By Paul Sordillo

Hull Veterans Service Officer

I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback in regard to the information I am trying to get out to the Town of Hull’s veterans and families.

I was not able to get an article for July but, I’m back on track for August.

Have you heard of Massachusetts Veteran Connect? This is a program funded by the Executive Office of Veterans Services. Its intent to fill in gaps in veteran services in Eastern Massachusetts. Some examples of services offered include transportation assistance, health navigation, and housing related-financial assistance. Check out this website for more information and eligibility requirements: www.nechv.org

Annuity payments: This program offers an annuity to certain disabled veterans, parents of deceased veterans, and unmarried spouses of deceased veterans living in Massachusetts. As part of the HERO Act, the annuity will be increasing from $2,000 to $2,500 over two years. Veterans should have received a payment of $1,250 in February of 2025. Then, in August, veterans will receive one annuity check per year of $2,500.

If you are a retiree, you need to action soon on your and dependents retiree ID cards! Time to start planning, as the Department of Defense began issuing Next Generation Uniformed Services Identification Cards on July 31, 2020, and the complete transition to the new ID card is targeted for January 2026. At that time, legacy USID card will no longer work or be accepted.

If your current ID card has a blue, green, red, or orange background, you need a new retiree ID card. Appointments are hard to get, and if you wait until next year, maybe almost impossible.

If you search “Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card” in your preferred browser you should get a link to what the new and old ID cards look like.

Where can you get a new ID card? Boston, Hanscom, Natick, Fort Devens, Cranston, and Cape Cod – these are listed from the closest to farthest distances from Hull. Appointments can only be made online or by phone call, except for Hanscom, which has walk-in hours on a very limited basis. All locations have different days; some are limited to just two or three days a week. These appointments get filled up very fast. Appointments can be made online at idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco or search ID Card Appointment and select osd.mil link.

If an appointment is made, pay attention to the required documents list, as without the required documents, no ID card will be issued.

If assistance is needed you can reach out to my office using the contact information below.

Call or visit the veterans office (appointments recommended, but not necessary) for more details of the subject matter in this article, or any benefit question. Paul Sordillo, Hull’s Veterans Service Officer, can be reached at 781-925-0305 or psordillo@town.hull.ma.us.

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