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Community Resources

Military members and veterans have access to many community resources. Some are for families too.  For Veterans and family members living in Massachusetts, each community has a Veterans Service Officer to help with the applications for benefits, including financial assistance.

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Veterans, for example, may be eligible for benefits which include:

  • Daily living expenses

  • Medical costs

  • Rent assistance

  • Support of dependents

  • Prevention of veteran homelessness

 

To help determine your eligibility and see what you may qualify for, please use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator by clicking here.

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Starting March 16th, 2020 and during the course of the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department of Veterans’ Services has directed Veteran Service Officers to relax the application process and lessen the veteran’s paperwork burden to expedite the approval process.  These will remain in effect until the conclusion of the COVID public health crisis. For more information on changes that have been made to the Chapter 115 – Safety Net Program, please click here.

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Please call your local community’s Veterans Service Officer in your town or city to discuss and apply for these benefits. You can locate his/her telephone number and email address by visiting the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator.

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If you are unable to reach your local veterans service officer then please contact the Department of Veterans Services directly by calling (617) 210-5480.

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In addition to state programs, there are several federal and other community-based resources for Veterans. Below is a list of available programs:

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Military Assistance Programs for Veterans, Service Members, and Families

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If you're a service member, veteran, or spouse, you’re not alone. The military and federal agencies have resources to help you manage life.  Use these tools to get help with finances, health care, jobs, moving, and other challenges.

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Manage Your Benefits and Records with milConnect

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If you're a military member or a veteran, you can manage many of your benefits and records in one place. MilConnect, a self-service portal, lets you:

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  • Get copies of your Official Military Personnel File

  • Update your family members in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)

  • Transfer your GI Bill education benefits to family members

  • View your health care coverage

  • Update your work and personal contact information

  • Find all the latest information and resources to manage your benefits

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National Resource Directory for Service Members and Veterans

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The National Resource Directory connects the military and veterans with local support. Find military assistance resources for:

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  • Jobs

  • Health

  • Homelessness

  • Housing

  • Caregiver support

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Financial Assistance for Service Members and Veterans

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps military families and veterans with financial issues including:

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  • Filing complaints

  • Avoiding scams targeting military and veterans

  • Improving money management skills

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Free Credit Monitoring for Active Duty and National Guard

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If you’re active duty or in the National Guard, you can get free credit monitoring under a new Federal Trade Commission rule. To enroll in the program, visit the military monitoring web page for each of the three nationwide credit monitoring agencies:

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Credit monitoring services alert you to changes to your credit file like a new credit card or loan in your name. These might signal fraudulent charges and/or identity theft. Now that you're aware, you can dispute the charges or take corrective action.

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Military OneSource

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Military OneSource offers help with all aspects of military life. Counseling for service members and families is free and confidential.

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Find information and resources in areas such as:

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You can also call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit their contact page to learn how to call from outside the U.S. or from your computer.

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