The Chapter 115 Benefits Program is run by the Massachusetts Department Veterans’ Services (DVS) in partnership with local Veterans’ Service Officers (VSOs). The program offers monthly cash assistance to eligible Massachusetts veterans, and their dependents, including survivors. For more information, refer to our About Chapter 115 Benefits page.
The Benefits Calculator should take about five to ten minutes to complete.
1. Using the Benefits Calculator, answer a series of anonymous questions about your income and expenses.
2. If you appear to be eligible for Chapter 115 benefits, get an estimate of how much your monthly check might be.
3. Download or email yourself a copy of your answers.
4. Get the information for your local Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO), who will submit an official Chapter 115 application on your behalf.
5. View and download a list of documents you should bring when you meet with your VSO to complete the application process.
In order to complete the Benefit Calculator, it will be helpful to have information on your income, assets, living situation, and military service history. You will need documentation verifying those things to complete the application for cash assistance with your VSO. Upon completion of the Calculator, you will have the option to be emailed or to download a document that includes a checklist of documents you will need to provide your VSO for the application.
Yes. We will not keep any application information you provide after you exit the site. However, the information you provide through access of the website and usage of the calculator may be used to maintain or improve site features. More information on how your information may be used can be found in our Privacy Policy.
The time it takes to start receiving benefits depends on how long it takes to provide the appropriate verification documents to your VSO. It is possible to receive benefits within a few days after submitting an application, but it could also take multiple weeks.
No. The Benefit Calculator is only a tool to determine possible eligibility for the Chapter 115 benefits. To receive benefits, you must apply through your local VSO and provide documents to verify income, housing, and military service. A complete checklist of necessary documents can be found in a personalized document at the end of the calculator.
No. The Benefit Calculator is meant to inform eligibility, and can be completed by family members, service providers, or anyone else, on behalf of a veteran or dependent. You will just need income and expense information for the intended recipient. If you’re unsure about who qualifies as a dependent, please refer to our About Chapter 115 Benefits page.
More information about other benefits available to Massachusetts veterans can be found in the Veterans’ Laws and Benefits guide created by the Secretary of State’s Citizen Information Service and the Department of Veterans’ Services. Veterans Legal Services and the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center have created a self-help guide to accessing VA health care for veterans with less-than-honorable discharges.
For more information on Chapter 115 benefits and other resources that may be available to you, please visit our Resources page and our About Chapter 115 Benefits page.
Veterans are encouraged to find out if they are eligible for monthly benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Receiving SNAP benefits does not affect your eligibility to receive Chapter 115 benefits. Visit the Mass Law Reform Institute’s SNAP calculator to see what level of benefits you might be eligible for. Learn more about SNAP and apply on the Department of Transitional Assistance website.
If you’re looking for more specific veteran benefits, visit your local VSO to learn more about your eligibility for other state and federal benefits. To find your local VSO, click here.
The Benefit Calculator attempts to gather as much information as possible to provide the best estimate based on your personal details, but it may not capture everything needed to get an accurate determination of eligibility. Talking with your local VSO directly about your benefits estimate is the best way to find out why the estimation may be different than the calculator. To find your local VSO, click here.