My Father is 85 yrs old, recently diagnosed with Cancer. Is reimbursement for my time and travel possible?

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Susanlinda Asked December 2019

My Father is 85 yrs old, recently diagnosed with Cancer. Is reimbursement for my time and travel possible?

My Father lives 2+ hrs from me and his medical team is 1.5 hrs North of him at the VA in Albany (he is a Veteran). I am driving back and forth to take him to his appointments and would like to look into being compensated for time and travel if possible? I was laid off in 2016 after 23 years and then again in 2018 with a company that closed it's doors. I am actively seeking employment and taking care of my father at the same time. My father is my #1 priority, but it would help if someone can share if reimbursement is possible from the government? This is all new to me. Thank you.

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score 0 · Answer 1

SusanLinda, there's another option to minimize the travel: use local doctors. When I re-enrolled my father some years ago, I got medical reports from his regular treating doctors, at the VA's request, so that Dad could continue to see the doctors with whom he treated for several years.

If I remember correctly, these local doctors provide reports to the VA, so they work in conjunction with each other. Then Dad only saw the VA for glasses, hearing aids, and if I remember correctly 6 month check-ups.

I don't recall what that program was called.

That would avoid the additional trip from your father's house to the VA, although you still wouldn't receive compensation for the local trips.

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That is called Community Care and there is no facilities that participate near where he lives, unfortunately. Thank you for your response.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Thank you all for your kind words and answers. He doesn't receive a pension from the VA because of the (lack of) svc years so he is on a limited income with social security. I would never ask him to pay me with the little that he has. I was just wondering if the government compensated in cases like this.....thank you.

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Have you looked into FMLA? In your state you can take up to 12 weeks off (and it can be used intermittently in accordance with your company’s policies) if you have to care for a family member with a serious illness. If you’ve been at your job for at least a year, you’ve worked a minimum of 1250 hours, AND your employer has at least 50 employees within a 75 mile radius, then you qualify for NJ’s family medical leave act. And fortunately in your state, FMLA includes paid leave so you would be able to take the day off to take your dad to the doctor BUT you would only receive around 60% of your regular pay. You won’t get your full wages. And I believe NJ follows the federal FMLA rules so your employer can make you use all your paid time off/vacation hours.

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score 1 · Answer 3

The VA won’t compensate you for time off. Your father will have to do that. The VA will reimburse 41 cents a mile to the NEAREST VA facility, they will reimburse travel from your father’s location to the nearest facility. The current reimbursemebt rage is 41cents a mile.

Your father is really the one who you needs to compensate you for all of this. There is no compensation for lost wages offered by the VA or any government program.

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I will look into the reimbursement, however, I will not take a penny from my Father who is already financially strapped. Thank you for your response.

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score 1 · Answer 4

97yroldmom, I wasn't aware of that link and option; thanks for sharing. (I'm adding it to my Veterans Benefits lists.)

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score 2 · Answer 5

SusanLinda, welcome to the Forum.   It's always nice to cyber-meet another Veteran's family!

1. When I took my father to the VA, he filled out a compensation request form afterwards.    I don't recall the specific title of the form, but the forms were in slots on stands around the primary waiting area.   I also don't remember the amount of reimbursement; it may be tied to IRS rates for medical transportation.

Any VA staffers at the entrance to the VA could tell you where to find the forms.
Dad received his check in a week or so, sent directly by to him by the VA. There was no "on site" reimbursement.   You could also call one of the VA facilities before going to get more information on this process (see item 5 below).

2.    The VA also offers pick up and return transportation, w/i specific hours.   I don't know whether or not a family member could accompany the Veteran, but if your father needs assistance I would think you could accompany him in the van.

That doesn't address the cost of driving the 2 hours to your father's house, but perhaps your father could help you with that.    I don't know of any reimbursement available from other sources.

3.    If you do continue to drive him, there's also pickup from where you park in the VA garage; a little motorized cart drives around the garage (again w/i specific hours), and took both of us (plus walker) from my car directly to the hospital entrance.

4.    What you might consider doing is signing up for VA e-newsletters, which are e-mailed 2 - 3 times weekly.   There's a lot of information in each newsletter, not necessarily relevant to your situation, but it could be helpful.

Sign up here:    https://www.va.gov/VetResources/

     a.     The latest e-newsletter ranges from care for traveling Veterans to the Honor Quilts program.

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/67572/traveling-veteran-coordinator/

      b.    Something else to research and consider is the Fisher House, which apparently houses Veterans and their families away from home.

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/67572/traveling-veteran-coordinator/

This might be an option if your father's appointments are more frequent; it could save you multiple trips.

5.     More VA information:     Here's a link to all the Albany related VA facilities; you might contact some of them to get more information on the transit reimbursement about which I wrote:

https://www.va.gov/find-locations/?zoomLevel=4&page=1&address=allbany%2C%20new%20york&facilityType=all&serviceType&location=42.6512%2C-73.755&context=Albany%2C%20New%20York%2C%20United%20States

The green icon represents a Benefits Center; you might want to contact them to determine if there are other benefits available to your father.

6.   At the time that my father was receiving treatment, the VA also had caregivers services.   Your father will be assigned to a "team" for his care, and my understanding is that each team has a social worker assigned as well.

The VA social worker for my father offered very helpful information, in print, and through podcasts (which don't particularly appeal to me).   You can reach out to your father's social worker for more advice, as the VA is literally expanding its outreach programs by "leaps and bounds."

And please thank your father for his service.  Every Veteran needs to be honored.

Helpful Answer (2)

The reimbursement rate is pretty pathetic, 41 cents a mile. My parents no longer track their miles and fill out the reimbursement forms because its not worth it AND they don’t need get benefits anymore now that the standard deduction has be increased.

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score 2 · Answer 6

Your father should certainly be covering your travel expenses. You're making these journeys for his benefit, and saving him the money he'd otherwise have to spend to attend appointments.

Your time is a bit different. If it's literally taking you away from gainful employment it would be reasonable to expect some compensation; but is it, in fact?

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Thank you for your response, however, my Father is financially strapped so I wouldn't dream of taking a penny from him.

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score 3 · Answer 7

Not sure if the Govt will reimburse you but your Dad should. Have a written agreement drawn up and keep good records and all receipts.

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Thank you for your response.

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score 1 · Answer 8

Here is a link for Veterans Transportation Service. I have not read it but on the surface it looks as though there is some consideration. I hope your dad’s treatment is helpful.

https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vtp/

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Thank you!

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score 1 · Answer 9

There are participants on this forum familiar with the VA and can answer your question. If the VA doesn't compensate for travel expenses, then I agree with DollyMe that your dad should be covering the gas and wear and tear on your car at .58¢ per mile (and cover all meals, lodging, etc.) As a parent I don't think doing this for a child should cause an issue in my mind...it's part of the cost of my care. I'm so sorry about his diagnosis. Blessings to you both!

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