Benefit programs in Massachusetts (2026)
For families in Massachusetts we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
For some of Massachusetts's own programs below we already have a vetted maximum from the official source. Those show "Up to $X/year". For programs without a vetted cap, we describe the program and link its official page while we finish computed-depth verification. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Massachusetts families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 10 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have not yet confirmed a dollar figure for a property-tax relief program in Massachusetts, so none is quoted here. Massachusetts also runs a federally funded LIHEAP energy-assistance program that helps pay heating bills for qualifying households. Figures checked against official sources, last on 2026-08-05.
Does Massachusetts Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Massachusetts runs 10 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "MA Acquired Brain Injury Non-Residential Habilitation (ABI – N) Waiver (40702.R03.00)" and "MA Acquired Brain Injury with Residential Habilitation (ABI – RH) Waiver (40701.R03.00)". These pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have no confirmed dollar figure for what they pay. Amounts depend on an assessment, and most waivers have waiting lists. Ask Massachusetts Medicaid, or call 844-422-6277.
- MA Acquired Brain Injury Non-Residential Habilitation (ABI – N) Waiver (40702.R03.00)
- MA Acquired Brain Injury with Residential Habilitation (ABI – RH) Waiver (40701.R03.00)
- MA Adult Supports Waiver (0828.R03.00)
- MA Children's Autism Spectrum Disorder Waiver (40207.R03.00)
- MA Community Living Waiver (0826.R03.00)
- MA Frail Elder Waiver (0059.R08.00)
- MA Intensive Supports Waiver (0827.R03.00)
- MA MFP Community Living (MFP – CL) Waiver (1027.R02.00)
- MA MFP Residential Supports (MFP – RS) Waiver (1028.R02.00)
- MA Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (0359.R05.00)
See how Massachusetts's Medicaid rules compare with other states
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has 5 property-tax relief programs that seniors may qualify for: Senior / Elderly Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 41, 41B, 41C, 41C½), Senior, Surviving Spouse & Minor-Child Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 17, 17C, 17C½, 17D) and Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit (Schedule CB; G.L. c. 62, § 6(k)). We have not confirmed their dollar amounts against the official state pages (last checked 2026-08-05), so we do not state amounts here. The official links below carry the current figures. Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 844-422-6277 and ask which you qualify for. They will also tell you the filing deadline, which is usually earlier than people expect.
7 programs in Massachusetts. Each description below is drawn from its linked source and shown in full: the tag next to each name marks its source tier (GOV/GOV PDF: the program's own official page, ANALYSIS/IND: a secondary source).
Property-tax figures last checked against official sources on 2026-08-05. See how we verify figures.
| Program | Benefit | Vetted maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior / Elderly Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 41, 41B, 41C, 41C½) GOV PDF | $500 exemption under Clauses 41, 41B and 41C (Clause 41C may be increased up to $1,000 by local vote). Clause 41C½ = 5% of the community's average assessed value of residential property (may be increased up to 20% by local vote). Exemption is credited against the fiscal-year tax bill. | Official source → | |
| Senior, Surviving Spouse & Minor-Child Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 17, 17C, 17C½, 17D) GOV PDF | $175 exemption (reduced-benefit alternative for seniors 70+ who do not meet the stricter Clause 41 tests). May be increased annually up to a DOR-set COLA under local-option Clauses 17E/17F. | Official source → | |
| Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit (Schedule CB; G.L. c. 62, § 6(k)) GOV | Refundable state income-tax credit. Homeowners: credit = the amount by which property tax paid (including water, sewer and stormwater charges, excluding abatements/exemptions) exceeds 10% of total income. Renters: credit = the amount by which 25% of rent paid exceeds 10% of total income. Capped at a maximum credit of $2,820 for tax year 2025. Fully refundable if it exceeds tax owed. | Up to $2,820/year. Income limit: Total income for tax year 2025 must not exceed $75,000 (single, not head of household), $94,000 (head of household), or $112,000 (married filing jointly). Homeowner's assessed home value (before residential exemptions, after abatements) must not exceed $1,298,000.. Tax year 2025. Massachusetts Department of Revenue → | Official source → |
| Senior Property Tax Deferral (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clause 41A) GOV PDF | Postpones (does not forgive) payment of all or part of the annual property tax. Total deferred taxes plus accrued interest may not exceed 50% of the applicant's proportional share of the property's fair cash value. Interest accrues at 8% annually (or a lower locally adopted rate) until the tax becomes due; the rate rises to 16% once payment is due (on sale or death). Secured by a municipal lien; repaid when the property is sold or the owner (and any deferring surviving spouse) dies. | Official source → | |
| Veterans' Property Tax Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22H) GOV PDF | Fixed-dollar exemption by clause: Clause 22 (10%+ service-connected disability, Purple Heart, or Gold Star parent) = $400; Clause 22A (loss/loss of use of one foot, hand or eye, or Medal of Honor / DSC / Navy Cross / Air Force Cross, or POW) = $750; Clause 22B (loss/loss of use of both feet, hands or eyes) = $1,250; Clause 22C (total service-connected disability with specially adapted housing) = $1,500; Clause 22E (100% service-connected disability) = $1,000; Clause 22D (surviving spouses of MIA/service-death) = full exemption; Clause 22F (paraplegic or 100% service-connected blindness) = full exemption; Clause 22H (local option; surviving parents/guardians of service-death) = full exemption. (Communities may vote to increase certain amounts.) | Official source → | |
| Blind Persons' Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 37, 37A) GOV PDF | $437.50 exemption under Clause 37, or $500 under local-option Clause 37A (Clause 37A supersedes Clause 37 in communities that adopt it). | Official source → | |
| Financial Hardship Exemption / Deferral (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clause 18 and Clause 18A) GOV PDF | Clause 18: discretionary exemption of any amount granted by local assessors to a taxpayer who cannot pay because of age, infirmity and poverty. Clause 18A: a related hardship deferral, where the total deferral account may not exceed 50% of the applicant's ownership share of the property's value. | Official source → |
Senior / Elderly Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 41, 41B, 41C, 41C½) GOV PDF
- Benefit
$500 exemption under Clauses 41, 41B and 41C (Clause 41C may be increased up to $1,000 by local vote). Clause 41C½ = 5% of the community's average assessed value of residential property (may be increased up to 20% by local vote). Exemption is credited against the fiscal-year tax bill.
- Official source
- Official source →
Senior, Surviving Spouse & Minor-Child Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 17, 17C, 17C½, 17D) GOV PDF
- Benefit
$175 exemption (reduced-benefit alternative for seniors 70+ who do not meet the stricter Clause 41 tests). May be increased annually up to a DOR-set COLA under local-option Clauses 17E/17F.
- Official source
- Official source →
Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit (Schedule CB; G.L. c. 62, § 6(k)) GOV
- Benefit
Refundable state income-tax credit. Homeowners: credit = the amount by which property tax paid (including water, sewer and stormwater charges, excluding abatements/exemptions) exceeds 10% of total income. Renters: credit = the amount by which 25% of rent paid exceeds 10% of total income. Capped at a maximum credit of $2,820 for tax year 2025. Fully refundable if it exceeds tax owed.
- Vetted maximum
Up to $2,820/year. Income limit: Total income for tax year 2025 must not exceed $75,000 (single, not head of household), $94,000 (head of household), or $112,000 (married filing jointly). Homeowner's assessed home value (before residential exemptions, after abatements) must not exceed $1,298,000.. Tax year 2025. Massachusetts Department of Revenue →
- Official source
- Official source →
Senior Property Tax Deferral (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clause 41A) GOV PDF
- Benefit
Postpones (does not forgive) payment of all or part of the annual property tax. Total deferred taxes plus accrued interest may not exceed 50% of the applicant's proportional share of the property's fair cash value. Interest accrues at 8% annually (or a lower locally adopted rate) until the tax becomes due; the rate rises to 16% once payment is due (on sale or death). Secured by a municipal lien; repaid when the property is sold or the owner (and any deferring surviving spouse) dies.
- Official source
- Official source →
Veterans' Property Tax Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22H) GOV PDF
- Benefit
Fixed-dollar exemption by clause: Clause 22 (10%+ service-connected disability, Purple Heart, or Gold Star parent) = $400; Clause 22A (loss/loss of use of one foot, hand or eye, or Medal of Honor / DSC / Navy Cross / Air Force Cross, or POW) = $750; Clause 22B (loss/loss of use of both feet, hands or eyes) = $1,250; Clause 22C (total service-connected disability with specially adapted housing) = $1,500; Clause 22E (100% service-connected disability) = $1,000; Clause 22D (surviving spouses of MIA/service-death) = full exemption; Clause 22F (paraplegic or 100% service-connected blindness) = full exemption; Clause 22H (local option; surviving parents/guardians of service-death) = full exemption. (Communities may vote to increase certain amounts.)
- Official source
- Official source →
Blind Persons' Exemption (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clauses 37, 37A) GOV PDF
- Benefit
$437.50 exemption under Clause 37, or $500 under local-option Clause 37A (Clause 37A supersedes Clause 37 in communities that adopt it).
- Official source
- Official source →
Financial Hardship Exemption / Deferral (G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clause 18 and Clause 18A) GOV PDF
- Benefit
Clause 18: discretionary exemption of any amount granted by local assessors to a taxpayer who cannot pay because of age, infirmity and poverty. Clause 18A: a related hardship deferral, where the total deferral account may not exceed 50% of the applicant's ownership share of the property's value.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Massachusetts?
Up to $600 toward heating bills. That is the FY 2026 maximum Massachusetts's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) publishes. Most households get less. This is the ceiling, not a typical amount. A separate crisis benefit of up to $600 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Mass.htm
| Program | Benefit | Published maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Help with heating bills, plus emergency help if service is at risk. Emergency crisis help is available. | In Massachusetts the published heating maximum is $600. Crisis maximum: $600. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Massachusetts: Massachusetts gross income does not include Social Security benefits — Social Security is fully exempt at the state level regardless of income (MA DOR, Tax Information for Seniors and Retirees). Massachusetts levies a flat 5% personal income tax, plus a 4% surtax on taxable income above $1,083,150 (tax year 2025).
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: No general age-based or dollar-amount exclusion for private retirement income. Most PRIVATE pensions and annuities are TAXABLE. Traditional IRA/401(k) withdrawals are TAXABLE, but only to the extent distributions exceed contributions that were already taxed by Massachusetts (MA allowed no deduction for those contributions, so previously-taxed basis is recovered tax-free — MA taxable amount often differs from the federal amount). Many GOVERNMENT pensions are EXEMPT: Massachusetts state/local and U.S. federal contributory government pensions are fully exempt; pensions from another state's or its political subdivisions' government retirement systems are exempt only if that state grants a reciprocal exemption to Massachusetts government pensions. Separately, residents age 65 or older receive an additional $700 personal income-tax exemption (age-based, not specific to retirement income).
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Massachusetts too
These are computed for every family, wherever they live.
VA Aid & Attendance
An extra monthly VA payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help.
Medicare Savings Programs
State help that pays your Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays.
Medicare Extra Help
Lowers what you pay for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
SNAP (food support)
Monthly money for groceries. Older adults often qualify for more than they expect.
Social Security & SSI
Checks whether the person may be missing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.
Federal tax credits
Credits and deductions families miss, including medical expenses and the credit for the elderly or disabled.
Medicare before 65
Medicare eligibility for people under 65 through a disability.
Who do I call in Massachusetts for help with elder care?
Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 844-422-6277. They're the free, no-wrong-door starting point for home care, respite and other long-term-care options in Massachusetts. If someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited, Adult Protective Services can help at 800-922-2275.
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) / No Wrong Door
Free help understanding your options.
844-422-6277Which of these fits your family?
Being on this list doesn't mean your family qualifies. That depends on income, savings, care needs and service history. The free check works out which ones are worth your time, in about four minutes.
Not legal or medical advice. Benefits vary. Figures are estimates.