Suffolk County
This page includes local event listings and directories of veterans’ services; posts and auxiliaries; Aging Services Access Points; and veteran owned businesses, along with information about VA spending and veterans living in Middlesex County.
All events in Suffolk County are tagged #greater-boston and #boston-metro. When you submit events, include the relevant tags and the name of the town in the event listing so they show up in the relevant calendars.
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. Veterans’ services offices in Suffolk County are below.
Suffolk County Directories
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.
Suffolk County Census Data
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Click here for a breakdown of the 2020 American Community Survey estimates for for Middlesex, Suffolk, and Essex Counties in Northeast Massachusetts.
Suffolk County’s veterans were the most likely to live below the poverty line.
Suffolk County has the smallest proportion of veterans, who make up 2.7% of the population.
Suffolk County has the youngest and most diverse veteran population with:
the smallest proportion of veterans who identify as white and not hispanic or latino (66.9%);
the largest proportion of veterans with service since the 1990 Gulf War Era began (40.2%);
the largest proportion of veterans under age 55 (35.5%);
the largest proportion of veterans who identify as black or African American only (18.6%); and
the largest proportion of women veterans (9.4%).
There are substantial differences in lifetime earnings by educational attainment. Although veterans Northeast Region counties were more likely to have graduated high school and to have completed some college or an associate’s degree, they were less likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to non-veterans.
Veterans in Suffolk County were less likely to be in the labor force and less likely to be employed if they were compared to non-veterans. In inflation adjusted dollars in 2020:
Suffolk County was the only county within the Northeast Region where male veterans earned more than non-veteran men.
Women veterans in Suffolk County earned more than non-veteran women in all counties within the Northeast Region.
Women veterans in Suffolk County earned less than male veterans. The biggest gap was in Suffolk County, where women veterans earned $5,082 less on average than male veterans.
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Based on the 2021 ACS 1-year estimates, there were 12,167 veterans in Suffolk County, including 1,153 women veterans. Almost 66% of all veterans in Suffolk County (6,787) and nearly 21% of women veterans (242) were over age 65.
Links on this page to the Census Explorer, which has been updated to reflect the most current data. To view the 2021 ACS data, visit the following links to the Census Bureau’s website:
2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates by County in Massachusetts
2021 ACS 5-year Estimates by County
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You can explore 2022 American Community Survey 1-year data for Suffolk County via the Census Reporter or by following the links below. This is the most current data. It isn’t yet reflected in the data breakdown on this page, which is from 2021.
Information about the veteran population in the Suffolk County referencing age, gender, and veteran status, and the median incomes, educational attainment, employment status, service-connected disability, service era, and age, disability and poverty status of veterans in Suffolk County is available at the city/town and county level with 1-year estimates (most current) for 2022.
Additional tables linked on the Census Reporter’s Military & Veterans page 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
** Updates in Progress **
In 2021, there were an estimated 12,167 veterans in Suffolk County, including 1,153 women veterans. Almost 66% of all veterans in Suffolk County (6,787) and nearly 21% of women veterans (242) were over age 65.
Based on the most recent 2022 ACS 1-year estimates, there were 15,519 veterans in Suffolk County, including 2,400 women veterans. Almost 42% of all veterans in Suffolk County (6,502 veterans) and around 4% of all women veterans (106) were over age 65.
In 2022, around 8% of veterans (1,251) in Suffolk County fell below the poverty line and 63.5% of these veterans had a disability.
** 2022 1-year data is now available. Check back for updates to the 2021 breakdown below.**
Access to VA Benefits
Based on the 2021 ACS 1-year estimates, around 67% of all veterans (8,211) in Suffolk County served during wartime. Whether or not a veteran has time during “wartime” or “peacetime” service eras determines in part whether a veteran (or their survivor) is can access certain VA benefits. Visit the Financial Security page for more information about financial resources and benefits available.
The 1-year estimates (most current) on this page are from 2021. Population estimates at the links on this page has been updated with the 2022 data.
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 2021 ACS estimates, the number of WWII era veterans in Suffolk County increased from 365 in 2021 to 543 in 2022.
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 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 57% of all “wartime” veterans (4,704) in Suffolk County.
Around 82% of Suffolk County’s disabled veterans in poverty (266) were over age 65.
At least 57% of Suffolk County’s wartime veterans are over age 65.
Around 6.5% of Suffolk County veterans in poverty over 65 (48) did not report a disability.
Based on VA Annual Benefits Reports, at the end of FY21, there were 2,241 veterans on the VA’s pension rolls in Massachusetts, including 153 veterans under age 65. Associated statewide spending was estimated by VA to be $26.9 million annually.
This was a decrease compared to the end of FY20, when VA reported having 2,490 veterans on its pension rolls in Massachusetts, including 249 veterans under age 65. Associated statewide spending was estimated to be $29.4 million annually.
VA Compensation
Eligible disabled veterans may qualify for VA compensation if they have a service-connected disability. Almost 38% of Suffolk County veterans (4,609) reported having any disability. Based on the 2021 ACS data, there were 2,457 service-connected veterans in Suffolk County.
Around 82% of Suffolk County’s disabled veterans in poverty (266) were over age 65.
Around 67% of all disabled veterans (3,083) in Suffolk County were over age 65.
Although only 7% of Suffolk County’s disabled veterans (324) experience past year poverty in 2021, around 44% of the veterans in poverty were disabled.
At least 67% of the service-connected veterans (1,652) reported having compensable disability ratings, compared to 85% reported in Essex County and 87% reported in Middlesex County. Some veterans with more than two separate 0% ratings may also be paid at the 10% minimum amount.
VA Spending in Suffolk County – FY 2021
Based on the 2021 VA GDX Report, the VA spent over $375 million in Suffolk County in FY21, including over $99.3 million providing VA compensation and pension benefit payments. VA doesn’t include the number of beneficiaries or spending by program in its report.
VA spending in Suffolk County also included $218.6 million providing medical care to 5,781 patients, with an average cost of $37,822 per patient, which is the highest spending per patient in Massachusetts.
VA also spent $26.8 million on education and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits in Suffolk County; and $1.5 million on insurance and indemnities.