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Federal Benefits

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VSOs work with liaisons between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services to assist Massachusetts veterans, dependents, and survivors in obtaining federal compensation, pension, dependents and survivor's benefits, housing assistance and home loans, educational & training benefits, employment, VA Health Care, and Veterans ID Card.

Compensation: You may be able to get disability compensation if you have a current illness or injury (known as a condition) that affects your body or mind and you meet certain requirements. There are three types of VA compensation: Disability; Dependency and Indemnity (DIC); and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).

  • Disability Compensation - VA disability compensation (pay) offers a monthly tax-free payment to Veterans who got sick or injured while serving in the military and to Veterans whose service made an existing condition worse. You may qualify for VA disability benefits for physical conditions (like a chronic illness or injury) and mental health conditions (like PTSD) that developed before, during, or after service. Download a Disability Compensation flyer [PDF]
  • Surviving Spouse and Dependents - If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a Service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get a tax-free monetary benefit called Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.
  • Special Monthly Compensation - SMC is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents. For Veterans, SMC is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or a specific disability, such as loss of use of one hand or leg. For spouses and surviving spouses, this benefit is commonly referred to as Aid and Attendance and is paid based on the need of aid and attendance by another person.

Pension: VA pension benefits provide tax-free monthly payments to wartime Veterans with limited or no income who meet certain age or disability requirements. Survivors of wartime Veterans may also qualify.

Benefits for Spouses, Dependents, Survivors, and Family Caregivers: As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or Service member, you may qualify for certain benefits, like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training. As the survivor of a Veteran or Service member, you may qualify for added benefits, including help with burial costs and survivor compensation. If you’re caring for a Veteran with disabilities, you may also qualify for support to help you better care for the Veteran - and for yourself.

Housing Assistance and Home Loans: VA housing assistance can help Veterans, Service members, and their surviving spouses to buy a home or refinance a loan. We also offer benefits and services to help you build, improve, or keep your current home. This includes grants for Veterans with service-connected disabilities who need to adapt their home to live as independently as possible.

Education and Training Benefits: VA education benefits help Veterans, Service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling.

Careers and Employment: We can support you in all stages of your job search - from returning to work with a service-connected disability, to getting more training for new job opportunities, to starting or growing your own business. And we can connect you with Department of Labor resources for more career advice, help building your resume, and access to employers who want to hire Veterans and military spouses.

VA Health Care: With VA health care, you’re covered for regular checkups with your primary care provider and appointments with specialists. You can access health care services like home health and geriatric (elder) care, and you can get medical equipment, prosthetics, and prescriptions. 

If you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits.

Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well. Reserves or National Guard members with active duty for training purposes only do not meet the basic eligibility requirement.

PDF download You can download this flyer with the basic information on eligibility, enrollment, cost of health care and prescriptions, community care, and priority groups.

The very first step in obtaining access to your VA Health Benefits is to apply by visiting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. If you meet the basic eligibility requirements outlined above, VA encourages you to apply today by completing VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits online.

PDF download MISSION Act: The MISSION Act strengthens VA’s ability to deliver trusted, easy to access, high quality care at VA facilities, virtually through telehealth, and in your community. That means you get the care and services you need, where and when you need them. Visit the VA's Emergency Medical Care web site for information on the process for receiving emergency care in a non-VA facility. Download an information sheet or fact sheet.

Sample Veteran ID CardVeteran ID Card: You may be eligible if you meet the requirements:

  • Served on active duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard (including the Coast Guard), and
  • Received an honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions)
    • If you have an uncharacterized or unknown discharge status, we’ll have to verify your eligibility before we approve your application.
    • If you received a bad conduct, other-than-honorable, or dishonorable discharge, you’re not eligible for a Veteran ID Card.

You’ll need to provide a copy of your discharge papers when you apply for a VIC to prove your character of discharge.

You can request your military service records online, by mail, or by fax.