Massachusetts Disability Panel Defers Policy Brief Discussion to August Meeting

BOSTON — May 18, 2026 — Massachusetts disability employment panel hears tax credit update, veteran workforce barriers. The Employment Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met May 18 to receive two presentations — one from MassAbility on the Disability Employment Tax Credit, which has drawn 78 certification applications but has been claimed by just one company since Governor Baker signed it into law in 2022, and one from Scott Pitta, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Veteran Advocate, who outlined the complexity of VA disability ratings and the challenge of converting military training into civilian licenses. Co-Chair Jossie Burke-Sabat noted the $5,000 first-year employer incentive remains largely untapped and said MassAbility will seek expanded data from the Department of Revenue. Pitta told members his 11-person office is currently focused narrowly on nursing licensure equivalency for veterans, with an initial gap assessment due July 1, and noted that between 25 and 30 percent of Massachusetts residents who join the military return to the state. The subcommittee tabled discussion of a 60-page policy brief on the benefits cliff, scheduling it for its August 31 meeting.