By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Christopher M. Markey for legislation to establish a cost-of-living adjustment for disabled veteran annuities. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
This bill removes a $20 annual fee for veterans' license plates in Massachusetts. It directly affects veterans who qualify under existing definitions, including those eligible for veterans' annuities under Chapter 115. The key change modifies the law to state that veteran plates will be issued "without fee other than the established registration fee" for vehicles. This means qualifying veterans will no longer pay the extra $20 fee on top of standard registration costs.
This bill changes how veterans' healthcare reimbursements are treated for benefit eligibility. It requires that payments veterans receive for out-of-pocket medical costs be excluded from gross household income calculations used to determine eligibility for certain state programs. The key provision adds these specific reimbursements to the official list of excluded income items in the state's regulations (760 CMR 6.05(3)). This directly affects veterans who receive such reimbursements, ensuring these payments no longer reduce their eligibility for income-based benefits. The change takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage.
SD 1160, titled "An Act ensuring annuity eligibility for Gold Star Spouses," removes a requirement that previously disqualified remarried surviving spouses of military members who died in service from receiving annuities. The bill amends Massachusetts law by deleting the phrase "provided, that the surviving spouse does not remarry" from Section 6B of Chapter 115. This change directly affects Gold Star Spouses (surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty) who have chosen to remarry, allowing them to retain annuity eligibility. The policy shift eliminates a prior barrier to benefits for this group without altering other eligibility criteria.
This bill updates Massachusetts law to expand death compensation eligibility for military members. It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia" throughout the law. The bill creates a specific "Death Gratuity Board" to determine benefits and clarifies that service under federal military codes (Titles 10/32) qualifies for compensation. It directly affects families of Massachusetts military personnel who die while performing duty, including state and federal service. The changes streamline eligibility without altering benefit amounts or creating new financial obligations.
This bill updates Massachusetts law to expand death compensation eligibility for military members. It replaces outdated terms like "Massachusetts organized militia" with "members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia" throughout the law. The changes clarify that benefits apply to those who die while performing qualified duty under state or federal orders (including State Active Duty and Title 10/32 U.S. Code service), and establish the "Death Gratuity Board" to determine benefits. The board must now recommend decisions to the Adjutant General, streamlining the process for families of eligible service members.
This bill increases the annual annuity payment for disabled veterans and their families from $2,000 to $5,000. It amends Section 6B of Chapter 115 of the General Laws by replacing the figure "$2,000" with "$5,000" in three specific lines of the statute. The change directly affects veterans and families currently receiving this annuity under the existing law. The policy adjustment is a straightforward increase to the payment amount without altering eligibility requirements.
This bill (SD 594) amends Massachusetts Chapter 115 benefits to expand eligibility for veterans' dependents. It allows dependents who meet all other eligibility criteria but lack the standard one-day Massachusetts residency requirement to qualify if they provide proof of living in Massachusetts for at least one year before applying. The change directly affects dependents of veterans who previously could not access these benefits due to residency timing. The policy modifies the existing Chapter 115 benefit rules to recognize longer-term Massachusetts residency as sufficient proof of connection.
SD 524 amends Massachusetts law to expand eligibility for veteran annuities to include surviving spouses already receiving Dependent Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill adds this group to the existing eligibility criteria, which currently covers surviving spouses of veterans who died in combat or insurrection. This change means qualifying surviving spouses will automatically qualify for state annuities without needing to meet separate state-specific requirements. The bill directly affects veterans' surviving spouses who are currently receiving federal DIC benefits.
This bill (HD 1319) changes how annuity benefits are handled for families of veterans in Massachusetts. It makes applications for annuities valid until the veteran's death (preventing expiration during the veteran's lifetime), requires parents and surviving spouses to reapply annually after the first year (but grants full benefits for the first year post-death), and provides a 90-day retroactive window for those who missed prior applications. It directly affects eligible veterans' surviving spouses, parents, and other surviving relatives seeking financial support. The key change is simplifying ongoing eligibility and expanding access to past-due benefits for qualifying families.
