Q. How long has Northampton provided Veteran's Services?
A. After the Civil War, Northampton began providing for needy veterans. Today this program is administered by the Veteran's Services Department.
Q. What are Veteran's Services?
A. There are both benefits and services provided to veterans. Benefits related to food, clothing, shelter and medical care for veterans of all wars and their dependents. Services relate to processing claims for veterans and their dependents. These include compensation, V.A. pensions (service and non-service connected) rehabilitation, counseling relative to employment, Social Security, Supplementary Security Income and a variety of other areas. The Department has recently been successful in helping to get the burial allowance increased for those veterans who have died without funds so that they might be afforded a dignified burial.
Q. Where does the money come from for Veteran's Services?
A. Both the City and State share in the funding of this program. Each year Northampton budgets money for veteran's benefits and is reimbursed 75% of the cost of this aid to veterans by the Commonwealth.
Q. What is the difference between Veteran's Services and Veteran's Affairs (VA)?
A. The Veteran's Services Department administers benefits for Northampton veterans which are separate and distinct from those provided by the Veteran's Affairs (VA), a program of the Federal Government. The City'sVeteran's Services Department works closely with the VA in searching out any additional aid available to the veteran.
Q. How does Veteran's Services relate to the Vietnam Veteran?
A. The Department naturally offers its services to all veterans but, recognizing the unique needs of the Vietnam Veteran, the agent works primarily with Vietnam Veterans and their particular projects. The VA Outreach Center on Pleasant Street offers job workshops, counseling and employment referral to those unemployed. In addition it has inaugurated the memorialization of those Vietnam veterans at our War Memorial site in front of Memorial Hall.
Q. Who may apply for benefits?
A. Any person with proof that he or she is a veteran or a dependent of a veteran is entitled to file an application.
Q. What does it take to qualify for benefits?
A. Veteran's Services and Benefits is a selective program based on certain conditions established by law. The principal requirements are:
1. War time service with discharge or separation under honorable conditions,
2. Legal residence in the City of Northampton,
3. Financial need.
Q. Where may I file an application?
A. The Veteran's Services Department is located on the first floor at the Memorial Hall Building, 240 Main Street, Suite #4, Northampton, MA 01060-3113. You may also call (413) 587-1299.
Q. Where can I get a copy of my discharge papers?
A.Massachusetts residence at the time of entrance into the service:
* War Records Department, Room 1004, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02203: 1-617-727-2964.
* Out of State residence at the of entrance into the service : contact the Veteran's Agent: V.A. form #180.