Qualifying Veterans

The amount of this exemption varies between $400 and total exemption, depending upon the wartime service connected disability. An applicant must provide to the Manchester Assessors whatever information is reasonably required to establish eligibility. This information may include, but is not limited to: (1) Certification of a service connected disability from the Veterans Administration or the branch of service from which separated. (2) Evidence of ownership, domicile and occupancy. Eligibility requirements are as follows:
  1. Veterans with a service connected disability of 10% or more as determined by the VA or the branch of service from which separated.
  2. Veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart.
  3. Gold star mothers and fathers
  4. Spouses (where the domicile is owned by the veteran's spouse) and surviving spouses (who do not remarry) of veterans entitled to exemptions
  5. Surviving spouses (who do not remarry) of World War I veterans so long as their whole worth, less any mortgage on the property, does not exceed $20,000.
  6. Veterans who (1) suffered in the line of duty the loss or permanent loss of use of one foot or one hand or one eye, or (2) received the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, and their spouses or surviving spouses.
  7. Veterans who suffered in the line of duty the loss or permanent loss of use of both feet or both hands or both eyes, and their spouses or surviving spouses.
  8. Veterans who (1) suffered total disability in the line of duty and (2) who received assistance in acquiring "specially adapted housing" which they own and occupy as their domicile, and their spouses or surviving spouses.
  9. Veterans spouses (who do not remarry) of soldiers, sailors and guardsmen who died due to injury or disease from being in a combat zone, or are missing and presumed dead due to combat.

    The surviving spouse must have lived in Massachusetts for at least 5 years OR the soldier, sailor or guardsmen has to have been a Massachusetts domiciliary for at least six months before entering the service.
  10. Surviving spouses of soldiers, sailors or guardsmen who died or were presumed dead from combat on or after September 11, 2001 may also receive retroactive exemptions beginning as early as fiscal year 2003. Eligibility depends on the date of death or presumed death, and the satisfaction of all other qualifications. Veterans who suffered total disability in the line of duty and are incapable of working, and their spouses or surviving spouses.
  11. Veterans who are certified by the VA as paraplegic and their surviving spouses.

In addition, a qualifying applicant must (1) have been a Massachusetts domiciliary for at least six months before entering the service OR (2) have lived in Massachusetts for at least 5 years unless the town has accepted an alternative local option provision. If that option is accepted, a veteran not domiciled in Massachusetts for at least six months before entering the service must have lived in the state at least 1 year, view the Veterans Form (PDF).