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Are you accessing all the benefits available to disabled veterans and their families in the state of Massachusetts? VA disability isn’t just monthly payments, it also means state programs and assistance at all levels.

Massachusetts offers disabled veterans tiered property tax exemptions, a Veterans Annuity, means-tested financial aid, housing assistance and transportation discounts.

Veterans can also benefit from a total or partial tuition waiver at state colleges and universities and receive absolute veteran preference on competitive Civil Service exams.

If you’re one of the 30% of Massachusetts 255,345 veterans who were granted VA disability (according to the latest VA annual report) but haven’t yet received all the disabled veterans benefits you’re entitled to, this guide is for you.

Tax Exemptions and Financial Assistance

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Massachusetts?

Yes, but Massachusetts offers tiered veteran property tax exemptions under M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clauses 22 through 22H. Eligible veterans (and qualifying surviving spouses and parents) receive a credit against the property tax on their owner-occupied home.

Eligibility must be established as of July 1 of the tax year, and applications are filed with the local assessor by April 1.

Standard Veteran Exemption (Clause 22)

Clause 22 provides a minimum $400 statewide tax credit for honorably discharged Massachusetts wartime veterans with at least a 10% service-connected disability, recipients of the Purple Heart, and qualifying surviving spouses. Many cities and towns vote to double this amount under Clause 22J (Boston, for example, pays a $412 credit in FY2026).

Disability-Tiered Exemptions (Clauses 22A through 22F)

Veterans with more severe service-connected disabilities receive larger exemptions:

  • Clause 22A: $750 credit for veterans who lost the use of one foot, one hand, or one eye in service
  • Clause 22B: $1,250 credit for veterans who lost the use of both feet, both hands, or both eyes
  • Clause 22C: $1,500 credit for veterans who received a federal grant for specially adapted housing under 38 U.S.C. § 2101
  • Clause 22D: Full real estate tax exemption for surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in action or who died from a service-connected condition
  • Clause 22E: $1,000 credit for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (cities and towns may double under Clause 22J)
  • Clause 22F: Full real estate tax exemption for veterans who are paraplegic from a service-connected disability or rated 100% for service-connected blindness

Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans continue to receive the applicable exemption as long as they remain unremarried and own and occupy the homestead.

Massachusetts Veterans Annuity

The Massachusetts Veterans Annuity pays a tax-free annual benefit to veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA, as well as to unremarried surviving spouses and the parents of veterans who died of a service-connected condition or in active duty.

Effective August 2025, the annuity increased from $2,000 to $2,500 per year, paid in one annual check. Applicants must be Massachusetts residents and must continue to reside in the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts Income Tax Exemptions

Massachusetts does not tax military retired pay, VA disability compensation or Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities. The Massachusetts Veterans Annuity is generally exempt from Massachusetts income tax as well.

Chapter 115 Financial and Medical Assistance

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) administers Chapter 115 benefits, a means-tested program that helps low-income veterans and their dependents pay for food, shelter, clothing, fuel, medical and dental care.

Eligibility is determined by the local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) in each city and town. The state reimburses the municipality for 75% of approved expenditures. Find out more about financial assistance for veterans.

Housing Assistance

Massachusetts coordinates housing services for veterans through the EOVS Office of Housing, Equity, Resilience, and Outreach Services (HEROS), the End Veterans Homelessness partnership with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), and federal partners.

Section 8 Veterans Housing Voucher Program

EOHLC administers the Section 8 Veterans Housing Voucher Program (VHVP), which provides rental vouchers to homeless veterans with disabilities, severe psychiatric conditions, or substance use disorders.

Veterans pay roughly 30% of their adjusted income toward rent, with the voucher covering the rest. Veterans should apply through their local Veterans Service Officer or the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Massachusetts?

Disabled veterans may be exempt from the Massachusetts motor vehicle sales tax on one vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use when they are approved for a Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate.

DV-plate eligibility requires VA-certified service-connected disabilities affecting ambulation (such as loss of use of a leg or foot) or full 100% service-connected disability. Purple Heart Medal recipients approved for DV plates with a service-connected disability rating of 60% or higher also qualify for the sales tax exemption. Find out more about disabled veteran fee and tax exemptions.

Under the HERO Act (signed August 8, 2024), veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled or granted Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) are exempt from the motor vehicle excise tax on one personal vehicle, from all vehicle registration fees, and from Massachusetts driver’s license and state ID fees. Specialty-plate fees and personalized plate charges are not included in the fee exemption.

Disabled Veteran License Plates in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) issues a Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate to veterans with a service-connected disability who provide VA verification. The RMV also offers a Purple Heart plate, Gold Star Family plate, Former POW plate, and a wide range of war-period commemorative plates (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, OEF/OIF, etc.). A DV plate or Purple Heart plate unlocks free state-park parking and certain RMV fee exemptions.

MBTA and Veteran Transportation

The Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services transportation resources page lists Disabled American Veterans (DAV) volunteer transportation programs and links to local VSO-coordinated rides to VA medical appointments.

The MBTA Transportation Access Pass (TAP) CharlieCard offers roughly 50% off one-way fares and passes for veterans rated 70% or higher service-connected disabled, with a VA Benefits Summary Letter on VA letterhead listing the disability rating.

Education Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Tuition Assistance in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts offers a Categorical Tuition Waiver that covers full or partial state-supported tuition at any public college, community college, or university in the Commonwealth for honorably discharged Massachusetts veterans who meet the wartime-service definition in M.G.L. Chapter 4, § 7, clause 43.

Waivers are awarded on a space-available basis and require the veteran to be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts and not in default on a federal student loan.

The waiver applies to the state-supported portion of tuition (curriculum/instructional fees are not always covered). The Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services also helps veterans coordinate the waiver with the Post-9/11 GI Bill so federal benefits can be applied to fees, books, and housing. Learn more about Massachusetts educational benefits.

Does Massachusetts Waive Tuition for Veterans’ Children?

Yes, in specific circumstances. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education administers federal dependent education benefits alongside several state-level supports. Dependents of veterans who died in the line of duty (and certain other qualifying categories) may receive tuition assistance at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.

Dependent children of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA also qualify for the federal VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35), which provides up to 45 months of education benefits and can be used at any approved Massachusetts institution.

Employment Benefits

Massachusetts State Veterans Hiring Preference

Massachusetts uses absolute veteran preference on competitive Civil Service exams under M.G.L. Chapter 31, Section 26. Any veteran who scores 70 or higher on an open-competitive exam (including police and firefighter exams) is moved to the top of the eligibility list ahead of non-veteran candidates.

Veterans with a 10% or greater service-connected disability receive retention preference over all other employees, including non-disabled veterans.

On promotional exams, all veterans receive two extra points but do not automatically move to the top. Labor-service positions (no exam) place all veterans at the top of the eligibility list.

Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and Career Centers

Every MassHire Career Center hosts a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist who provides intensive case management to veterans with significant barriers to employment, including service-connected disabilities and homelessness.

Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) work alongside DVOPs to conduct employer outreach, run hiring seminars, and translate military experience into civilian job descriptions. Find out more about state-level employment services.

Recreation Benefits

Do Massachusetts State Parks Offer a Disabled Veterans Pass?

Yes. Day-use parking fees are waived at all Massachusetts state parks and DCR-managed areas for vehicles displaying a Massachusetts Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate or a Purple Heart plate.

Vehicles with disabled veteran license plates issued by any other state are also eligible for free parking year-round at all DCR parks. The waiver applies to day-use parking only and does not cover camping fees or special-event admission. Find out more about Massachusetts state park parking.

What Does a Massachusetts Hunting and Fishing License Cost for Disabled Veterans?

Veterans receive hunting, fishing, and sporting licenses at no charge if they are paraplegic, have total paralysis of the lower half of the body or a condition that prevents any use of the lower limbs . All other Massachusetts veterans pay the standard resident license fees published by MassWildlife.

Stamps (e.g., Migratory Bird, Wildlands Conservation) and special-deer permits must be purchased separately and are not waived by the paraplegic-license benefit.

First-time applicants submit a Physician Certification Form along with a Hunter Education Certificate (for hunting licenses) to MassWildlife’s Boston licensing office. After the first approval, the license can be renewed and printed online each year. Find out more about disability fishing and hunting licenses.

Health Care Benefits

Massachusetts is served by two VA health care systems, two state-operated Massachusetts Veterans Homes (in Chelsea and Holyoke) and a network of community-based outpatient clinics and Vet Centers.

Massachusetts VA Medical Centers

Massachusetts VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

CBOCs let Massachusetts veterans access routine primary care, mental health services, and telehealth visits closer to home. Massachusetts CBOCs include:

  • Fitchburg VA Clinic: 881 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
  • Framingham VA Clinic: 61 Lincoln Street, Suite 112, Framingham, MA 01702
  • Greenfield VA Clinic: 143 Munson Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
  • Lowell VA Clinic: 130 Marshall Road, Lowell, MA 01852
  • Pittsfield VA Clinic: 78 Center Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsfield, MA 01201
  • Plymouth VA Clinic: 116 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
  • Quincy VA Clinic: 110 West Squantam Street, Quincy, MA 02171
  • Springfield VA Clinic: 25 Bond Street, Springfield, MA 01104
  • Worcester VA Clinic: 403 Belmont Street, 1st Floor, Worcester, MA 01604
  • Plantation Street VA Clinic: 377 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605

Massachusetts is also served by Vet Centers in Boston, Brockton, Cape Cod (Hyannis), Lowell, New Bedford (Fairhaven), Springfield, and Worcester that offer readjustment counseling, family counseling, and outreach for combat veterans and survivors in a non-medical setting. Find a Vet Center near you.

Massachusetts Veterans Homes

Massachusetts operates two state-run Massachusetts Veterans Homes that provide skilled nursing, long-term care, rehabilitation, and outpatient services to eligible Commonwealth veterans:

  • Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea: 91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150 | Phone: 617-884-5660
  • Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke: 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 | Phone: 413-552-4700

Veterans rated 70% to 100% may receive nursing care at no out-of-pocket cost through the VA Higher Per Diem Program, which pays the daily rate at qualifying state veterans homes.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Massachusetts operates two state veterans cemeteries in Agawam and Winchendon and is served by the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Eligible veterans receive free burial including the gravesite, opening and closing, government headstone or marker, and perpetual care.

Massachusetts State Veterans Cemeteries

The Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemeteries system provides full-cost burial services to eligible veterans; surviving spouses and eligible dependents pay a small burial fee. Both cemeteries are open to new burials.

  • Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Agawam: 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001 | Phone: 413-821-9500
  • Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Winchendon: 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA 01475 | Phone: 978-297-9501

National Cemetery Resources

Massachusetts veterans and eligible family members may also be buried in any open VA national cemetery. The Massachusetts National Cemetery at Connery Avenue, Bourne, MA 02532 (508-563-7113) is the only national cemetery in the state currently open to new burials.

Fort Devens Post Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot are closed to new gravesites but still accept subsequent interments. Use the VA Nationwide Gravesite Locator to confirm burial in an existing veterans cemetery.

Survivor Benefits

Under Clauses 22D and 22F of the property tax exemption framework, unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans continue to receive the applicable property tax exemption as long as they own and occupy the homestead.

Surviving spouses and dependents of Massachusetts veterans may also be eligible for the continuation of the Massachusetts Veterans Annuity, Survivors’ Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and other survivor benefits.

Federal Benefits Available to Massachusetts Veterans

In addition to Massachusetts state-specific benefits, disabled veterans also receive a wide range of federal VA disability benefits, including:

  • Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here)
  • Medical care, including mental health services and counseling
  • Special compensation, Aid & Attendance and other financial benefits
  • Home loans and housing benefits
  • Vocational rehabilitation and employment services
  • Survivor benefits
  • Federal hiring preference

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits disabled veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc.

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Massachusetts veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including:

  • Full monthly VA compensation
  • Full VA healthcare coverage
  • Dental care
  • Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Massachusetts veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled Massachusetts veterans may also qualify for several benefits:

  • Continued property tax exemption under Clauses 22D and 22F
  • Continuation of the Massachusetts Veterans Annuity
  • CHAMPVA healthcare
  • Chapter 35 education benefits
  • DIC eligibility
  • Access to Massachusetts state resources

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at military installations and later developed serious illnesses may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Several Massachusetts bases have documented histories of contamination with PFAS (from firefighting foam), TCE and other industrial solvents, heavy metals, and herbicide residues.

Massachusetts Military Bases with Known Toxins

If you served at a base in a different state, you can check its history of toxic contamination and potential health effects using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map.

How to Claim or Increase VA Disability Benefits

Getting through the VA disability claims process can be challenging, but several local and national resources are available to help. These include local veterans organizations, state-sponsored VA services, and experienced VA-accredited attorneys.

Free Guide to Getting VA Disability

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. And it’s yours free of charge. We also offer a free ebook for easy, immediate access.

Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Massachusetts veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation – even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction!