To be eligible for Veterans’ Benefits in Massachusetts, an individual must be a veteran or a dependent of a veteran under M.G.L.c. 4, cl. 43rd as amended by the acts of 2005, ch.130. Log on to www.mass.gov/veterans to see if you qualify.
Dates of service for eligibility are as follows:
| Era of Service | Dates | Requirement for Veteran Status |
|---|---|---|
| WWI | 6-Apr-1917 11-Nov-1918 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| PEACETIME | 12-Nov-1918 15-Sep-1940 |
180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| WWII (Merchant Marine: 7-Dec-1941 through 31-Dec-1946) |
16-Sep-1940 25-Jul-1947 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| PEACETIME | 26-Jul-1947 24-Jun-1950 |
180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| KOREA | 25-Jun-1950 31-Jan-1955 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| Korean Defense Service Medal | 28-Jul-1954 (to be determined later) |
90 days of active duty service, last discharge under honorable conditions and the Korean Defense Service Medal. |
| VIETNAM I | 1-Feb-1955 4-Aug-1964 |
180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| VIETNAM II | 5-Aug-1964 7-May-1975 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| PEACETIME | 8-May-1975 1-Aug-1990 |
180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| Lebanon Campaign* | 25-Aug-1982 (to be determined later) |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| Grenada Campaign* | 25-Oct-1983 15-Dec-1983 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| Panama Campaign* | 20-Dec-1989 31-Jan-1990 |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
| PERSIAN GULF | 2-Aug-1990 (to be determined later) |
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during “wartime” and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
Guard Members
For Guard Members to qualify they must have 180 days of Active Duty service and have been activated under Title 10 of the U.S. code or Title 32 of the U.S. code or Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, sections 38, 40, and 41 must have Active service at least “ONE DAY” of which was during war time, per the above days.
Reservists
To qualify, they must have been called to active duty, at which time their eligibility can be determined by the above dates.