Code of Massachusetts Regulations
960 CMR - OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL
Title 960 CMR 7.00 - Procedures For The Administration Of Certain Bonuses Awarded To Eligible Service Members
Section 7.03 - Eligibility
Universal Citation: 960 MA Code of Regs 960.7
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1) World War II Bonus.
(a) To be eligible for a
World War II Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed application, which
includes documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing the Applicant
meets the following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts Domicile. The Applicant must have been
domiciled in the Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months
immediately prior to entering Active Service of the Armed Forces;
2.
Active Service.
The Applicant must have served in Active Service in the Armed Forces for a
period of at least one day from on or after September 16, 1940 through July 25,
1947; and
3.
Characterization of Service. The Applicant shall have
received a discharge or release under honorable conditions.
(b) Upon receipt of a completed
application, which includes documentation sufficient to the Division, and the
Division's determination that the Applicant is eligible for a bonus, the
Division shall award the sum of:
1. $100.00
for one day to six months Active Service in the continental United
States;
2. $200.00 for six months
or more Active Service in the continental United States;
3. $300.00 for overseas Active Service;
or
4. If veteran died while on
Active Service, the surviving family member(s) are eligible for a $300.00
payment.
(2) Korean War Bonus.
(a)
To be eligible for a Korean War Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed
application, which includes documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing
the Applicant meets the following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts
Domicile. The Applicant must have been domiciled in the
Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months immediately prior to
entering Active Service of the Armed Forces;
2.
Active Service.
The Applicant must have served in Active Service in the Armed Forces for ninety
days or more from on or after June 25, 1950 through January 31, 1955; and
3.
Characterization of
Service. The Applicant shall have received a discharge or release
under honorable conditions.
(b) Upon receipt of a completed application,
which includes documentation sufficient to the Division, and the determination
that the Applicant is eligible for a bonus, the Division shall award the sum
of:
1. $100.00 if the Applicant performed not
less than 90 days of Active Service, unless discharged or released as the
result of injury or disease incurred or aggravated by such services, and not
more than six months, but served no part outside of the continental limits of
the United States;
2. $200.00 if
the Applicant performed Active Service for more than six months but served no
part thereof outside the continental limits of the United States;
3. $300.00 if the Applicant performed Active
Service outside the continental limits of the United States; or
4. In the case of any eligible person who
died while in Active Service, there shall be awarded the sum of $300.00 to the
person's Heir(s)-at-Law as provided in
960
CMR 7.03(9).
(c) If an Applicant performed less
than 90 days of Active Service due to a discharge or release that was the
result of injury or disease incurred or aggravated by such service, upon
receipt of a completed application, which includes documentation sufficient to
the Division, and the determination that the Applicant is otherwise eligible
for a bonus, the Division may award the sum of $100.00.
(d) The Division shall not consider the
Applicant's Active Duty for Training in the Army National Guard or Air National
Guard or time served in Active Duty for Training as a reservist in the Armed
Forces of the United States when evaluating the Active Service period
requirement.
(e) Any award granted
under
960
CMR 7.03(2) is a one-time
bonus payment.
(3) Vietnam Conflict Bonus.
(a) To be eligible for a Vietnam Conflict
Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed application, which includes
documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing the Applicant meets the
following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts Domicile. The Applicant must have been
domiciled in the Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months
immediately prior to entering Active Service of the Armed Forces;
2.
Active Service.
The Applicant must have served in Active Service in the Armed Forces for six
months or more with at least one day within the period of July 1, 1958 to May
17, 1975; and
3.
Characterization of Service. The Applicant's discharge
or release must have been under honorable conditions.
(b) If the Applicant has been released or
discharged at or before the time of the application, the Division may rely upon
an Applicant's DD-214, including the information contained in Box number 24, to
determine the characterization of the Applicant's service. The Division shall
deem an Applicant with a "General (Under Honorable)" or "Honorable" discharge
as meeting the characterization of service requirement.
(c) Upon receipt of a completed application,
which includes documentation sufficient to the Division, and the determination
that the Applicant is eligible for a bonus, the Division shall award the sum
of:
1. $300.00 to each veteran who performed
Active Service outside the continental limits of the United States in the
Vietnam area as described by the proper federal authorities;
2. $200.00 to each veteran whose Active
Service was performed within the continental limits of the United States or
outside the continental limits of the United States in areas other than the
Vietnam area; or
3. In the case of
an eligible Applicant who died while in Active Service, the sum of $300.00 to
any Heir(s)-at-Law as provided in
960
CMR 7.03(9).
4. Any award granted under
960
CMR 7.03(3) is a one-time
bonus payment.
(4) Gulf War Bonus.
(a) To be eligible for a Gulf War Bonus, the
Applicant must submit a completed application, which includes documentation
satisfactory to the Division, showing the Applicant meets the following
requirements:
1.
Massachusetts
Domicile. The Applicant must have been domiciled in the Common
wealth for a period of not less than six months prior to entering Active
Service of the Armed Forces;
2.
Active Service. The Applicant must have been in Active
Service for 30 days, and served during the period August 2, 1990 to April 11,
1991; and
3.
Characterization of Service. The Applicant's discharge
or release must have been under honorable conditions.
(b) If the Applicant has been released or
discharged at or before the time of the application, the Division may rely upon
an Applicant's DD-214, including the information contained in Box number 24, to
determine the characterization of the Applicant's service. The Division shall
deem an Applicant with a "General (Under Honorable)" or "Honorable" discharge
as meeting the characterization of service requirement.
(c) If the Applicant is in Active Service at
the time of the application, the Division may relyupon a letter from the
Commanding Officer or other person in the Applicant's chain of command, or
other document acceptable to the Division showing the status of the Applicant's
current service to determine the characterization of the Applicant's
service.
(d) The Division shall not
consider the Applicant's Active Duty for Training in the Army National Guard or
Air National Guard or time served in Active Duty for Training as a reservist in
the Armed Forces of the United States when evaluating the Active Service period
requirement.
(e) Upon receipt of a
completed application, which includes documentation sufficient to the Division,
and the determination that the Applicant is eligible for a bonus, the Division
shall award the sum of:
1. $500.00 to each
such Persian Gulf War veteran who performed Active Service in the Persian Gulf
area in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and is in receipt of the
Southwest Asia Service Medal established by executive order of the President on
March 13, 1991; or
2. $300.00 to
all other such Persian Gulf veterans who were in Active Service in support of
said operations as members of the Armed Forces of the United States and served
in an area other than the Persian Gulf area.
(f) Any award granted under
960
CMR 7.03(4) is a one-time
bonus payment.
(5) GWOT Welcome Home Bonus.
(a) To be eligible for a GWOT Welcome Home
Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed application, which includes
documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing the Applicant meets the
following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts Domicile. The Applicant must have been
domiciled in the Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months
immediately before the time of their entry into the Armed Forces.
2.
Active Service.
a. The Applicant must have served in the
Armed Forces in Active Service on or after September 11, 2001, as part of the
GWOT; and
b. Applicants must have
served in Active Service for at least six months.
3.
Characterization of
Service. The Applicant must be currently serving or have been
discharged or released under honorable conditions for the enlistment period.
The Applicant must have served honorably during the enlistment period of the
deployment.
a. Reenlistment is satisfactory
evidence of a preceding enlistment under honorable conditions. Evidence of
reenlistment may include Block 18 of the DD-214, there enlistment contract, or
other service documentation.
b. If
the Applicant has been released or discharged at or before the time of the
application, the Division shall rely upon an Applicant's DD-214, including the
information contained in Box number 24, to determine the characterization of
The Applicant's service.
c. If the
Applicant is in Active Service at the time of the application, the Division may
rely upon a letter from the Commanding Officer or other person in The
Applicant's chain of command or other document acceptable to the Division
showing the status of the Applicant's current service to determine the
characterization of service.
(b) Upon receipt of a completed application
and determination that the Applicant is eligible for a bonus, the Division
shall award the Applicant the sum of $500.00. The award is a one-time bonus
payment.
(c) Applicants may be
awarded additional GWOT Welcome Home Bonuses if the Division determines that
they returned to their Home Station between Deployments and were subsequently
deployed for six months of continuous active service within the continental
United States or for Deployment outside the continental United States in direct
support of a GWOT Operation. The Applicant must submit documentation
satisfactory to the Division that establishes each subsequent Deployment with
their application to be eligible for additional GWOT Welcome Home Bonus awards.
Upon determination that the Applicant is eligible for an additional bonus, the
Division shall award the Applicant an additional sum of $250.00 for each
subsequent Deployment.
(d)
Applicants who qualify for Hostile Fire and Imminent Danger Pay may be eligible
for an additional GWOT Welcome Home Bonus.
(6) Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location Bonus.
(a) To be
eligible for a Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location Bonus, the Applicant
must submit a completed application, which includes documentation satisfactory
to the Division, showing the Applicant meets the following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts
Domicile. The Applicant must have been domiciled in the
Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months before the time of their
entry into the Armed Forces;
2.
Active Service.
a.
The Applicant must have served in the Armed Forces in Active Service on or
after September 11, 2001, and
b.
Applicants must have served in Active Service in a Hostile Fire or Imminent
Danger Location.
3.
Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location Service. The
Applicant must have been in Active Duty in a location designated by the U.S.
Department of Defense as a Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location. Applicants
must provide with the application documentation satisfactory to the Division to
establish their Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location service; and
4.
Characterization of
Service. The Applicant must be currently serving or have been
discharged or released under honorable conditions for the enlistment period.
The Applicant must have served honorably during the enlistment period of the
deployment.
a. Reenlistment is satisfactory
evidence of a preceding enlistment under honorable conditions. Evidence of
reenlistment may include Block 18 of the DD-214, there enlistment contract, or
other service documentation.
b. If
the Applicant has been released or discharged at or before the time of the
application, the Division may rely upon an Applicant's DD-214, including the
information contained in Box number 24, to determine the characterization of
The Applicant's service.
c. If the
Applicant is in Active Service at the time of the application, the Division may
rely upon a letter from the Commanding Officer or other person in The
Applicant's chain of command or other document acceptable to the Division
showing the Applicant's current service to determine the characterization of
service.
(b)
Upon receipt of a completed application and determination that the Applicant is
eligible for a Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Bonus, the Division shall award
the Applicant the sum of $1,000.00. The award is a one-time bonus
payment.
(c) Applicants may be
eligible for additional Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Bonus awards if the
Division determines that the Applicant returned to their Home Station between
Deployments. The Applicant must submit with their application documentation
satisfactory to the Division that establishes each subsequent Deployment into a
Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location. Upon determination that the Applicant
is eligible for the additional bonus, the Division shall award the Applicant an
additional sum of $500.00 for each Deployment in to a Hostile Fire or Imminent
Danger Location.
(d) An Applicant
who traveled more than once to a Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Location
during a single Deployment is eligible for only one Hostile Fire or Imminent
Danger Location Bonus per Deployment.
(7) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Bonus.
(a) To be eligible
for an AFEM Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed application, which
includes documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing the Applicant
meets the following requirements:
1.
Massachusetts Domicile. The Applicant must have been
domiciled in the Commonwealth for a period of not less than six months
immediately before the time of their entry into the Armed Forces.
2.
Active Service.
The Applicant must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States outside
of the continental limits of the United States; and the Applicant must have
served in the Armed Forces for a period of not less than 90 days.
3.
Characterization of
Service. The Applicant must be currently serving or have been
discharged or released under honorable conditions.
a. If the Applicant has been released or
discharged at or before the time of the application, the Division may rely upon
an Applicant's DD-214, including the information contained in Box number 24, to
determine the characterization of The Applicant's service.
b. If the Applicant is in Active Service at
the time of the application, the Division may rely upon a letter from the
Commanding Officer or other person in The Applicant's chain of command or other
document acceptable to the Division showing the status of the Applicant's
current service to determine the characterization of service.
4.
Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal. The Applicant must have received the AFEM for
service during a period when no other state wartime bonus is available or for
an equivalent expeditionary medal for deployment in support of a combat
operation.
(b) The
Division may award the AFEM Bonus to an Applicant who satisfies the
Massachusetts Domicile, Characterization of Service, and AFEM or equivalent
expeditionary medal requirements, but due to conditions of physical incapacity,
served in Active Service in the Armed Forces of the United States for less than
90 days.
(c) The Applicant must
provide sufficient documentation establishing their award of the AFEM,
including DD-214, when submitting their application.
(d) Upon receipt of a completed application
and determination that the Applicant is eligible for the AFEM Bonus, the
Division shall award the Applicant the sum of $300.00. The award is a one-time
bonus payment.
(8) COVID-19 Bonus.
(a)
To be eligible for a COVID-19 Bonus, the Applicant must submit a completed
application, which includes documentation satisfactory to the Division, showing
that The Applicant meets the following requirements:
1.
Active Service.
The Applicant must have served in the Massachusetts National Guard in Active
Service in the Commonwealth from the start of the COVID-19 Massachusetts State
of Emergency to support the Commonwealth's response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
2.
Characterization of Service. The Applicant must
currently be serving or have been discharged or released under honorable
conditions.
a. If the Applicant has been
released or discharged at or before the time of the application, the Division
may rely upon an Applicant's DD-214, including the information contained in Box
number 24, to determine the characterization of The Applicant's
service.
b. If the Applicant is in
Active Service at the time of the application, the Division may rely upon a
letter from the Commanding Officer or other person in The Applicant's chain of
command or other document acceptable to the Division showing the Applicant's
current service to determine the characterization of service.
(b) Upon receipt of a
completed application and determination that the Applicant is eligible for a
COVID-19 Bonus, the Division shall award the Applicant the sum of
$500.00.
(c) National Guard members
activated for additional COVID-19 Massachusetts State of Emergency-related
Deployments at any point after March 10, 2020, are eligible to receive a
subsequent bonus. The Applicant must submit with their application
documentation satisfactory to the Division that establishes each subsequent
COVID-19 Massachusetts State of Emergency-related Deployment. Upon
determination that the Applicant is eligible for the additional bonus, the
Division shall award the Applicant an additional sum of $250.00 for each
Deployment.
(9) Deceased Service Member.
(a) In the case of a deceased service member
who, if alive, would have been eligible for a bonus(es), the bonus(es) may be
paid to the deceased service member's Heir(s)-at-Law. If there is more than one
Heir-at-Law, the Division shall pay the bonus(es) in such proportions as it
determines in its sole discretion but as practicable in the following order of
precedence:
1. spouse and children;
2. mother or father;
3. brother or sister, and
4. other dependents.
(b) If the deceased eligible service member's
parents are the only Heirs-at-Law, regardless of their marital status, the
Division may solicit guidance from the parents to determine how to apportion
the bonus(es) payment(s).
(c) In
the case of a service member who would have been eligible for the GWOT or AFEM
Bonus, and who died in Active Service, upon submission of a completed
application by the deceased service member's Heir(s)-at-Law and determination
that the deceased service member was eligible for a bonus, the Division shall
award the Heir(s)-at-Law any unpaid bonus(es) and an additional sum of
$1,000.00, as provided in
960
CMR 7.03(5),
7.03(6) and
7.03(7).
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