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Massachusetts Veteran benefits

28 benefits from Massachusetts for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans' Services (EOVS) is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 617-210-5480 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Massachusetts's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

28 benefits

Property tax

  • No rating needed

    HERO Act Local-Option Property Tax Exemption Increases (Clauses 22I & 22J)

    Under the 2024 HERO Act, cities and towns may vote to tie veteran property tax exemption amounts to inflation (Clause 22I) or double the existing exemption amounts (Clause 22J), at local option.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to veterans otherwise qualifying under Clause 22 series; the increase only applies if the local city council or town meeting votes to adopt Clause 22I and/or 22J.
    How to apply
    No individual application beyond the standard Clause 22 application; municipalities must adopt the local option first, then apply enhanced exemption to qualifying applicants.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Higher-Tier Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemptions (Clauses 22A-22H)

    Veterans with more severe service-connected losses (limb, eye, total disability, specially adapted housing, paraplegia) or their surviving spouses can qualify for larger or full property tax exemptions than the base Clause 22 amount.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Veterans who lost or permanently lost use of a foot, hand, or eye (22A); lost both feet/hands/eyes (22B); received specially adapted housing due to total disability (22C); are paraplegic (22E); or surviving spouses/Gold Star parents under related clauses; must occupy property as domicile.
    loss or permanent loss of use of foot, hand, or eye; loss of both feet/hands/eyes; specially adapted housing due to total disability; paraplegia; or surviving spouse/Gold Star parent
    How to apply
    File annually with local board of assessors; deadline is April 1 or 3 months after tax bills mailed, whichever is later.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 10%+

    Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption (Clause 22 series)

    Massachusetts cities and towns must give a property tax exemption to qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability, Purple Heart recipients, and certain surviving spouses/parents. The exemption amount rises with the severity of disability, from a base amount up to a full exemption for the most severely disabled.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 10% or higher. Must be a legal Massachusetts resident and a veteran under Massachusetts law, discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, who lived in MA at least 6 months before entering service or 2 years in a row before filing, lives in the home, and has a service-connected rating of 10% or more (larger exemptions need greater loss, such as loss of a limb or eye, or total disability).
    How to apply
    File an application each fiscal year with the local board of assessors in the city/town where the property is located; due April 1 or 3 months after tax bills are mailed, whichever is later.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: M.G.L. c. 4 §7(43).

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Parent Property Tax Exemption

    Property tax exemption for surviving parents of military personnel who went missing in action or died from active duty service-connected injuries or illness.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving parents of service members who died or are missing and presumed dead from active duty service-connected cause; parents must reside in Massachusetts for at least 5 consecutive years before tax year begins.
    How to apply
    File application with local board of assessors by April 1 or three months after tax bill is sent, whichever is later.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption (Clause 22D)

    Full property tax exemption for surviving spouses of military personnel or veterans who died as a proximate result of injuries sustained or illness contracted during active duty service. Surviving spouse must not have remarried.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse of service member/veteran who died from active duty service-connected cause; spouse must reside in Massachusetts; must not be remarried.
    How to apply
    File application with local board of assessors by April 1 or three months after tax bill is sent, whichever is later. Requires certification from VA or military branch regarding service-connected death.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Exemption for Retirement Pay of the Uniformed Services

    Income from U.S. military pensions is excluded from Massachusetts gross income for state personal income tax purposes, even though the same income is taxable at the federal level.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to retirement pay derived from service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and NOAA.
    How to apply
    No separate application; exclude the pension income when calculating Massachusetts gross income on the state personal income tax return (Form 1).
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 60%+

    Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates

    Massachusetts issues 'Disabled Veteran' license plates at no fee to qualifying veterans, which also unlock benefits like free state park parking and excise tax exemption eligibility.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 60% or higher. Requires a mobility-affecting service-connected disability rated at least 60% combined and eligibility for permanent disabled-parking privileges, certified through the RMV process.
    How to apply
    Apply through the RMV with required VA disability documentation and DD-214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    HERO Act Disabled Veteran RMV Fee Waivers

    Under the 2024 HERO Act, disabled veterans are exempt from paying RMV vehicle registration fees and driver's license transaction fees (with some exceptions like special plate, reinstatement, and title/sales tax fees).

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Eligibility is based on a VA disability determination: the veteran must have a 100% disability rating or be deemed unemployable due to a service-connected disability.
    How to apply
    Present a VA determination letter to the RMV for registration and license fee waivers.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military/Veteran Recognition License Plates

    Massachusetts offers a variety of specialty license plates honoring veterans by branch, conflict, or award, available to veterans and service members with no extra RMV fee beyond standard plate requirements.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to Massachusetts veterans and service members who can document eligibility (e.g., DD-214) for the specific plate category.
    How to apply
    Complete an Application for Veterans Plates and submit to the RMV.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

    Certain disabled veterans (and former POWs) are exempt from the annual motor vehicle excise tax on one vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Under the HERO Act, a veteran qualifies if the VA determines they have a 100% disability rating or deems them unemployable due to a service-connected disability; exemption limited to one vehicle.
    How to apply
    Present a VA determination letter or required documentation to the local board of assessors where the vehicle is garaged.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver's License or ID Card

    Massachusetts veterans can have the word 'Veteran' printed on their driver's license or state ID card to easily show their veteran status, at no extra fee.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Massachusetts resident veteran with an honorable, general under honorable conditions, or other-than-dishonorable discharge, with proof such as a DD-214.
    How to apply
    Apply in person at an RMV Service Center or select AAA location when applying for, renewing, or duplicating a license/ID, presenting proof of discharge.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Special license plate issued without charge to family members of service members who died on active duty or from service-connected causes. Exempts holders from annual registration and renewal fees.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of service members who died on active duty or from service-connected injury/illness; step-relations must be legally adopted before death.
    How to apply
    Complete Application for Gold Star Family Plates and submit with casualty report, military telegram (WWII/Korea), or overseas death certificate to RMV Special Plates Department.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • Any rating

    DCR State Park Parking Fee Waiver for Disabled Veteran/Purple Heart Plates

    Daily parking fees are waived and no annual pass is needed at Massachusetts DCR-managed state parks for vehicles displaying a Disabled Veteran or Purple Heart Recipient license plate.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Vehicle must display a Massachusetts (or any state's) Disabled Veteran license plate or a Purple Heart Recipient license plate.
    How to apply
    No application needed; simply park at a DCR facility with the qualifying plate displayed.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Resident-Rate Hunting/Fishing Licenses for Nonresident Service Members

    Nonresident service members stationed in Massachusetts can purchase hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses at the resident price rather than the higher nonresident rate.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an active-duty service member stationed in Massachusetts, regardless of home-of-record state.
    How to apply
    Apply for a license through MassWildlife's licensing system, providing proof of active-duty station assignment in Massachusetts.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Massachusetts National Guard Tuition and Fee Waiver

    Active members of the Massachusetts National Guard receive a full waiver of both tuition and fees at all state colleges and universities while attending an eligible program.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an active member of the Massachusetts National Guard in good academic standing; benefit generally available up to 130 semester hours for undergraduates.
    How to apply
    Request a Certificate of Eligibility (TAGMA Form 621-3) every 30 credits from the Massachusetts National Guard Education Office and present it to the college/university veterans' representative.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Tuition Waiver for Massachusetts Veterans at State Colleges and Universities

    Massachusetts veterans who are legal residents of the state may receive a full or partial waiver of tuition (not fees) for undergraduate degree or certificate courses at public colleges and universities, on a space-available basis.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a veteran under Massachusetts law, a legal Massachusetts resident, and not behind on any federal student loan. Awards depend on space and are decided by each school.
    How to apply
    Contact the veterans' representative at the state college or university to apply and confirm space availability.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: M.G.L. c. 4 §7(43).

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Public Service Scholarship Program for Children of Deceased/Missing Veterans

    Massachusetts offers undergraduate scholarships to children of veterans who were killed in action, died as a result of their service, or were prisoners of war/missing in action, for study at a Massachusetts institution of higher education.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Children of POW/MIA service members from Southeast Asia service (Feb 1, 1955 through the end of the Vietnam campaign), or children of Massachusetts veterans whose service was credited to Massachusetts and who were killed in action or died because of that service.
    How to apply
    Contact the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance to apply.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: M.G.L. c.4 §7.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Veteran's Preference in Civil Service Hiring

    Massachusetts law gives veterans preference on civil service eligible lists and in hiring for positions without a competitive exam, placing qualified veterans ahead of non-veterans in a specified order.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must meet Massachusetts' definition of a veteran. Disabled veterans, and spouses or parents of veterans killed in action or who died from a service-connected disability, also get preference in a set order.
    How to apply
    Apply for the civil service position/exam through the Human Resources Division; veteran status is verified with discharge documentation (e.g., DD-214).
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: M.G.L. c.4 §7(43); c.31 §26.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    State-Aided Public Housing Preference for Gold Star Families

    Families of veterans who died from service-connected conditions receive priority tenant selection preference for state-aided public housing. Priority placement ranks immediately after families of disabled veterans.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Families of deceased veterans who died from service-connected condition; must apply through local housing authority and meet program financial and residency requirements.
    How to apply
    Apply through local housing authority. Preference is awarded during tenant selection process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE) Certification

    The Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office certifies businesses owned and controlled by veterans (VBE) or service-disabled veterans (SDVOBE), helping them access state contracting opportunities and the SDO's certified business directory.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Business must be a for-profit entity at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by one or more veterans (or service-disabled veterans), with proof of veteran status such as a DD-214.
    How to apply
    Apply online through the Massachusetts SDO certification portal, including required ownership and veteran-status documentation; there is no filing fee.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemeteries (Agawam and Winchendon)

    The Commonwealth operates two veterans' memorial cemeteries where eligible veterans can be buried at no cost, with a nominal fee for burial of spouses and eligible dependents.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligibility is based on military service as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; open to eligible veterans and their dependents.
    How to apply
    Contact the cemetery office (Agawam or Winchendon) to begin the burial application process; at time of need, contact a funeral director who submits required documents to the cemetery.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Massachusetts Veterans' Homes (Chelsea and Holyoke) Long-Term Care

    The Commonwealth operates two state-funded, accredited long-term care facilities for eligible veterans in Chelsea and Holyoke, offering nursing care, hospice, dental clinic, and residential accommodations.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Massachusetts resident when you apply, meet the state's definition of a veteran (generally 90 days in a row of service with at least one day in wartime, or 180 days of regular active service for Holyoke), have an honorable discharge, and need long-term nursing home care.
    How to apply
    Submit a completed admissions application with DD-214 to the Veterans' Home at Chelsea or Holyoke admissions office; application reviewed by an interdisciplinary team.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: M.G.L. c.4 §7(43).

  • No rating needed

    MassHousing Operation Welcome Home Mortgage Program

    MassHousing offers a mortgage program for veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard/Reserve members, and Gold Star Families, featuring flexible underwriting, down payment assistance, and a closing cost credit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to Massachusetts veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and Gold Star Families purchasing a primary residence in Massachusetts through a MassHousing-approved lender.
    How to apply
    Contact a MassHousing-approved lender or MassHousing's Homebuying Team to apply for the Operation Welcome Home mortgage.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    State Burial Allowance

    Massachusetts provides up to $2,000 in burial allowance for eligible veterans and their dependents who die without sufficient means to cover funeral expenses. Maximum total funeral cost ceiling is $3,000.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans meeting military service requirements set forth in 108 CMR 3.02; burial of adult dependents and children of veterans who lack means to pay funeral expenses.
    How to apply
    Apply through local veterans agent within 60 days of death using Form VS-9 along with DD-214, death certificate, and itemized funeral bill.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Global War on Terrorism Welcome Home Bonus

    Massachusetts provides a one-time cash bonus to service members and veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001, with amounts varying by deployment location and length of service; family members of deceased qualifying service members may also apply.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must have been domiciled in Massachusetts for at least six months immediately before entering the armed forces (or before activation for Guard/Reserve), served on or after September 11, 2001, and (if discharged) received a discharge under honorable conditions.
    How to apply
    Apply online or by mail to the Veterans' Bonus Division with DD-214 and residency documentation; family members of deceased veterans may apply on the veteran's behalf.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Chapter 115 Veterans' Benefits (Financial Safety Net Program)

    Massachusetts provides means-tested financial and medical assistance to low-income veterans and their dependents for food, shelter, clothing, fuel, and medical care, administered locally by Veterans' Service Officers under state oversight.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a veteran (or dependent of a veteran), demonstrate financial need, and reside in Massachusetts.
    How to apply
    Contact your community's Veterans' Service Officer (VSO) to apply; every city and town has an assigned VSO.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Annuity for 100% Disabled Veterans, Gold Star Parents, and Surviving Spouses

    Massachusetts pays an annual annuity to veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, Gold Star parents, and unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in wartime service, funded through the HERO Act increase.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Massachusetts resident who is a 100% service-connected disabled veteran, an unremarried Gold Star parent, or an unremarried Gold Star spouse.
    How to apply
    Apply through your local Veterans' Service Officer with DD-214, VA award letter, and a W-9 form.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Massachusetts Chapter 115 Financial Assistance for Gold Star Families

    State program providing financial assistance to Gold Star families including cash assistance, medical cost reimbursement, housing/rent assistance, and emergency aid. Includes $2,500 annual annuity paid in August to eligible surviving spouses and parents.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouses and parents of service members whose death was service-connected; veteran must have entered service from Massachusetts, served while Massachusetts resident, or died as Massachusetts resident; family must remain Massachusetts residents.
    How to apply
    Contact local veterans agent or Executive Office of Veterans Services. Requires documentation of service-connected death such as DD Form 1300 or VA DIC documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

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