Financial assistance is available for eligible Massachusetts residents who have served in the military and their dependents. Under Chapter 115 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Commonwealth, along with town and city governments, provides financial assistance for qualifying low-income veterans for food, shelter, clothing, housing supplies, and medical care. Benefits may be one-time or ongoing, based on need.


The Massachusetts Veterans Benefit Calculator is fast and easy to use.

  • Visit MassVetBen.org
  • Answer a series of questions to find out if you might be eligible
  • Get a list of the documents you need to apply for benefits, and the location of the local Veterans Service Officer who can assist with your application

These benefits also apply to eligible dependents of veterans after the veterans have died. These benefits can range from a few hundred dollars per month to $1,000 per month. The benefits are administered by the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and local municipalities’ Veterans’ Service Offices (VSO).

Veterans and their dependents can visit the online calculator, answer simple questions, and receive an immediate estimate of their potential eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits. If they are eligible, users can  download a form with their answers to the tool’s screening questions and connect with their local VSO. In partnership with the state, the VSO will assist the veteran or dependent with their official application for Chapter 115 benefits and manage the process of accessing benefits should the applicant meet eligibility requirements.

“No veteran or survivor in Massachusetts should be struggling to avoid homelessness, to keep the lights on, or to feed their family, and this financial assistance can make all the difference.”

Betsy Gwin, Associate Director of the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School

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