DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ SERVICES Directives

April 13, 2015 Dear Veterans’ Service Officer, In accordance with Massachusetts General Law 115 Section 2. Powers and duties of commissioner of veterans' services and he may issue and promulgate directives for the guidance of all persons concerned with veterans' benefits or with matters before the Veterans' Administration of the United States government. Below is a chart of the current directives and advisory letters: Directive Number

Date

04-05

August 9, 2004

04-07 06-01 06-03

06-06 09-01 VSAL 2012 12-01 12-02 13-001 13-002 13-004 VSAL 14-001 VSAL 14-002 VSAL-14-003 14-12-18 14-12-19

Subject

Home Equity and Second mortgages November 2, 2004 Burial Allowance March 7, 2006 Prescription Advantage June 14, 2006 Application for Medical assistance Including Nursing Home Care and Assisted Living Facilities November 3 2006 Medicare Part D January 9, 2009 SNAP May 8, 2012 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010 and Chapter 115 July 27, 2012 Reimbursement changes for budget #3 and #4 July 27, 2012 VASH March 29, 2013 VRAP July 1, 2013 Payment of Burial August 23, 2013 Processing emergency stays to prevent homelessness October 24, 2014 SSVF November 24, 2014 Heating Assistance 2015 December 1, 2014 Appeals. December 18, 2014 Maximum Asset Allowance December 19, 2014 One day residency (dependents)

Other Directives that you may have are superseded and are no longer applicable. *VSAL- Veterans Services Advisory Letter

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ SERVICES 600 WASHINGTON STREET, 7TH FLOOR BOSTON, MA 02111 TEL: (617) 210-5480 FAX: (617) 210-5755 TTY : (617) 210-5883 WWW.MASS.GOV/VETERANS Deval L. Patrick

John W. Polanowicz

Governor

Secretary, EOHHS

Coleman Nee Secretary, DVS

Department of Veterans Services Advisory letter #13-002 July 1, 2013 SUBJECT: Payment for Funeral and Burial Expenses administered under Chap 115. Dear Veterans Service Directors and Officers: Our office would like to take this opportunity to provide information regarding the Veterans’ Burial Benefit administered under M.G.L. Chap 115. The Burial Allowance is pursuant to 108 CMR 9.02 and in accordance with directive # CY 04-07 dated November 2, 2004. The Department will provide reimbursement for funeral and burial expenses of a deceased veteran or dependent who was without sufficient resources to pay for funeral and burial expenses. In all instances, the applicant must explore the eligibility for resources including, but not limited to, savings, life insurance, RSDI and Veterans' Administration death benefits. The Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO) should assist the applicant to determine the resources that exist to meet the expenses. The applicant must also report any money paid, or will be paid by sources other than the Department of Veterans’ Services. The request must be made within 60 days from the date of death. All required documents must be completed and signed by both the applicant and the VSO. Required documents are the discharge paperwork, an itemized funeral bill, death certificate and Form VS-9. You must submit your request on the community VS-21A which lists the state case number of 00B###, where ### is your City/Town number. This procedure does not require prior approval. The maximum amount allowed for the entire burial is $3,000.00 and the maximum allowance that can be paid by the city or town is $2,000.00. We have provided an updated Veterans’ Services Form VS-9, which must be completed in the presence of the family member requesting assistance for the burial. When there are no immediate family members available, the local VSO will submit the application and make final arrangements with the Winchendon State Veterans Memorial cemetery for final disposition. DVS will no longer honor submissions from funeral directors unless the burial is in Winchendon Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Feel free to contact my Operations staff if you have any questions or need assistance. Coleman Nee

Secretary

VS-9 APPLICATION FOR BURIAL EXPENSE CHAPTER 115, General LAWS, AS AMENDED Required Documents: Death Certificate / Funeral Bill / DD-214 Date…………………………………………. Full name of deceased…………………..………………………………………….………………………………... Community where deceased resided…..……………………………………………………..…………...……….. Date of death (month-day-year) ….…………City or Town of Death………………………………………..…… Place of death V.A. Hosp.? Yes  No 

Was death Service Connected ? Yes  No 

City or Town of Burial ………………………….…………………………………………………………………..… Name of Cemetery……………………………………………………………………………………………..…..…. Relationship of deceased to the veteran ………………………………………………………………….............. Relationship of applicant to deceased………………………………………………………………..……..……... Full name of veteran ……………………………………………………………………………………………...….. Did veteran leave a widow or widower? Yes 

No 

Monthly income (Pension, Social Security, VA Comp/Pen, etc.)………………………………………………… Value of real estate of deceased…………………………………….Mortgage Amount ………………………... Cash on hand or in the bank, name of bank………………..……………………………………………………… Other funds or resources-assets from the sale of personal belongings……………………………………….... The amount of insurance of death benefit paid to ANY person, to whom it was paid, and by whom it was paid ………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE MADE UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY Address………………………………………………………………… Signature of Applicant (*)……………………………………………….. Date……………………………….. I certify that application was made to me WHITHIN SIXTY DAYS after the death. City or Town of…………………………………………………...…... Signature of Veterans’ Agent……………….………………………..... Date………………………………..

*If no family, please attach proof of delivery of remains to the Winchendon Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. Form VS 9. 5M-5-73-082

Revised 7/01/13

VS-9 Application Instructions Important: The application must be certified by the Veterans’ Services Officer no later than 60 days of the date of death. The application is for the burial of veterans and adult dependents of veterans who die without sufficient means to defray the funeral expenses and for the burial of dependent children of a veteran if the veteran and his or her spouse, or his or her surviving spouse alone do not have sufficient means to defray funeral expenses. The VS-9 Application for Burial Expense must be filled out completely. Unanswered fields within the application will result in disallowance.

Along with the completed application, the following documents must be submitted:

   

Copy of the military discharge for the veteran in whose name the benefit is sought.  Copy of the Death Certificate.  An itemized bill from the Funeral Director.  Copy of the Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate to establish the relationship  between the applicant and the deceased when appropriate. 

The burial allowance will be granted only if the total cost of the burial does not exceed $3000.00, and any and all resources have been utilized to defray the cost of the burial. The amount of the burial allowance shall be $2000.00. The total burial amount will be offset by any asset available to the decedent.