Many LGBTQ+ veterans couldn’t get state benefits. There’s a path to ‘right that wrong.’ (GBH)
Below is an excerpt from an article published on September 23 by GBH detailing the Veterans Equality Review Board (VERB) assisting service members discharged under discriminatory policies in accessing state benefits they were previously denied. Despite this, advocates, including Anna Richardson of Veterans Legal Project, have voiced concerns over outreach.
One year ago, Massachusetts created a review board for service members discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and similar policies. They could petition for state benefits like rental assistance and reimbursements for family medical expenses — benefits they previously couldn’t access due to their discharge status.
In that year, five veterans applied, and four were approved.
State officials like Jon Santiago, Massachusetts’ secretary of veterans’ services, say it’s not about the numbers.
“Look, one veteran in need is one too many,” he said. “The fact that it’s been a year and we’ve had a number of folks apply and get back the services they deserve, we’re pretty proud of that.”
Some advocates say they aren’t surprised by the figure.
“This is a very new thing, and getting the word out about it is challenging,” said Anna Richardson, who represents veterans in federal discharge upgrades at the Boston-based Veterans Legal Services. “And so it’s not surprising to me that it’s been kind of underutilized.”
Now, this new board is already changing. Under legislation signed by Gov. Maura Healey in August, the Veterans Equality Review Board is massively expanding in its mandate — while also likely serving a much smaller population of veterans.
