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Departments: Veterans Services

Veteran's Benefits

Bill of Rights

You have a right to:

• File a written application for veterans' benefits at any time. You can insist upon this right, even if told that you are ineligible.
• Receive assistance from your local veterans' agent in completing your application.
• Receive a full explanation of the services and benefits available under M.G.L. C. 115, as well as other available benefits.
• Receive a written notice and explanation of the approval or denial of your application for benefits.
• Be treated with dignity and respect and to receive accurate, courteous, and timely service.
• Appeal and request a hearing if you disagree with any action taken in your case.
• Expect confidentiality; personal information will not be collected or used except for the purposes of determining your eligibility for benefits.
• Receive fair and equal treatment without regard to sex, race, religion or handicap.
  

EDUCATION BENEFITS

Tuition Waiver for All Massachusetts Veterans to All State
Colleges and Universities

Veterans of Massachusetts, as defined by M.G.L. C 4, section 4, section 7, clause 43, can be eligible for any state-supported course in an undergraduate degree program or certificate program offered by a public college and university. To be eligible, a veteran must also be a legal resident of Massachusetts and he/she must not be in default of any federal student loans.

Veterans will be eligible on a space-available basis for a waiver of full or partial tuition based on proper documentation of the eligibility of the veteran. Space availability shall be determined in accordance with normal practices and procedures as published by each institution, i.e., the individual college or university. Contact the Veterans' Representative at the college or university for details.

Public service scholarship programs

Scholarships will be awarded to:

• Children of prisoners of war or military or service persons missing in action in Southeast Asia whose service was between February 1, 1955 and the termination of the Vietnam campaign; and
• Children of veterans whose service was credited to the Commonwealth and who were killed in action or otherwise died as a result of such service.
• Scholarships will be for undergraduate studies at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.

ELIGIBLE VETERANS

All veterans as defined by M.G.L. C. 4, section 7:

World War I
World War II
Korean
Vietnam
Lebanon
Grenada
Panama
Persian Gulf

Children of Deceased Veterans and Children of POWs/MIAs

MOTOR VEHICLE BENEFITS

Motor vehicle registration exemption for disabled veterans

Disabled veterans who by reason of service in the U.S. armed forces have suffered the loss of, or permanent loss of, the use of one or both hands or feet, or who have permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, or any other disability or handicap of such veterans that may be determined by the medical advisory board of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, are eligible to receive, free of charge, disabled veterans motor vehicle registration plates and are exempt from the biannual registration renewal fee.

Motor vehicle registration exemption for ex-prisoners of war

All veterans of any war or military action who, in the course of duty, have been captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the U.S. during an armed conflict are eligible to receive, free of charge, ex-prisoner of war motor vehicle registration plates and are exempt from the biannual registration renewal fee, and their surviving spouses may elect to retain the plates until they remarry, or fail to renew or cancel such or cancel such registration.

Motor vehicle registration for veteran series license plates

• Veteran plate: Any war veteran - as defined by M.G.L. C 4, section 7, clause 43 - is eligible for this plate. With the exceptions noted below, a fee will be charged. Proceeds will benefit the Soldiers Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke.
• Legion of Valor plate: One Legion of Valor license plate may be issued (without charge) to those veterans who provide satisfactory evidence of membership in the
• Legion of Valor of the United States of America, Inc. A surviving spouse will be able to keep this plate until he/she remarries, or fails to renew or cancels such registration, but an annual fee would then be required.
• Ex-POW plate: One Ex-POW license plate may be issued (without charge) to former prisoners of war, defined as any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of the United States who was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States during an armed conflict. Presentation of satisfactory evidence of such prisoner of war status is required. A surviving spouse will be able to keep this plate until he/she remarries, or fails to renew or cancels such registration, but an annual fee would then be required.
• Purple Heart plate: One Purple Heart license plate may be issued (without charge to those veterans who have been awarded the "Purple Heart" medal. In addition, a surviving spouse will be able to keep this plate until he/she remarries, or fails to renew or cancels such registration, but an annual fee would then be required.
• Pearl Harbor Survivor plate: All military personnel on active duty at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, as verified by the Department of Defense, are eligible for this plate. There is no charge for this plate. A surviving spouse will be able to keep this plate until he/she remarries, or fails to renew or cancels such registration, but an annual fee would then be required.
• Silver Star and Bronze Star plate: One "Silver Star" or "Bronze Star" license plate may be issued (without charge) to those veterans who have been awarded the "Silver Star" medal or "Bronze Star" medal. These plates will be available after January 1, 1998.

Distinctive military emblems
A veteran who has been issued a "Veteran" (Flag) plate will be furnished (upon request) a distinctive emblem that identifies the branch of the armed services in which the owner served or the wartime service in which such owner served. A fee may be charged to cover the costs of issuance of such emblem. These identification decals will be available after January 1, 1998.

There is no preferential treatment implied in the issuance of the veteran series plates as there is for the disabled veterans plate. There is an additional cost for the veteran series plates, and they cannot be used for a vehicle requiring a commercial registration under Massachusetts's law.

Motor vehicle excise exemption for disabled veterans and ex-prisoners

Disabled veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, or Vietnam who by reason of service in the U.S. armed forces have suffered the loss of, or permanent loss of the use of, one or both feet or one or both hands or the loss of sight in one eye or who have permanent impairment of vision of both eyes and are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for motor vehicle excise exemption (applicable only to one motor vehicle owned and registered for personal non commercial use).

Sales tax exemption for disabled veterans

Disabled veterans who by reason of service in the U.S. armed forces have suffered the loss of, or permanent loss of the use of, both legs or both arms or one leg and one arm are eligible for a motor vehicle sales tax exemption (applicable only to one motor vehicle owned and registered for personal, non-commercial use