Norfolk County
This page includes local event listings and directories of local and county veterans’ services; posts and auxiliaries; Aging Services Access Points; and veteran owned businesses, along with information about VA spending and veterans living in Norfolk County.
All events in Norfolk County are tagged #southeast. Some events are also tagged #south-shore, #greater-boston, #boston-metro, or #metrowest depending on the area of the city/town.
When you submit events, include tags and the name of the town in the event listing so the events show up in the relevant calendars and resource listings. If you’re on a desktop, you can search and filter the directories on this page by town, area, region, etc.
The mission of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) is to act as the primary advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans. The Office provides outreach and support through various programs. EOVS offers assistance to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses through the MassVets Financial Benefits Program, administered by local veterans’ services.
Veterans may use the Mass Vet Benefit Calculator to see what they may qualify for and contact their local veterans’ services office to apply. MGL Chapter 115 requires each town/city have a veterans’ agent to administer these benefits, but two or more contiguous towns can also appoint someone to serve as veterans’ agent and form Veterans’ Services Districts.
local Veterans’ Services
district veterans’ services
Norfolk County Veterans’ Services
Norfolk County Veterans’ Services is a program within the County Commissioners’ office reporting to the Commissioners on the status of veterans’ services in the 28 cities and towns in Norfolk County. Norfolk County veterans and beneficiaries with questions or concerns about veterans issues can contact the Veterans’ Services advocate at (781) 461-6105 or by email.
The Norfolk County Veterans’ Services department makes recommendations for improvements to the administration and delivery of veterans’ services; encourages the formation of veterans’ services districts where appropriate; and assists in the betterment of veterans’ services and improvement of access for qualified veterans, dependents, and survivors to state and federal benefits.
RSVP Rides for Veterans
Norfolk County also offers the RSVP Rides for Veterans program. Veterans in Norfolk County who need a ride to a medical or other appointment can call the Norfolk County RSVP Office at (781) 329-5728 to find a volunteer driver at least one week in advance. Rides are at no cost, but the passenger must pay for any tolls or parking fees; rides are subject to volunteer availability.
Norfolk County Directories
veterans’ posts & auxiliaries
veteran owned businesses
The Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts, an initiative of the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court, aims to bring innovative, evidence-based, and equitable interventions to Specialty Courts. Norfolk County holds Veterans’ Treatment Court sessions at the Dedham District Court and Mental Health Court and Recovery Court sessions at the Quincy District Court.
Norfolk County Specialty Courts
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Veterans’ Treatment Courts are court-supervised, treatment-focused collaboratives designed to handle criminal cases involving defendants with a history of military service through a coordinated effort among the veterans services delivery system, community-based providers, and the court in order to improve public safety while dealing with underlying issues of PTSD, TBI, and MST. The Dedham District Court holds Norfolk County Veterans Treatment Court sessions on Tuesdays.
Complete the Referral Form and fax it to (781) 329-0059 to set up an intake.
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Mental Health Courts, also referred to as Recovery Courts and Recovery with Justice, address the behavioral health and social support needs of adults involved with the criminal-legal system. The Quincy District Court operates Mental Health Court sessions in Norfolk County.
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Recovery Courts, also referred to as Drug Treatment Courts and Drug Courts, address the behavioral health and social support needs of adults involved with the criminal-legal system. The Quincy District Court operates Recovery Court sessions in Norfolk County.
Aging Services Access Points
Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) are private, non-profit agencies established under MGL Chapter 19A. ASAPs provide direct and protective services, including information and referrals; interdisciplinary case management; intake and assessment; developing, implementing, and monitoring service plans; reassessing needs; and investigating reports of elder abuse and neglect.
MassOptions is a service of the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) that can also help older adults, people with disabilities, and family members or caregivers identify aging and disability services and connect to those that can meet their needs. Call (800) 243-4636 or click here to complete a referral.
American Community Survey Data Breakdown
The Housing Assistance Council’s Veterans Data Center publishes a Massachusetts state profile breaking down the general demographics for veterans based on the most recent ACS 5-year estimates for 2017–2021, which are the most accurate. The data for Norfolk County is broken down here.
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You can explore 2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for Norfolk County linked below, as well as other military and veteran census data with interactive maps and tables on the Census Reporter.
Data for Norfolk County veterans referencing age, gender, and veteran status, median income, educational attainment, employment status, service-connected disability status, service era is available with 5-year estimates from 2021.
There are additional tables that include information about the Armed Forces, including as part of the labor force (this data is also broken down with racial iterations) and employment status by industry. The following tables break out Armed Forces as a separate column:
Marital Status by sex and labor force participation
Presence of Own Children by age of children and by family type and employment status
Educational Attainment by employment status
Poverty Status by disability and employment status
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Based on 2022 1-year ACS data, 22,234 veterans lived in Norfolk County, including 1,442 women veterans. You can explore the 2022 American Community Survey census data for Norfolk County linked below, as well as other military and veteran census data with interactive maps and tables on the Census Reporter.
Data for Norfolk County veterans referencing age, sex, and veteran status, median income, educational attainment, employment status, service-connected disability, service era, and age, disability, and poverty status are available with 1-year estimates (most current) from 2022. You can also break this data down to the city/town level.
Some tables also have racial iterations and there are additional tables that include information about the Armed Forces. Members of the Armed Forces are generally included as part of the Labor Force and under employment status by industry. These tables also break out Armed Forces as a separate column:
Marital Status by sex and labor force participation
Presence of Own Children by age of children and by family type and employment status
Educational Attainment by employment status
Poverty Status by disability and employment status
Based on the ACS 1-year estimates for 2022, which are the most recent, there were 22,234 veterans living in Norfolk County, including 1,442 women veterans. The data below is all based on the 1-year estimates. Follow the links under the 2021 breakdown to explore 5-year data.
Over 5% of veterans (1,139) in Norfolk County experienced poverty in the prior year. Almost 55% of veterans in poverty had a disability.
Based on 2022 ACS 1-year estimates, almost 74% of all veterans (16,440) in Norfolk County served during wartime. Whether or not a veteran has time during a “wartime” service era determines in part whether the veteran (or survivor) is potentially eligible for the VA pension.
Very low income veterans over age 65 with wartime service may qualify for VA pension whether or not they have a qualifying disability. Visit the Financial Security page for more information about financial resources and benefits available in Massachusetts.
The 1-year estimates (most current) on this page are from 2022. Links to 5-year estimates (most reliable) are available for 2017–2021.
Access to VA Pension
To qualify for the VA pension, eligible veterans must have service during a “wartime” service era. Very low income “wartime” veterans over age 65 may qualify for the VA pension whether or not they are disabled. All veterans with service in the Vietnam, Korea, and World War II eras are over age 65, which includes over 46% (10,278) of veterans with wartime status in Norfolk County.
Over 95% of all disabled veterans in poverty in Norfolk County (592) were over age 65.
Almost 42% of Norfolk County veterans in poverty over age 65 (425) did not report a disability.
The VA GDX Report on VA spending at the county level only breaks out the number of beneficiaries based on spending for healthcare. Based on VA Annual Benefits Reports, at the end of FY22 there were 1,998 veterans on the VA pension rolls in Massachusetts, a decrease from 2,241 veterans in FY21.
Pension data is broken out in the chart above with annual state spending. Overall, wartime veterans’ access to VA pension decreased from 4,715 to 4,231 veterans between FY2002–12 and from 3,937 to 1,998 veterans between FY2013–22.
Access to VA Compensation
Over 27% (6,044) of Norfolk County veterans reported having a disability. Disabled veterans are potentially eligible for VA compensation if they have a service-connected disability, including the almost 24% of veterans in Norfolk County (5,243) with peacetime status who don’t qualify for VA pension.
Low income veterans with peacetime service only may still qualify for MassVets financial benefits if they have served more than 180 days on active duty. Visit the Financial Security page for more information.
Although only 10% of disabled veterans in Norfolk County fell below the poverty line, disabled veterans made up around 55% of the veterans in poverty.
Over 93% of all disabled veterans in Norfolk County (5,636) were over age 65.
Over 95% of all disabled veterans in poverty in Norfolk County (592) were over age 65.
Based on the 2022 1-year ACS data, there were 5,243 service-connected veterans in Norfolk County. More than 92% of the service-connected veterans had compensable disability ratings. Based on VA Annual Benefits Reports, there were a total of 69,565 veterans on the VA compensation rolls across Massachusetts at the end of FY22, an increase from 68,606 veterans at the end of FY21.
ACCESS TO VA HEALTHCARE
As of November 10, 2023, all World War II Veterans are eligible for free VA health care, medical services, and nursing home care regardless of their length of service or financial status (this includes service between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946).
Based on 2022 ACS 1-year estimates, there are 439 WWII era veterans in Norfolk County.
Potentially eligible WWII veterans not already enrolled in VA healthcare must apply in order to access the free VA care.
Visit the Healthcare page for more information and healthcare options.
VA Spending in Norfolk County – FY 2022
Based on the 2022 VA GDX Report, the VA spent over $363.9 million in Norfolk County in FY22, including almost $155.9 million on VA compensation and pension benefit payments.
VA spending in Norfolk County included over $188.9 million providing medical care to 7,781 patients, with an average cost of $23,672 per patient.
VA also spent nearly $16.4 million on education and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits in Norfolk County, and almost $2.8 million on insurance and indemnities.