Primary Duty

The Veterans' Service Officer’s job is to help veterans learn about, apply for, and in some cases, receive benefits. Veterans' Agents are knowledgeable about an array of federal, state, and local benefits to which you may be entitled.If you have any questions regarding anything you find under Veterans’ Services portion of the town of Acton's website please contact:

James MacRae, Acton V.S.O.
472 Main Street, Acton MA 01720
978 929 6614

Helping Local Veterans

“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts does more for its veterans than most other states in the nation. State benefits include public assistance for indigent veterans and tuition waivers at state colleges and universities. Every city and town in the Commonwealth has a Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO), who is there to find veterans, advise them of their rights and benefits, and then to assist veterans as they apply for and receive state and federal benefits. The Women Veterans’ Network, a program of DVS, acts as a central resource for women veterans in Massachusetts. Through confidential peer support the SAVE Team advocates for veterans who experience barriers in obtaining benefits by acting as a liaison between veterans and their families and the various agencies within the federal and state government.

All Massachusetts citizens should be proud of the programs and benefits offered by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services because they give back to the men and women who sacrificed to serve our country.”
-Coleman Nee,Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Services

Massachusetts Definition of a Veteran

To be eligible for veterans' benefits, one must be a "veteran" or a dependent of a "veteran" under M.G.L. c. 4, sec. 7, cl. 43rd as amended by the Acts of 2005, ch. 130.

Helpful Numbers

• Veterans Crisis Line: (800) 273-TALK (8255)
• TBI Helpline (traumatic brain injury): (888) VET-1TBI (888-838-1824)
• VA Healthcare Boston: (800) 865-3384 (follow the prompts)
• Veterans Crisis Line: (800)-273-8255 (Press 1)
• VA Benefits: (800) 827-1000 For information about: Education, Home Loan, Disability, Medical Care, Burial, Life Insurance and Sexual Trauma
• VA Caregiver Support Line: (855) 260-3274 (are you caring for a veteran at home?)
• VA Life Insurance: (800) 669-8477
• VA Education (GI Bill): (888) 442-4551
• VA Health Care Benefits: (877) 222-8387
• VA Income Verification and Means Testing: (800) 929-8387
• VA Mammography Helpline: (888) 492-7844
• VA Gulf War/Agent Orange Helpline: (800) 749-8387
• VA Status of Headstones and Markers: (800)-697-6947
• VA Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD): (800) 829-4833
• Social Security: (800) 772-1213
• Medicare: (800) 638-6833
• The White House: (202) 456-1414
• Unites States Senate: (202) 224-3121
• United States Congress: (202) 225-3121
• Small Business Administration: (800) 827-5722
• I.R.S.: (800)-829-1040