The Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services (DVS) has ruled that business expenses for self-employed veterans are deductible from income when calculating eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits. Here is the background: Chapter 115 provides money for food, housing, clothing, and medical care to eligible veterans and their families, including survivors. This monthly benefit is essential for low-income […]
Chapter 115 “Medical Only” Benefits Offer Financial Relief for Many Massachusetts Veterans and Their Families
Chapter 115 is a Massachusetts program that offers financial assistance to many veterans and their families. That assistance usually comes in the form of monthly cash payments. Some people do not qualify for monthly cash payments through the Chapter 115 program because their income is too high. But even for people who do not meet income […]
Many Resources Available to Help Veterans and Families Who Are Behind on Rent; End of Federal Eviction Moratorium Underscores Importance of Seeking Financial Assistance
The federal ban on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. The Supreme Court recently ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not have the power to impose the ban on evictions, which had protected people in most of Massachusetts from eviction. This decision means that more Massachusetts landlords could try to bring eviction […]
Update on Protection from Evictions and Resources to Help Veterans and Families Who Are Behind on Rent
For more up-to-date information for people who are behind on rent and/or facing eviction, read our recent update on eviction protections and resources. COVID-19 and its effects have filled this year with challenges and uncertainty for Massachusetts veterans and their families. According to analysis of U.S. Census data by the National Equity Atlas, nearly 6.4 […]
DVS Makes Recent Increase in Asset Allowances Permanent, Helping More Veterans Qualify for Chapter 115 Benefits
The Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services (DVS) recently announced that it would make permanent a recent increase in the level of assets that low-income veterans and their families can have while receiving help from a safety net program called Chapter 115. This decision extends a change that allowed more people to access Chapter 115 benefits […]
New Income and Asset Guidelines Can Help Veterans Qualify for Chapter 115 Benefits
The Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services (DVS) has announced changes to an important benefits program to make sure that veterans and their families can receive the support they need through the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes include calculating income in a way that helps more people qualify for benefits and increasing the level of assets people […]