Veterans Services

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION – 2025

LOCAL TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND/OR WIDOWS AND SPOUSES

“HERO Act: An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Service members and Veterans”

2025 VETERAN BENEFITS GUIDE

VA expands access to GI Bill benefits for Veterans who served multiple periods of service

Persian Gulf War Veterans’ Bonus | Mass.gov – (Massachusetts wants to help its veterans of the Gulf War. If you lived in Massachusetts before entering the military, served honorably, and within August 2, 1990 to April 10, 1991 you may be eligible for the Persian Gulf War Bonus)

 Two important points of information relative to military ID cards…retired or otherwise.

1.  If you are retired or the dependent of a retiree and still carrying a ‘bluish’ colored ID card you MUST get a new ID as yours will no longer be valid in January 2026. It doesn’t matter whether it says  “Indef” on the expiration date or not. You must get a new ID by the end of the year. We suggest you not wait until later in the year as the crush of procrastinators will no doubt be an issue. Should you have any questions, call the Hanscom AFB MA DEERS Office (Pass & ID) at: 1-781-225-1320 and/or 1-781-225-1324.

2.  The Hanscom Pass & ID Office (Bldg 1305) will soon be making changes in how it handles “walk-ins” and “appointments.”  Previously the DEERs office only took ‘walk-ins,’ but the following will now be SOP for those requiring new ID cards effective Tuesday, 25 March 2025:

                  0800-1200 hrs.           BY APPOINTMENT ONLY     

                  1200-1500 hrs.           WALK-INS

Finally, you will find attached the latest official USID (United Services ID) information regarding issuance of new ID cards across the country. It may or may not be useful to you personally depending on your situation and how computer savvy you are.

VETS prepares America’s veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses for meaningful careers.

Enroll in VA Health Care Apply online: VA.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction Apply over the phone: Call VA toll-free at 1-800-MyVA411 (1-800-698-2411), Option 2. Apply in-person: Visit your nearest VA medical center (https://www.VA.gov/find-locations).

Submit a VA disability compensation $$$ claim

• Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment with a VA benefits specialist.
• Submit your VA disability claim online.
• Get help from a VA accredited representative or Veteran Service Organization.

With everyone you know who may benefit, including Veterans, caregivers, service members and survivors.

We’re making millions of Veterans eligible for VA health care under the PACT Act. Here’s what YOU need to know.

• If you served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, or Afghanistan, you can enroll.
• If you deployed to any combat zone after 9/11, you can enroll.
• If you deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, you can enroll.
• And even if you never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or serving on active duty here at home—by working with chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, x-rays, and more—you can enroll, too.

Bottom line: all Veterans who meet the minimum service requirements and were exposed to toxins and other hazards—at home or abroad—are eligible to enroll in VA care.

VA provides the best and most affordable health care for Veterans in America – and this is your chance to apply. Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care are proven to have better health outcomes than those who get their care elsewhere. And copays can be as low as $0 for prescriptions, urgent care, outpatient care, and more.  

Choosing VA means getting everything you need in one spot. Come see why 90% of patients said they trust VA for their health care. Even if you don’t need this care today, you may need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. And once you’re in, you have access for life.

The HERO Act

Fact Sheet Healey-Driscoll Administration

JULY 2024

Creates flexibility for municipalities to double property tax exemptions for veterans or to tie the amount to inflation.

Protects access to the sales tax exemption for disabled veterans who wish to utilize the Purple Heart specialty license plate.

Requires EOVS and DOR to conduct a study into instituting a sliding scale property tax exemption for veterans, with findings to be submitted to the House and Senate.

Burial at Sea: A Time-Honored Tradition

Most people think a burial at sea is something that happens only in the movies, but it’s an option that is still widely used today. For many sailors and Marines, there is no more honored choice for their mortal remains than burial at sea. Since the burial is from an active military ship, family members are not able to attend the ceremony in person. However, some family members choose to observe the ceremony from a civilian ship that is positioned nearby. For families who want to attend the service, civilian organizations offer burial at sea from a civilian vessel.

Who Is Eligible

While anyone can have their remains buried at sea, burial at sea from a U.S. military vessel is limited to:

1. Active-duty military
2. Retirees and veterans who were honorably discharged
3. Civilian personnel of the Military Sealift Command
4. Dependents of active-duty members, retirees and veterans

Following the ceremony, the commanding officer of the ship conducting the burial at sea will send the family a personal letter describing the exact date and time of the ceremony, the burial flag, pictures or video of the ceremony, and a chart showing the longitude and latitude where the service was performed.

The family may provide a burial flag, which will be flown at half-mast on the ship during the committal service, and then returned to them. If they don’t provide a flag, the Navy will provide one but won’t return it to the family after the ceremony.

Application Process

After the eligible person dies, the next-of-kin or other authorized individual (relative, clergy, funeral director, etc.) should contact the Navy and Marine Corps Mortuary Affairs office at 833-330-6622 to request a packet and for additional information.

The request must include:

• A photocopy of the death certificate
• The burial transit permit or the cremation certificate
• A copy of the DD Form 214, discharge certificate, or retirement order

For more information see the Navy website or call 833-330-6622

https://form.jotform.com/240923157535053

Gulf War Apnea and Insomnia Relief (GW AIR) Study

‘Millions’ of Veterans Exposed to Environmental Hazards Will Be Eligible for VA Health Care on March 5

Reflections of the Black Military Experience: A Panel Discussion on the Past, Present, and Future of Black Americans in the Military

VA Plans to Expand Agent Orange Disability Benefits to Cover Exposure in a Dozen New States

Veterans Census Card and Exemption Forms

Please take a moment to register with us. We have provided the Census Card to help make the process easier. You may download our Veterans Census Card, print it out and mail it to us at the Town Hall.

A Veterans Exemption Form is also available for download. Please visit the Assessor’s page for more information on this Exemption.