An estimated 234,066 veterans live in Massachusetts, making up 4.1% of the state's population or the 48th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Massachusetts Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay follows federal tax rules.
Massachusetts Veteran Property Taxes
Disabled resident veterans may be eligible for a property tax exemption of $400 to $1,500.
Veterans must be at least 10% disabled, according to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); must occupy the property as their domicile July 1 in the year of application; and must have lived in the state for at least six months prior to entering the service; or have lived in Massachusetts for five consecutive years immediately prior to filing for a property tax exemption.
Spouses and surviving spouses may also be eligible, and surviving spouses of veterans who died as a result of service may be eligible for a total tax exemption.
Massachusetts Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Veterans and active-duty service members who are permanent, legal residents receive free tuition at state institutions.
Service members are not required to make certain student loan payments while deployed or mobilized.
The Massachusetts National Guard Education Assistance Program pays for 100% of tuition and fees for members attending a state institution for up to 130 semester hours.
Military Dependent Education
Children and spouses of service members who were KIA, MIA or a POW, or who died from a service-connected cause, may receive undergraduate scholarships to a state institution equal to the cost of full-time tuition. A student attending an independent college or university in the commonwealth may receive $2,500 per academic year.
Massachusetts Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive preference on civil service exams. Veterans with a score of 70% or higher go to the top of the exam list, with disabled veterans receiving top priority.
Veterans who apply for a promotional exam get two points added to their score.
Applying for a civil service job with no exam entitles veterans to preference in a "provisional appointment."
Applying for a position in the labor force doesn't require an exam, and veterans go to the top of the list.
Military Spouse Employment
Military spouses who are licensed in other states and relocate to the commonwealth due to a military transfer may receive expedited credentialing.
Massachusetts Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Massachusetts's two veterans homes are in Holyoke and Chelsea. They offer state resident veterans residential and long-term care.
Homeless Veterans
A collaboration between a veteran-specific network of providers and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services offers more than 600 beds at various facilities.
The Section 8 Veterans Housing Voucher Program assists homeless veterans with disabilities or severe psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders.
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
Massachusetts Veteran Financial Assistance
Help with expenses: Under the Chapter 115 Financial Safety Net Program, veterans experiencing financial difficulties may receive assistance with living expenses, health costs, support of dependents and prevention of homelessness. Veterans service officers in every Massachusetts municipality help veterans apply for the benefit.
Annuity payment: Veterans who are 100% disabled and their spouses, along with Gold Star parents and unremarried surviving spouses, may receive an annuity in the amount of $2,000, which is payable biannually on Aug. 1 and Feb. 1 in two installments of $1,000 each.
Welcome Home Veterans' Bonus: The commonwealth may provide a bonus worth $250 to $1,000 to returning resident veterans. In case of the death of the veteran, dependents may receive a bonus.
Guard member's death: If a state Guard member dies from injury, sickness or disease received on federal orders, and the injury, sickness or disease was not the result of the decedent's fault or neglect, the surviving spouse or other dependents receive a single payment of $100,000.
Massachusetts Veteran Legal Assistance
The state judiciary funds several law firms and organizations that offer pro bono legal services to veterans.
Massachusetts Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Active-duty personnel stationed in Massachusetts may buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Day-use parking is free for vehicles bearing any state's disabled veteran license plate. This waiver does not apply to camping fees.
Massachusetts Veteran Transportation Benefits
Disabled veterans with the loss, or permanent loss of the use, of one or both feet; or one or both hands; or the loss of sight in one eye; or who have permanent impairment of vision of both eyes may receive motor vehicle excise exemption applicable to one motor vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use.
Disabled veterans with the loss, or permanent loss of the use, of both legs or both arms; or one leg and one arm may receive a motor vehicle sales tax exemption applicable to one motor vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use.
Massachusetts Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Massachusetts's two veterans cemeteries are in Agawam and Winchendon, where eligible veterans may be buried at no cost. A modest fee applies to the burial of spouses and eligible dependents.
More Information
Visit the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services website for more details on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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