Emergency Services to Homeless Veterans

In cases where a homeless person applies for assistance to a city or town veterans’ services department and states that he or she is a veteran as defined in M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, clause forty-third, but does not have in his or her possession the supporting documents to prove his or her veteran’s status, the veterans’ agent shall try to obtainas much corroborative information from the applicant as possible. If in the judgment of the veterans’ agent, it appears that the applicant’s claim of veteran status is credible and ifthe need for immediate assistance is extreme and critical, the veterans’ agent mayissue a voucher to obtain shelter and related necessities, rather than wait until the required documents are obtained. The veterans’ agent shall inform the applicant that acceptance of the emergency grant shall not entitle the applicant to any additional payments unless the veterans’ agent determines that the applicant is otherwise qualified for benefits pursuant to M.G.L. c. 115 and 108 CMR 7.00. The veterans’ agent shall inform the applicant that in no event shall the emergency payment exceed one month’sbenefits. The veterans’ agent must notify the Secretary at the time of processing anemergency application or on the next business day.