Veterans Disability Compensation in Massachusetts

Public VA data, reported as published. Figures below come from VA's "Disability Compensation Recipients by County" files (data.va.gov), fiscal years 2019 and 2025. VA did not publish county files for 2021 or 2022. Counts under 10 are suppressed by VA and shown as "under 10".

In fiscal year 2025, 76,563 veterans in Massachusetts received VA disability compensation, a +7.5% change from 71,214 in 2019. 22.8% of them are rated 100% (up from 15.4% in 2019), and 6,322 are women (5,145 in 2019).

76,563

Recipients (FY2025)

+7.5%

Change since 2019

22.8%

Rated 100% (FY2025)

Rating levels in Massachusetts, 2019 vs 2025

Share of Massachusetts compensation recipients at each combined-rating level. Nationwide, the share rated 100% roughly doubled over this period; see the shift toward higher ratings for the full story.

0% to 20%

26.1% (was 31.7% in 2019)

30% to 40%

11.6% (was 14.9% in 2019)

50% to 60%

11.8% (was 13.4% in 2019)

70% to 90%

27.7% (was 24.7% in 2019)

100%

22.8% (was 15.4% in 2019)

Shares are computed over recipients whose rating band VA reported (small counts are suppressed). What each level pays: benefits by rating.

Who they are

Of Massachusetts's FY2025 recipients with a reported age, 28% are 17 to 44, 25% are 45 to 64, and 47% are 65 or older. 6,322 are women and 70,195 are men.

Massachusetts has 277 VA-accredited VSO representatives recorded in the free directory, about 36.18 per 10,000 compensation recipients. See VSO representatives in Massachusetts.

Recipients by county

Every Massachusetts county VA reported for FY2025, with the FY2019 comparison where the same county existed. "Rated 100%" is that county's share of recipients at the 100% level. "VSO reps" is the count of VA-accredited VSO representatives whose listed ZIP code falls in that county, an approximate, ZIP-based measure; many representatives serve neighboring counties too.

County	FY2019	FY2025	Change	Rated 100%	VSO reps
Middlesex	13,577	12,971	-4.5%	21.4%	44
Worcester	9,230	10,758	+16.6%	22.5%	31
Plymouth	7,129	9,040	+26.8%	25%	29
Bristol	6,708	7,767	+15.8%	21.3%	16
Essex	7,225	7,491	+3.7%	19.9%	26
Norfolk	6,697	7,222	+7.8%	23.5%	24
Hampden	5,840	6,689	+14.5%	23.7%	35
Suffolk	6,498	5,347	-17.7%	27.8%	32
Barnstable	3,757	4,155	+10.6%	20.3%	7
Hampshire	1,896	2,190	+15.5%	25.1%	10
Berkshire	1,433	1,588	+10.8%	22.2%	9
Franklin	973	1,170	+20.2%	23.1%	4
Dukes	184	139	-24.5%	22.3%	0
Nantucket	67	36	-46.3%	27.8%	0

Free help and related references

Search representatives Massachusetts state benefits