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