State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers property tax relief, an exemption for military retirement pay, and tuition programs for veterans and military families. It also provides needs-based financial assistance and an annual annuity for qualifying disabled veterans and survivors.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Massachusetts

Executive Office of Veterans Services

Provides programs, benefits, and advocacy for Massachusetts veterans with federal and local partners.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 617-210-5480

Free help with VA claims

Start with your city or town Veteran Service Officer for benefits guidance and referrals. For a VA claim, use a VA-accredited VSO representative. VA-recognized VSOs provide claims services free of charge.

Find a local office (opens in a new tab)

Not sure what applies to you?

Answer seven questions and the Benefits Finder builds a checklist of federal and state benefits, deadlines and free help.

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Property tax relief

Disabled veteran property tax exemption, Clause 22

Who qualifies
Qualifying Massachusetts veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%. The last discharge must be other than dishonorable. The property must be their domicile. The usual residency requirement is six months in Massachusetts before service or two consecutive years before applying.
What you get
The statutory base relief is the greater tax saving from a $2,000 assessed-value exemption or a $400 tax reduction. Locally adopted increases may apply.
How to apply
Apply in writing to the local assessors by April 1 for the tax year, or within three months after the assessment bill or notice was sent, whichever is later.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, cl. 22, 22I and 22J; § 59

Sources (2)

100% disabled veteran property tax exemption, Clause 22E

Who qualifies
Massachusetts veterans and their spouses with a VA service-connected disability rating of 100%, occupying the property as their domicile. The veteran must have lived in Massachusetts for six months before entering service or for two consecutive years before applying. A qualifying surviving spouse may continue the exemption while owning and occupying the domicile.
What you get
The statutory base relief is the greater tax saving from a $6,000 taxable-value exemption or a $1,000 tax reduction. A larger-than-single-family property receives proportional relief for the qualifying home portion.
How to apply
Apply to the local assessors by April 1 for the tax year, or within three months after the assessment bill or notice was sent, whichever is later.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, cl. 22E; § 59

Sources (2)

Surviving spouse property tax exemption, Clause 22D

Who qualifies
Surviving spouses of qualifying service members or veterans whose documented active-duty injury or illness caused their death, or who are missing in action with a presumptive finding of death from active-duty service. The home must be the spouse’s domicile. The spouse must have lived in Massachusetts for the preceding two consecutive years, or the service member for six months before entering service.
What you get
Exempts the full taxable value of the qualifying home.
How to apply
Apply to the local assessors by April 1 for the tax year, or within three months after the assessment bill or notice was sent, whichever is later.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, cl. 22D; § 59

Sources (2)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military retirement pay exclusion

Who qualifies
Recipients of U.S. uniformed-services retirement pay. Qualifying federal military survivor benefits are also excluded.
What you get
Massachusetts excludes military retirement pay from state gross income, whether or not the retiree contributed to the retirement system.
How to apply
Exclude qualifying payments from Massachusetts gross income when preparing the state return.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 62, § 2(a)(2)(E)

Sources (2)

Education and tuition

Categorical Tuition Waiver for veterans

Who qualifies
Veterans qualifying under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(43), with the additional Operation Restore Hope category stated in the waiver rules. The usual student pathway requires eligible citizenship or immigration status and one year of physical Massachusetts residence with intent to remain, or another BHE-approved eligibility status. Applicants must meet loan and aid-refund rules, complete FAFSA or MASFA as applicable, enroll for at least three undergraduate credits per semester, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
What you get
Full or partial tuition waivers for eligible public-college undergraduate degree or certificate courses, subject to available space and institutional policy. Campus fees are not included automatically.
How to apply
Present documentation of categorical eligibility to the appropriate college officials.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 15A, § 19; BHE 27-05

Sources (3)

Massachusetts Public Service Grant, military children

Who qualifies
Children of veterans whose service was credited to Massachusetts and who were killed in action or died from that service. A separate pathway covers children of qualifying Southeast Asia POW/MIA service members. Students must meet the program’s citizenship and Massachusetts residency rules or approved alternative status, complete FAFSA or MASFA annually, satisfy financial-aid verification, have no defaulted federal or state student loan or unpaid state-aid refund, have no prior bachelor’s degree, enroll full time for at least 12 credits or equivalent, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
What you get
For 2026 to 2027, covers full-time annual tuition and mandatory fees at Massachusetts public colleges. At eligible Massachusetts independent colleges, the award equals UMass Amherst’s full-time annual tuition charge. Bachelor’s awards are limited to four years or eight full-time semesters; associate awards to two years or four full-time semesters.
How to apply
Submit the Public Service Grant application and required supporting documents to OSFA. The first-time deadline for the published 2026 to 2027 cycle is May 1, 2027. Renew annually.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 15A, § 16; BHE 27-05

Sources (1)

Massachusetts National Guard tuition and fee waiver

Who qualifies
Active Massachusetts Army or Air National Guard members in good standing for the entire covered semester, enrolled in an eligible state institution. Students must remain in good academic standing.
What you get
Waives covered tuition and fees. Assistance is limited to 130 semester hours, and course enrollment depends on available seats.
How to apply
Request a Certificate of Eligibility, TAGMA Form 621-3, from the Massachusetts National Guard Education Office every 30 credits.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 33, § 137; c. 15A, § 19

Sources (3)

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans’ civil service preference

Who qualifies
Veterans and disabled veterans meeting the Massachusetts civil service definition who pass the applicable original-appointment examination. An unremarried spouse or single parent of a veteran killed in action or dying from a wartime service-connected disability may also qualify.
What you get
Eligible lists give disabled veterans priority, followed by other veterans, then qualifying survivors, ahead of other applicants. This preference does not guarantee appointment.
How to apply
Update your veteran status through the Civil Service Account Application linked on the state’s instructions page.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 31, § 26

Sources (2)

Licenses, plates and parks

Veteran indicator on a driver’s license or ID

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veterans.
What you get
Adds the word Veteran to a Massachusetts driver’s license or ID card.
How to apply
Present sufficient proof of qualifying veteran status to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 90, § 8

Sources (2)

Emergency financial help

Chapter 115 Veteran Financial Assistance

Who qualifies
Massachusetts veterans or eligible dependents who meet Chapter 115 service and financial-need rules. Generally, at least one day of Massachusetts residence is required before application. EOVS and the local VSO determine eligibility.
What you get
Needs-based help with daily living expenses, medical costs, housing, and other necessities. It may supplement income that is insufficient for support.
How to apply
Contact your community’s Veteran Service Officer to apply and provide the requested proof of eligibility.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 115; 108 CMR

Sources (3)

State veterans homes

Other state benefits

Veteran and survivor annuity

Who qualifies
Qualifying Massachusetts disabled veterans and qualifying parents or surviving spouses under chapter 115, section 6B. The statute includes veterans rated 100% disabled for qualifying service-connected causes and parents or spouses of members whose death resulted from injury or disease during active wartime, insurrection, or combat service. Eligible surviving spouses can retain the benefit after remarriage.
What you get
Pays $2,500 annually in one payment on August 1.
How to apply
Provide evidence of qualifying service and disability to EOVS using the application materials on its annuity page. The current announced deadline for new applications and updates is June 30, 2027, with approval required by that date. Existing recipients do not need to reapply.

Official page (opens in a new tab) M.G.L. c. 115, §§ 6B and 6C; 2025 Acts c. 9, § 44

Sources (4)

Before you apply

This page summarizes state law and agency guidance as checked on October 3, 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Eligibility depends on your records, and laws change, so confirm the details on the official page linked with each benefit, or ask a free accredited representative. This page covers the main state programs. Your county veterans service officer can tell you about smaller or local benefits.

Federal VA benefits apply in every state. See the Veteran Resource Directory and the Benefits Finder.