To be eligible for the Massachusetts Veterans Homes, you must be a resident of Massachusetts at the time you apply. You must be medically and behaviorally suitable for placement in a long-term nursing care facility. Finally, to be eligible for veterans’ benefits, one must meet the definition of a “veteran” under Massachusetts law. The HERO Act has recently broadened the definition of a "veteran" for state benefits and eligibility to the Massachusetts State Veterans Homes.
Below are the updated eligibility requirements for the Massachusetts Veterans Homes under the HERO Act:
For admission to the Massachusetts Veterans Homes, a “veteran” is, any person who (a) is a veteran as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4; or (b) 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 (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 (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 at least 1 day.
To determine eligibility for services provided by Massachusetts Veterans Homes, you must present a copy of your military separation papers (DD-214) to our admissions office.
For questions about admissions eligibility, please contact our admissions coordinators from Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the appropriate phone number below:
Holyoke Veterans Home Admissions Coordinator: 413-552-4764
Chelsea Veterans Home Admissions Coordinator: 617-887-7146