Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL)
Overview
The Department of Defense (DoD) Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) Program provides special compensation to eligible permanent catastrophically ill and/or injured Service members who need caregiver assistance with activities of daily living or for supervision or protection. Service members or their designated representatives can voluntarily apply for SCAADL by submitting a DD Form 2948, “Application for Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL).” Service members should contact their primary care managers, care coordinators, or Service Wounded Warrior Program staff to discuss eligibility requirements for receiving this special compensation.
Eligibility
To be eligible for SCAADL, a Service member must meet all the criteria outlined in Department of Defense Instruction 1341.12, “Special Compensation for Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (SCAADL) Program,” including:
- has incurred or aggravated a permanent catastrophic illness or injury in the line of duty;
- has been certified by a licensed DoD or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physician to need assistance from another person to perform activities of daily living or for supervision or protection, and, in the absence of such assistance, would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care;
- is an outpatient and has identified a designated primary caregiver; and
- is not receiving federally funded in-home services (other than respite care), including TRICARE, to assist with activities of daily living or for supervision or protection to avoid harm to self or others.
Procedures
Eligible Service members are first certified by a licensed DoD or VA physician to meet all the eligibility requirements listed above. Then, the Service member will undergo an assessment to determine the level of assistance required and the level of support a caregiver will provide to perform activities of daily living or for supervision or protection to avoid harm to themselves or others. Following the evaluation, the Service-designated representative for the respective Military Service’s SCAADL program will determine if the Service member is approved. Lastly, the Service member will acknowledge the eligibility decision and their intent to either appeal or not appeal the decision.
Compensation
The monthly compensation an eligible Service member may receive is based on (1) the extent to which the member depends on caregiver services, and (2) the home health aide wage rate associated with the member’s geographic location. The extent to which a member requires caregiver services is determined by a licensed DoD or VA physician and is designated as one of three tier levels:
- Tier 1 – low level of dependency that requires 10-24 hours of caregiver services per week;
- Tier 2 – moderate level of dependency that requires 25-39 hours of caregiver services per week;
- Tier 3 – high level of dependency that requires at least 40 hours of caregiver services per week.
The home health aide wage rate is based on the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics wage rates for a home health aide in the Service member’s geographic location.
To access the current SCAADL calculator, visit DoD’s Military Compensation page.
A Service member will be removed from SCAADL if any of the following occurs: (1) a licensed DoD or VA physician determines the Service member no longer meets SCAADL eligibility requirements; (2) the Service member becomes an inpatient for a period of at least 16 cumulative days within a 30-day period; (3) ninety days have passed since the Service member separated or retired from service; (4) the Service member begins receiving VA Special Monthly Compensation (1114(r)(2) of Title 38, U.S.C); (5) the Service member’s caregiver begins to receive compensation through VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC); or (6) the Service member passes away.
VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Seriously injured or ill Service members who have an established discharge date may be eligible to apply for the VA’s PCAFC, which provides their caregiver a monthly stipend as well as other assistance. DoD policy prohibits Service members from receiving SCAADL compensation while their caregiver receives the VA PCAFC stipend. Service members who believe they are eligible for the VA’s PCAFC should apply. More information may be found here.
Source Documents
Support
Talk to your primary care managers, care coordinators, or Service Wounded Warrior Program staff about eligibility for SCAADL.
U.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior Program (AFW2)
Phone: 1-800-581-9437
Email: wounded.warrior@us.af.mil
U.S. Army Recovery Care Program (ARCP)
Phone: 703-571-2662
Email: usarmy.pentagon.medcom-dcs-WCT.mbx.contact-center@mail.mil
U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment (USMC WWR)
Phone: 1-877-487-6299
Email: smbwwropscenter@usmc.mil
U.S. Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW)
Phone: 1-855-628-9997
Email: navywoundedwarrior@navy.mil
U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Warrior Care Program (Care Coalition)
Phone: 1-877-672-3039 or 1-813-826-8888
Email: ussocomcarecoalition@socom.mil
VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
Phone: 1-855-260-3274
Military OneSource
Phone: 1-800-342-9647