Veterans' Services (Upper Pioneer Valley District)


WHAT WE DO

The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans' Service District advocates for veterans and their spouses, dependents, widows, or widowers for veterans' benefits on the local, state and federal levels. We do this by assisting in obtaining federal benefits which can include:

  • Filing for compensation and non-service connected pensions.
  • Filing for burial benefits.
  • Filing dependent death benefits.
  • Obtaining gravestones and markers.
  • Veterans Administration healthcare.
  • Obtaining military records.
  • Filing for military medal replacements.
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We also assist in obtaining Commonwealth of Massachusetts benefits by:

  • Filing for Mass General Law Ch. 115 financial assistance for qualified individuals.
  • Filing for state annuity for 100%-service-connect veterans.
  • Filing for property tax exemptions.
In addition, we provide referral services for:

  • Issues regarding homelessness, health, education, and employment.
  • Archival of discharges for district veterans.
  • Referral and assistances for discharge upgrade requests.
  • Assistants for Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) corrections.
  • SHINE counselor assistance.

SATELLITE LOCATIONS & HOURS

  • ASHFIELD: second Thursday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at the Ashfield Town Hall. • VSO Brian Brooks
  • BERNARDSTON: fourth Monday of the month from 3-4 p.m. at the Bernardston Senior Center. • VSO Brian Brooks
  • DEERFIELD: third Wednesday of the month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Deerfield Town Hall. • VSO Brian Brooks
  • ERVING: first Wednesday of the month from 1-3 p.m. at the Erving Senior Center. • VSO Brian Brooks
  • LEVERETT: first Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Leverett Village Co-op. • Deputy Director Stacey Geneczko
  • MONTAGUE: first and third Wednesdays of the month from 9-11 a.m. at the Montague Senior Center. • Administrative Assistant Laura Thorne
  • NORTHFIELD: fourth Tuesday of the month from 9-11 a.m. at the Northfield Town Hall. • VSO Brian Brooks
  • SHELBURNE FALLS: fourth Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m.-noon at the Shelburne Senior Center.
  • WENDELL: second Monday of the month from 1-2 p.m. at the Wendell Town Offices. • Deputy Director Stacey Geneczko
MEMBER TOWNS:

• Ashfield • Bernardston • Buckland • Charlemont • Colrain • Conway • Deerfield • Erving • Gill • Greenfield • Hawley • Heath • Leverett • Leyden • Monroe • Montague • New Salem • Northfield • Plainfield • Rowe • Shelburne • Shutesbury • Sunderland • Warwick • Wendell • Whately