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Military/Veterans

US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) www.va.gov

  • Eligibility: must have veteran status and qualifying discharge. Veteran status: active military, naval, or air service. Qualifying discharge: characterized as "other than dishonorable"*. All veterans are encouraged to apply for benefits, even if they appear ineligible.
  • There are two main divisions in the VA- the Veterans Benefit Administration and the Veterans Health Administration.

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  • Veterans Benefits Administration
    • Service-connected compensation program- monetary payment for a disability caused or aggravated by military service. This is not a needs-based program, so you can be found eligible regardless of income. The amount of your award is based on percentage of disability as determined by a medical professional. To apply, fill out the application and send to Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444 or fax to 844-531-7818. While you can also apply for benefits online at ebenefits.va.gov, advocates do not recommend this option. Your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can also assist with your application.

    • Non-service connected pension- monthly payment for wartime veterans who are over 65 or totally and permanently disabled. Requires veteran status and qualifying discharge. This program is needs-based and requires an annual income verification. In 2019, income must be below $1,127/month for an individual, but most needs-based programs (SSI, Ch.115, TAFDC) do not count as income. The 2019 asset limit is $127,061. To apply, fill out the application and send to Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, Attn: Philadelphia Pension Center, PO Box 5206, Janesville WI 53547-5206 or fax to 844-655-1604. While you can also apply for benefits online at  ebenefits.va.gov, advocates do not recommend this option. Your local Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can also assist with your application.
      • Aid & Attendance Benefit- Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person may be eligible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility for Pension.
        • Aid & Attendance Medical Eligibility:
          • You require the aid of another person in order to perform personal functions required in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment OR
          • You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment OR
          • You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity OR
          • Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less
        • New ASSET rules became effective 10/18/18 (prior to this date there was no defined asset limit)
          • Assets limit: $123,600 in 2018. This is the same as a Medicaid community spouse's allowance, but unlike for MassHealth, this is maximum combined assets (for applicant and spouse). This figure will be indexed to inflation.
          • House and up to a two-acre lot are not countable- even if applicant is living in a nursing home.
          • Medical expense deduction- may include payments to assisted living facilities.
          • Look-Back Period - 3 year look-back. Penalty period can be as long as 5 years. Exceptions include transfers to a trust for a child who is unable to "self-support." Determining penalty period:
            • VA will determine a penalty period in months by dividing the amount transferred that would have put the applicant over the net worth limit by the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for a veteran with one dependent in need of aid and attendance. For example, assume the net worth limit is $123,600 and an applicant has a net worth of $115,000. The applicant transferred $30,000 to a friend during the look-back period. If the applicant had not transferred the $30,000, his net worth would have been $145,000, which exceeds the net worth limit by $21,400. The penalty period will be calculated based on $21,400, the amount the applicant transferred that put his assets over the net worth limit (145,000-123,600).
            • NOTE: The VA will disregard asset transfers made 10/18/18, the date the current rules became effective.
          • This section adapted in part from https://www.elderlawanswers.com/its-now-harder-for-veterans-to-qualify-for-long-term-care-benefits-16872, retrieved 10/3/18
        • Income must be less than the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR)- Aid and Attendance MAPR with no dependent is $22,577 annually in 2019 ($1,881 monthly). Welfare benefits and SSI are not counted as income.
          • Income Deductions- these expenses, when subtracted from income, may make one eligible who otherwise would be over-income and/or may increase one's benefit amount (as income is subtracted from MAPR to determine the benefit).
            • Unreimbursed recurring medical expenses can be deducted from income- such as for assisted living (full cost- including room & board), recurring scripts, insurance premiums, home care, etc. (Must be recurring costs.)
            •  Family members (other than a spouse) can be paid caregivers and this payment may be deducted from income. A caregiver contract should be in place before applying for Aid & Attendance.
        • Benefits- in simplified terms, the pension benefit is calculated by subtracting countable income (see above for deductions) from the MAPR. Or put another way, the pension benefit makes up the difference between countable income and the maximum pension rate (roughly).
        • Limitations-  Commonly takes 1 year to 18 months to process.
      • Housebound benefit- an increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount when you are substantially confined to your immediate premises because of permanent disability.
      • To apply for Aid & Attendance or housebound benefit- contact the local VA Regional Benefit Office. The Massachusetts Regional Benefit office is in Boston in the JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St., 800-827-1000.

    Note: You cannot receive pension and compensation at the same time. VA will automatically pay the higher amount unless you elect otherwise.

      • Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)- for surviving spouses and dependent parents of:
        • Veterans who die during service
        • Veterans whose death is a result of service-connected disability
        • Veterans who die of other causes but were 100% service-connected disabled for a specific period of time
        • Basic benefit: $1,319/month, subject to increase if there are dependent children in household
      • Non-Service Connected Death Pension- for spouses of veterans whose death is not service connected. The veteran must have been eligible for pension and surviving spouse must have a financial need.
      • You can apply for DIC and death pension by completing this application and sending it to Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, Attn: Philadelphia Pension Center, PO Box 5206, Janesville WI 53547-5206. While you can also apply for benefits online at ebenefits.va.gov, advocates do not recommend this option.

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      • GI Bill- education benefit for qualifying veterans. It covers:
        • All in-state tuition and fees for public schools
        • If attending a private school or as an out-of-state student, receive a tuition benefit of up to $24,476.79 per year as of August 2018
        • Housing allowance (amount varies based on zip code)
        • Allowance for books and supplies
        • Can include relocation benefit for veterans from rural communities
        • For more information, see va.gov

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      • Burial Benefits- benefits include:
        • Burial plot in federal or state veteran cemetery
        • Burial allowance for private cemetery- amounts vary based on dates of service and circumstances of death
        • Military Funeral Honors at internment of remains
        • Headstone or grave marker medallion
        • Presidential Memorial Certificate
        • Apply using this application or call 1-800-535-1117. Veteran can also apply prior to death by using the Pre-Need Eligibility Determination Request.

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      Veterans Health Administration- includes VA hospitals, Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers
      • Not every veteran is automatically eligible for VA healthcare.
      • Eligibility- must meet minimum service requirements:
        • If enlisted after 9/7/1980, or entered active duty after 10/16/1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty
      • Minimum requirements may not be so strict for veterans who were discharged:
        • for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
        • for a hardship or "early out" or
        • for those who served prior to September 7, 1980
      • Eligibility is complicated and there are lots of exceptions so all veterans are encouraged to apply.
      • To enroll, apply in person at your local VA Health Center, online at va.gov, call 1-877-222-VETS (8387), or download VA Form 10-10EZ and mail to your local VA Medical Center.
      • Costs of care vary depending on veteran's category and the type of care in question. Services provided for veterans can include:
        • Outpatient care
        • Inpatient care
        • Prescription drugs
        • Emergency care
        • Medical equipment
        • Home health services
        • Nursing home
        • Hospice care
      • You can receive VA hospital and outpatient care for any ailment, service connected or not if you are enrolled in the VA healthcare system, but you may have to pay a copayment. 
      • Advocates encourage that eligible veterans apply for Medicaid to cover care at non-VA facilities. A new policy, set to begin in June 2019, will allow veterans who can prove they must drive for at least 30 minutes to a VA facility to seek primary care and mental health services outside the department’s system. In other circumstances, VA can pay for non-VA care, but you must fill out a Claim for Payment of Cost of Unauthorized Medical Services- VA Form 10-583 and these claims are rarely successful.
      • Veterans in "acute suicidal crisis" can go to any hospital
        • As of Jan. 17, 2023 according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, any eligible veteran, whether enrolled in the VA healthcare system or not, that is in an “acute suicidal crisis” can go to a VA or non-VA facility and receive up to a month of inpatient care or three months of outpatient care without cost.
        • Previously veterans needed to go to a VA facility in order to receive free or low cost care for mental health emergencies. For some veterans, that could mean travelling dozens or hundreds of miles from home for care while experiencing an emergency.
        • Veterans who were the victims of sexual assault while in the service are covered regardless of service time or conditions.
        • Eligible veterans must have been discharged or released from active duty after more than 24 months of active service under conditions other than dishonorable.
        • Reserve and National Guard veterans who served more than 100 days “under a combat exclusion or in support of a contingency operation either directly or by operating an unmanned aerial vehicle from another location who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable” would also qualify.

           
    • VA in the News/Additional Resources

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  • Massachusetts Department of Veteran's Services www.mass.gov/veterans
    • Find a local Veteran's Services Officer (VSO). Every town or district in MA has a VSO. VSOs primarily help access state veteran's benefits (see below), but they should also help you apply and appeal for VA compensation and pension and connect you with other services.

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  • The Chapter 115 Program- just for MA residents. MA is the only state with such a program.
    • Eligibility
      • Veteran Status:
        • last discharge "under honorable conditions" but not "dishonorable discharge"
          • LGBTQ and HIV+ veterans who were dishonorably discharged "due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status" (such as under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") may now qualify (provision in state FY2024 budget) FAQs
        • service in Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or full-time National Guard duty
        • length of service- at least 90 days of active service with at least one day of which was in designated "war time" OR at least 180 days of active service
      • Massachusetts residency: permanent residency not required, just need to show some proof that veteran is present within MA.
      • Income limits: at or below 200% FPL (in 2019, a monthly income of $2,023 for an individual or $2,743 for a couple). The veteran's countable income is then subtracted by a calculated monthly budget to determine the total monthly benefit amount. If the countable monthly income is greater than the applicable monthly budget, the veteran may still be eligible for a reimbursement of medical expenses. Your VSO can assist with calculations.
      • Asset limits: $5,000/individual, $9,800/couple- only liquid assets are counted (home and car are not counted)
      • "Not otherwise disqualified": can be disqualified for neglecting to support dependents, for continuing to be voluntarily unemployed, for continuous "unwholesome habits", etc. This section is up to the discretion of the VSO and the Dept. of Veterans' Services.
    • Mass Vet Benefit Calculator
    • To apply: you must apply in person with your VSO. Your VSO then sends your application to the Dept. of Veterans' Services and they will process it within 10 days. All veterans are encouraged to apply for benefits, even if they appear ineligible.
    • For more info, see Chapter 115 Benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services: a self-help guide which describes the benefits (from the Veterans Legal Services Legal Center, Harvard Law School).
    • Veterans may qualify for legal help, depending on where they live, from Veterans Legal Services. 
  • For Assistance Accessing Federal and State Benefits:

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    • Mass. Vets Advisor - Online guide for benefits and programs for Veterans and their family members. The data provides search results from Massachusetts and Federal resources, listing only the benefits and services the Veteran is qualified for, and, where available, an “action plan” to apply for the benefit. Users may print, email, save, or forward the action plan to their Veterans Services Officer. A collaboration between the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services, the Red Sox Foundation and the Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program.

       
    • Statewide Advocacy for Veterans' Empowerment (SAVE) - Advocates for veterans who are not able to obtain the benefits they have earned due to institutional or personal barriers. They act as a liaison between veterans and their families and the various agencies within the federal and state governments. The program's primary mission is prevention of suicide and mental health distress through the identification of issues facing veterans when they return from service and providing them with access to benefits and services that may address these issues and result in positive transitions back to civilian life.

     

Specific Programs and News

  • Financial Programs


     
    • Expedited Social Security Disability for Certain Veterans - Social Security provides expedited processing of disability benefit applications for wounded warriors and veterans with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation rating of 100% Permanent & Total. See newsletter article for more information- MGH Community News, March 2016.


  • Supportive Resources

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    • MGH Home Base Program - for veterans with TBI, PTSD, co-occurring substance use disorder, military sexual trauma and more.
    • Veteran's Independence Plus Program (VIP) - supports veterans of any age that are at-risk of nursing home placement and their family caregivers by providing home and community based services. Eligible veterans receive a comprehensive assessment, develop a service plan, and can purchase services that best meet their needs.
      • Eligibility
        • Receiving primary care at Bedford or Boston Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC)
        • Has a VA Primary Care Team
        • Meets the eligibility criteria for home and community based services as determined by the VA
        • Receives a referral to the VIP Program from the VA Medical Center

    • New England Center and Home for Veterans serves homeless and at-risk of homelessness veterans. NECHV provides services to any veteran regardless of branch, length of service, or other circumstance. The center is available 24/7 with emergency shelter on a temporary basis. Veterans seeking services can call 617-371-1800. NECHV staff will coordinate veteran intake into programs. Programs include assistance in education, clinical support, employment, and housing.
  • Legal/Laws
     
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    • New State “VALOR Act” Increases Veteran’s Services - MGH Community News, June 2012. Among other provisions, the VALOR Act:
      • Seeks to ease the costs of housing, utilities and medical services for families of service members killed in action.
      • Expands supports from the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund to Gold Star Families. The relief fund defrays the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical service and other expenses borne by Massachusetts National Guard and reserve service members and their families.

       
    • "BRAVE Act" to Strengthen Services and Supports for MA Veterans- MGH Community News, September 2018. Some highlights include:
      • Increases the burial expense paid by the Commonwealth from $2,000 to $4,000 for indigent veterans
      • Changes the requirement for veterans to receive property tax exemptions from residing in the Commonwealth for five years down to two years.  
      • Requires the Department of Veterans’ Services to maintain and publish a list of law firms and organizations that provide pro bono legal representation for veterans
      • Grants paid military leave for those called to duty by the armed forces for up to 40 days for training and operation purposes.
      • See the Act for more infomation.
       

For Professionals

  • Clinical Issues and working with this population- see Of Clinical Interest- Veterans

    • News