Beyond your federal VA disability compensation, Massachusetts offers its own benefits for veterans — property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home, financial. Here's what Massachusetts veterans can claim, who qualifies, and how to apply.
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Base disabled-veteran real estate tax exemption for veterans (non-dishonorable discharge, MA residency) with a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 10% as of July 1 of the tax year. Also covers Purple Heart recipients and certain surviving spouses/parents. Property must be owned and occupied as the domicile; applied through the local board of assessors.
Enhanced exemption for veterans with permanent loss of use of one hand, one foot, or one eye, or who received the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross, all due to war service.
Exemption for veterans with permanent loss of use of both feet, both hands, or one foot and one hand, or service-connected blindness in both eyes (per the statute's specified joints).
Exemption for veterans with permanent and total service-connected disability who received VA assistance to acquire specially adapted housing.
Full real estate tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a service member who died from a service-connected injury/illness or is missing in action and presumed dead due to combat. Full exemption while the spouse owns and occupies the domicile and does not remarry.
Exemption for veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA due to service-connected disability and incapable of working. Applied through the local board of assessors.
Full real estate tax exemption for veterans who are paraplegic, or who have a 100% service-connected disability rating for blindness. Surviving spouse may retain the exemption.
Massachusetts fully excludes noncontributory U.S. uniformed-services pension and survivor-benefit income from state income tax, regardless of age or income. Combat-zone pay excluded federally is also excluded by MA.
VA disability compensation and pension payments are not taxable income in Massachusetts. This follows from federal law (38 U.S.C. 5301), which bars states from taxing VA disability benefits.
Veterans and active-duty service members who are permanent legal MA residents and not in default on federal student loans may receive a full or partial tuition waiver, on a space-available basis, for any state-supported undergraduate course/certificate program at MA public colleges and universities. National Guard members get a waiver of BOTH tuition and mandatory fees. Applied through each campus's Veterans Certifying Official.
Massachusetts uses absolute veterans preference for open competitive civil service exams: a qualifying veteran who scores 70 or above is placed at the head of the eligible list (disabled veterans rank ahead of other veterans). Order: Disabled Veterans, then Veterans, then non-remarried spouses/single parents of those KIA or who died of a wartime service-connected disability. On promotional exams, veterans receive 2 points added to a passing score. Governed by M.G.L. c. 31 (esp. sec. 26). Note: residency preference still applies first on police/firefighter lists.
Disabled veterans pay no motor vehicle excise tax on one passenger vehicle or pickup owned by the veteran for non-commercial use. Under the HERO Act expansion, any MA resident qualifying as a disabled veteran is eligible; the veteran presents a VA letter to the city/town and applies to the local board of assessors. DV plates are not required for the excise exemption (must be approved for them).
Disabled veterans pay no sales tax on one passenger vehicle/pickup owned for non-commercial use, but MUST obtain Disabled Veteran (DV) plates to get the sales-tax exemption. DV plates require a combined service-connected rating of at least 60% for qualifying conditions. Disabled veterans are also exempt from the vehicle registration fee.
No fee is charged for a sporting, hunting, or fishing license issued to a paraplegic person (total paralysis of the lower half of the body). Applicant must be a U.S. citizen and MA resident for the six consecutive months before applying. First-time applicants submit an application plus a physician's letter to MassWildlife (Division of Fisheries & Wildlife). This is a disability-based waiver, not a veteran-specific one, but commonly used by paraplegic veterans.
Two state veterans homes provide long-term nursing and care. To be eligible you must be a MA resident at time of application, be medically/behaviorally suitable for long-term nursing care, and meet the MA definition of veteran: generally 90 consecutive days of active service (one during wartime) with an honorable discharge (Holyoke may accept 180 days of regular active service in certain cases). DD-214 required. Admission based on medical need and bed availability.
State-funded, needs-based financial and medical assistance program for low-income MA veterans and their dependents/survivors, administered by local Veterans' Service Officers under M.G.L. c. 115. Benefits cover ordinary living expenses and medical costs based on income/asset limits and number of dependents. Amounts vary by household; not a fixed sum.
Annual annuity for veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled (or are blind, paraplegic, or double amputees from service), and for Gold Star parents and unremarried spouses of deceased veterans, living in MA. The HERO Act raised the annuity from $2,000 to $2,500 per year (first increase in 17 years); beginning August 2025 it is paid as a single annual payment of $2,500. Apply via the Executive Office of Veterans Services (VetsAnnuity@Mass.Gov).
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Massachusetts offers veteran benefits across property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home, financial. Highlights include Clause 22 Veteran Exemption (10% disability), Clause 22A (loss of limb / service-connected blindness), Clause 22B (loss of two limbs). Eligibility varies — some benefits require a VA disability rating, 100% P&T status, or combat service.
Base disabled-veteran real estate tax exemption for veterans (non-dishonorable discharge, MA residency) with a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 10% as of July 1 of the tax year. Also covers Purple Heart recipients and certain surviving spouses/parents. Property must be owned and oc
Massachusetts fully excludes noncontributory U.S. uniformed-services pension and survivor-benefit income from state income tax, regardless of age or income. Combat-zone pay excluded federally is also excluded by MA.
Many state benefits are tied to your VA disability rating — the higher your rating, the more you may qualify for. Use the free VA Ready calculator to confirm your combined rating, then check which state benefits you've earned.