Who Is A Veteran

DEFINITION OF A VETERAN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MA STATE BENEFITS

According to M.G.L. ch.4 s.7, clause 43 a "veteran" is defined to have either:

• 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions
• 90 days of active duty service, one day of which is during "wartime" per the chart which follows, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions, except for Vietnam I which requires 180 days of active duty service (see chart that follows). OR
• served on active duty in the armed forces for at least 90 days and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; or (c) served on active duty, to include active duty solely for training purposes, in the armed forces, and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (d) served in the national guard or as a reservist in any branch of the armed forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (e) is determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of such person qualified under clause (a) through clause (e) was entered into or served in Massachusetts, or such person has resided in the commonwealth for 1 day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran’s dependents.

For VA purposes a “Veteran” is a person who:

• Served in the active military, naval or air service, and
• Was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable

Even though this is the definition of a Veteran per the VA, the eligibility criteria varies from benefit to benefit. Please contact us for specific information regarding the benefits you may be interested in.