caregivers and eligible Veterans can receive assistance with the below legal and financial planning services:
  • Legal advice and consultation related to:
    • Simple wills
    • Advance directives
    • Power of attorney
    • Durable power of attorney for healthcare
    • Guardianship of the Veteran
    • Identity theft education, information, and restorative services
    • Assistance with disputes (defaults, garnishments, insurance, Lemon Laws, neighbor, etc)
      • Drafting documents pertaining to credit reporting agencies, businesses, and debt collector notifications
      • Drafting letters or fielding phone calls to resolve personal disputes with a landlord or creditor
    • Referrals to community legal services for matters not otherwise covered.
  • Financial planning services and financial counselor consultation related to:
    • Household budgeting
    • Debt management
    • Retirement planning review and education
    • Insurance review and education
    • Education on alternative insurance options for health, auto, life, and homeowner/ renter’s insurance
    • Education on mortgage loans and refinancing
    • 90-day extensive financial coaching services
    • Credit management
    • Education in planning for college expenses and addressing student loans
    • Education and referral information related to items such as estate planning, investing, tax planning, etc
    • Referrals to community financial planning services for matters not otherwise covered

Would attorneys attend court with the caregivers?

Contract consultant attorneys would not attend court. They would provide the Caregiver guidance on how to file with the court and provide community referral to a local attorney who could/would – at the Caregiver’s expense – be provided.

Are any services specifically not included?

This benefit excludes:
  • Assistance with legal matters in which the eligible Veteran or Primary Family Caregiver is taking or has taken adversarial legal action against the United States Government.
  • Assistance with legal matters in disputes between the eligible Veteran and the Primary Family Caregiver.
  • Legal representation for court proceedings or court processing of documents

How often can I access these services?

Primary Family Caregivers and their Veteran may only receive support with each type of service only once in a 12-month period. For example, if a Simple Will is created, and six months later it needs to be modified due to a change in circumstances, the Primary Family Caregiver or Veteran would not be eligible to have it modified via this contract until 12 months had passed since the Simple Will was created.

After my CSP team submits a referral for me, what should I expect?

The Primary Family Caregiver will receive a phone call from a customer service representative within 24 hours of the referral being submitted from the toll-free number 833-4-CARE-VA (833-422-7382) to schedule an appointment with a legal or financial planning Concierge. The customer service representative will leave a message if you do not answer. The Primary Family Caregiver will also receive an appointment reminder call the day before the appointment as well as a welcome email from VHACSPLeglandFinSrvs@va.gov.

What can I expect on the phone session with my Concierge?

A Concierge will call the Primary Family Caregiver at the scheduled appointment time to discuss needs and goals and create a plan to address all aspects of your situation.

What qualifications do Concierges have?

All financial Concierges are certified financial experts. All legal Concierges are paralegals or attorneys.

What if I want to speak with a local attorney?

For those legal services that require an attorney to be involved in the process, or if the Primary Family Caregiver or eligible Veteran prefers to consult with an attorney, additional sessions (up to 3 half hour sessions) will be scheduled with a local attorney, either over the phone or in-person. The Concierge will work with the Primary Family Caregiver to ensure – to the greatest extent possible – that all documentation and information is prepared prior to meeting with the attorney.

Technical Support

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Contact our Technical Support Team by filling out the form to submit a request.

Select your state or territory in the map located on the Documents repository to search for Legal or Financial documents for your area.

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Select your state or territory in the map located on the Documents repository to search for Legal or Financial documents for your area. View document titles within the Legal and Financial tabs. Select the title and go to the document page.

Select your state or territory in the map located on the Documents repository to search for Legal or Financial documents for your area. View document titles within the Legal and Financial tabs. Select the title and go to the document page. Select the Documentos Espanoles button to view the document.