Clause 22 - Qualifying Veteran Exemption

The amount of this exemption varies between $400.00 and total exemption, depending upon the wartime service connected disability.  An applicant must provide to the Wayland Assessors certification of a wartime service connected disability from the Veterans Administration or the branch of service from which separated.  Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Veterans with a wartime connected disability of 10% or more as determined by the VA.
• Veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart, Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross.
• Gold star mothers and fathers.
• Spouses and surviving spouses of veterans entitled to exemptions.
• Surviving spouses of World War II veterans.
• Veterans who suffered in the line of duty the loss or permanent loss of use of one foot or one hand or one eye.
• Veterans who suffered in the line of duty the loss or permanent loss of use of both feet or both hands or both eyes.
• Veterans who suffered total disability in the line of duty.
• Veterans’ spouses of soldiers and sailors who died in combat at the islands of Quemoy and Matsu.
• Veterans who are certified by the VA as paraplegic.

Wartime service is defined as service performed by a “Spanish War veteran”, a “World War I or World War II veteran”, a “Korean veteran”, a “Vietnam veteran”, a “Lebanese peace keeping force veteran”, a “Grenada rescue mission veteran”, a “Panamian intervention force veteran”, a “Persian Gulf veteran”, or a member of the “WAAC”.

In addition, an individual must have been a Massachusetts resident prior to entering the service or have lived in Massachusetts for not less than 5 years prior to filing for an exemption.