Disabled Veterans Dignity Act of 2026

Improved Health and Quality of Life: The bill notes that providing care helps support veterans in non-institutional settings, improves quality of life, and optimizes health by preventing complications like autonomic dysreflexia (Section 2(a)).

Financial Support for Caregivers: The Secretary is required to provide a monthly stipend to family members and individually employed caregivers, as well as payments to contracted home health agencies (Section 3(e)(1)).

Medical Training for Caregivers: Family members or individually employed caregivers will receive necessary supportive medical training to help them participate in and receive payment for providing care (Section 3(d)(1)).

Long-term Care Security: For veterans who require care for three years or more, they are deemed to require that care for life, unless a medical provider determines it is no longer needed (Section 3(g)).

Protection Against Unfair Tax/Status Treatment: The bill establishes that family and individually employed caregivers should not be subjected to self-employment taxes or treated as vendors or contractors (Section 2(a) and Section 3(h)).

Safeguards Against Care Denial: Before any denial of care occurs, the Secretary must obtain review and concurrence from a designated Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders Center (Section 3(b)(4)).

Care Limitations Based on Ability: Care may not be provided to any veteran who is able to perform their own bowel and bladder functions without assistance (Section 3(i)).

Administrative Burdens on Caregivers: Family members and individually employed caregivers must provide documentation and information in a format and under terms required by the Secretary to receive payment (Section 3(f)).

Pay Caps for Caregivers: The monthly stipend for family members and individually employed caregivers is capped at the fifth step of the General Schedule hourly rate paid to certain nursing assistants (Section 3(e)(2)(A)).