Veterans Services

Personnel:

John Hogan, Veterans Agent/Director of Veterans Services

Providing Benefits and Services to Veterans, Widows and Dependents

The office of Veterans Services is here to administer the Veterans Program per Chapter 115 of Massachusetts General Law as well as to render assistance to those who are eligible for federal benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Additionally, the Veterans Agent/Director of Veterans Services acts as the Burial Agent, ensuring that those veterans and/or their dependents who lack sufficient means to defray funeral expenses receive proper interment, and as the Graves Officer, to properly care for and maintain veterans graves in the community as well as causing the placement of flags on such graves every Memorial Day.

Some of the services available through this office:

Emergency financial assistance

Counseling and referrals to other agencies

Assistance with claims for Disability Compensation and Pensions from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Referrals to Veteran Employment and Training services

Referrals to the U.S. Small Business Administration

Aid in application for State Wartime Bonuses and annuities

Help with Discharge difficulties

Recording and custodial services for service records

Local repository for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs application forms

Power of Attorney to provide representation during the filing process for Department of Veterans Affairs entitlements.

Who is eligible for Veterans’ benefits?

Veterans, their dependents and survivors of veterans of any of the following wars or campaigns may be eligible to receive benefits and/or services provided by federal or state statutes: WWI, WWII, Korean War, Viet Nam War, Persian Gulf War and/or Lebanon, Granada and/or Panama Campaigns.

Being a veteran does not make entitlement automatic. The eligibility to receive entitlements from the Department of Veterans Services (state) and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs (federal) must be shown and determined. Your local Veterans Agent/Director of Veterans Services will assist veterans and their dependents to secure benefits and entitlements that they are eligible to receive. That is the primary responsibility of the Office of Veterans Services.

To find out more about this unique and valuable program, all you need to do is visit our office on the third (3rd) floor of Town Hall or call 339-8151. The office is open during normal hours of operation for Town Hall and should the Agent be away from the desk, just leave a message in the Town Manager’s Office to arrange for a call back. We are committed to providing the best possible service to the Veteran Community of the town, so please feel free to put us to work for you.