Department:		Veteran's Agent
Contacts:		William M. Zounes Director of Veterans’ Services Mary Hamilton Administrative Assistant
Address:		Veteran's Agent Town of Dracut 62 Arlington Street Dracut, Ma 01826
Hours:		8:30 AM to 4:30 PM M-F
Telephone:		(978) 453-9492
Fax:		(978) 452-7924
Email:		veterans@dracut-ma.us
Information:		MISSION STATEMENT The Department of Veterans’ Services oversees a state assistance program based on need, which provides financial, medical, and service benefits to veterans and their dependents. Local veterans’ agents in cities and towns administer its main financial and medical assistance programs. The office also offers assistance and referrals in the areas of federal compensation and pensions, state and federal educational benefits, tax exemptions, annuities, home loans, counseling and job training. DEFINITION OF “VETERAN” FEDERAL DEFINITION: under Federal Law a VETERAN is any person, who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. (Discharges marked GENERAL AND UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS also qualify.) STATE DEFINITION:DEFINITION OF A MASSACHUSETTS VETERAN, M.G.L. C.4, SEC. 7,cl 43rd as amended by the Acts of 2004 - Effective August 30, 2004. To be a "veteran" under Massachusetts law a person is required to have either: 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions Such member does not need to have any wartime service. - OR - 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day of which is during "wartime", and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. The one-day need not have actually been served in a war zone. For Guard Members to qualify they must have 180 days and have been activated under Title 10 of the U.S. Code - OR - Members who were activated under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code or Massachusetts General Laws chapter 33, sections 38, 40 and 41 must have 90 days, at least one of which was during wartime. The Members' last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions. Full time National Guard duty is only considered such when National Guard members are activated to regular service and does not include weekend drills or active duty for training Minimum Service Exception (for Death or Disability) It is not necessary that an applicant have completed the minimum service for wartime or peacetime campaign if he/she served some time in the campaign and was awarded the Purple Heart, or suffered a service-connected disability or died in the service under honorable conditions. Training Duty Exception - Active service in the armed forces as used in this clause shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States. ELIGIBLE VETERANS: Eligible veterans as defined by M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7 are as follows: World War I Lebanon World War II Grenada Korean Panama Vietnam Persian Gulf Children of Deceased Veterans Children of POWs/MIAs LOCAL/STATE SERVICES/BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS: DIRECT FINANCIAL AID – Chapter 115 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth provides a system of financial benefits for veterans, their families, and in some cases their survivors, who are in need and who meet the appropriate criteria. This aid is dispensed by the Veterans’ Services Office from Town funds and is reimbursed by the Commonwealth at a rate of 75%. This aid is paid by check directly to the recipient and must be repaid if circumstances permit. HOSPITAL/MEDICAL/FUEL – Eligible veterans and their families can have their hospital, medical and fuel bill paid by the Town with a 75% reimbursement from the Commonwealth. BURIAL – All deceased veterans receive a casket flag and an aluminum grave marker. Honor guards are also available. Financial aid is available for indigent veterans’ burial, if there is no family or no other source of funds to pay for burial. Some of these funds are reimbursed to the Town from the Commonwealth. PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS – Eligible veterans, spouses, and parents must: Be legal residents of Massachusetts. Be occupying the property as his/her domicile on July 1 in the year of application Have lived in Massachusetts for at least six (6) months prior to entering the service (spouses exempted) or Have lived in Massachusetts for five consecutive years immediately prior to filing for property tax abatement. Effective October 26, 2000 under M.G.L. Chapter 50, Section 5, clauses 22A, 22B, 22C and 22E, as amended by Chapter 159 ss. 109-113 of Acts of 2000, surviving spouses of disabled veterans, who qualified for exemptions ranging from $450.00 to $950.00 may now continue to receive the higher amount regardless of marital status. Previously, widows of such veterans were entitled to the exemptions, but were totally eliminated if the spouse remarried. This new benefit even extends to surviving spouses of qualified veterans, who died before the effective date of these amendments. These changes in the law apply to exemptions granted for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2000, but did not take effect until October 26, 2000. M.G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22 – Veterans in the following categories are entitled to a property tax exemption. The amount of exemption provided in this clause is $400.00. If both spouses are veterans, each shall receive the amount of exemption provided in this clause to the same extent as if unmarried. The property must be occupied in whole or in part as the veteran’s domicile. The categories are: Veterans who, as a result of disabilities contracted while in wartime service and in the line of duty, have a disability rating of ten percent or more as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or by any branch of the armed forces. Veterans who, served in the military or naval service of the United State in the Spanish War, in the Philippine Insurrection, or in the Chinese Relief Expedition. Veterans, who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Spouses and surviving spouses (until she/he remarries) of veterans entitled to exemption under this clause and clauses 22A, 22B, 22C and 22 E, who at the time of their death were entitled to exemption or who, lost their lives while serving in the war. Mothers and fathers of veterans, who lost their lives in wartime service. This includes natural parents, parents by adoption or those, who stood in loco parentis. Surviving spouses of veterans, who served in the armed forces of the United States between the dates of April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, or who were awarded the World War I Victory Medal and who, have remained unmarried. The whole estate, real and personal, must not exceed $20,000.00 in value. The assessors may require an annual statement that the surviving spouse has remained unmarried. FEDERAL BENEFITS COORDINATED BY THE VETERANS’ SERVICES OFFICE Generally any Federal entitlement for an eligible veteran will start from the Veterans’ Services Office, by way of application filled out either by the Director or with his help. Information and assistance is readily available for every Federal veterans benefit. Typical federal benefits coordinated by this office are: BRONZE GRAVE MARKERS – Every honorably discharged veteran, upon his death, is entitled at the government’s expense to a flat bronze marker commemorating his military service. BURIAL IN A NATIONAL OR STATE VETERANS’ CEMETERY - Any eligible veteran may be buried (if space is available) at any Federal Veterans’ Cemetery or in one of the two (3) new State Veterans’ Cemeteries at Agawam or Winchendon. DISABILITY – Veterans seeking either a service-connected or non-service connected disability rating or an increase in either rating can do so starting with local assistance. G.I. LIFE INSURANCE – All claims for payment under G.I. life insurance can be initially processed and forwarded from the local veterans’ services office. DISCHARGES – World War II discharges or post-WWII Form DD214s can be obtained, corrected or upgraded starting locally. WIDOW’S PENSION – This program starts with a local application. VA HOME LOANS – Applications for certification of eligibility are available on a local level and expedited handling can be arranged. MEDAL/AWARDS/DECORATIONS – Veterans can obtain or replace medals, awards or decorations they are entitled to either from government or commercial sources or they can apply for decorations for which they are qualified, but which they did not officially receive, at the time of discharge. BONUSES – There is no time limit on payment of WWII, Korean, Vietnam or Gulf War state bonuses. They can be obtained by applying locally. LICENSE PLATES – veterans can apply through the local office for distinctive license plates issued by the Commonwealth such as POW, Silver Star, Bronze Star, etc. GENERAL INFORMATION – This office can usually answer any and all questions pertaining to military affairs, military history or any inquiry related to veterans. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS NOT COVERED ABOVE: VA TOLL FREE HOT LINE (800) 827-1000: This number will put callers indirect contact with VA officials, who are fully knowledgeable in ALL areas of Federal benefits and services. VA WEBSITE: www.va.gov. This site has a wealth of information and forms related to VA benefits and services STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ SERVICES (617) 727-3578. Switchboard number for all services at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services. WOMEN VETERANS Women veterans in need of financial assistance are entitled to the same state benefits as men veterans under M.G.L. Chapter 115, administered by the veterans’ agent of each city or town. The Department of Veterans’ Services acknowledges that women veterans have needs and concerns not experienced by the general male veteran population. The Women Veterans’ Network of the Department of Veterans’ Services was established in 1977, with the vision of being the central resource for women veterans residing in Massachusetts. Members of the Women Veterans Network Committee include women veterans from all eras, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs representatives, local veterans’ agents, and veterans’ service organizations. The Women’s Veterans Network works in identifying, locating and educating women veterans in Massachusetts on available quality health and human services programs. It is the central resource for referrals for women veterans in Massachusetts. Among its goals are: Providing women veterans with information on federal, state, and local levels. Expanding awareness of the needs of women veterans and identifying health and human resource needs. Advocating on behalf of women veterans in Massachusetts. CONTACT INFORMATION: Women Veterans’ Network Department of Veterans’ Services 600 Washington Street, Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02111 Phone: (617) 210-5781 Fax: (617)-210-5755 Http://www.DVSWomen@vet.state.ma.us Women are also encouraged to contact their local veterans’ agents to see what range of benefits they are entitled to under federal and state laws.
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