VETERANS FIRST

Veteran Flag
 
 

Serving Veterans and their Surviving Spouse with Care at Home

Veterans First was a collaboration of a Navy veteran, John Mozdzien, and the owner of a Pittsburgh based home care agency, Eric Sepesy. Both John and Eric believe that veterans and their surviving spouse have the right to receive non-medical care within the comfort of their own home. These services will be provided at zero out of pocket expense and will give the veteran or surviving spouse 9-24 hours each week of in home care. The veteran or surviving spouse may choose which services they are in need of. Some of these services would include assistance with cleaning, cooking, laundry, personal care, and running errands.

Typically these services can take up to a year (or more) to be approved within the VA. With our Veterans First program, these services will start within 15-30 days. Veterans First will help those veterans apply for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit and will also fund these services while the application is pending.

Services will be provided by a licensed Home Care Agency within your local community and will be properly vetted to make sure the agencies hire and train qualified caregivers to care for its veterans.

To make a referral for services, please click here and someone from the Veterans First division will be in touch within 48 hours. You may also call us at 412-206-2973.

Areas We Serve

Veterans First can cover the following counties and supply in-home care within these counties through our provider network: Erie, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Beaver, Warren, McKean, Crawford, Venango, Forest, Elk, Cameron, Mercer, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Lawrence, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Somerset, Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties.

How the Veteran or Surviving Spouse would Qualify for the Program

There are qualifications that the veteran or surviving spouse must meet in order to qualify for the Aid and Attendance pension benefit through the VA.

  1. Military

    1. Must have served at least 90 days on active duty.

    2. Must have served during wartime (anywhere). All dates are according to the Veterans Affairs office.

      1. WWII: December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946

      2. Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955

      3. Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975 (If served between February 28, 1961 - August 5, 1964, you must have served in the country of Vietnam)

      4. Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 - To be determined. Must have served 2 years or the full time they were called for active duty.

    3. Must have an honorable discharge.

  2. Financial

    1. Please call us to discus the specific details for this qualification.

  3. Medical

    1. We will help determine the medical needs through your PCP

Documents Needed to Enroll in the Aid and Attendance Program

Below are a list of documents that we need to prove your case to the VA. John will be assisting you and/or your next of kin to obtain these documents.

Proof of Military Service

Copy of DD-214 or discharge papers

If you’re a Surviving Spouse, we also need the Veteran’s Death Certificate

 

Medical Diagnosis

VA Form 21-2680 must be completed by a licensed PCP. We will send this to your PCP on your behalf.

 

Health Care Insurance Cost/Drug Plan Expenses

Health Care and/or Drug plan – Statement for the health care insurance policy or drug plan that you pay for out of pocket monthly or quarterly

 

Proof of Income

Social Security Award Letter ( If you don’t have this, go to www.ssa.gov/pgm/receiving.htm, click on ‘Award Letter’) or call 1.800.772.1213

1099 for your Pension Statement – for all pensions being received

Last 3 years of Tax return’s – If you file

Ratings Letter from VA (only if veteran is classified as disabled)

 

Proof of Assets

Bank Account Statements – for all accounts, the last three months (All Pages)

Statements (three months’ history) for any other type of assets (IRA, CD or other)

Life Insurance Policy – Cash Value (if any)

Documents of government bonds or any other assets not listed above

 

For Surviving Spouse

Death Certificate of Veteran

- Must have been married to the veteran for more than 12 months

- Must have been married to the veteran at the time of death

- If remarried after the veteran has passed away, must have been remarried after January 1, 1971 and this marriage must have ended before November 11, 1990.

Marriage Certificate

 

Veterans First is a division of Quality Living Home Care