Florida State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

100% State Benefits – Florida

Note: Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/florida-state-veterans-benefits.html

Visit the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs for more detailed information: https://www.floridavets.org/

Veterans Homes

For more information, visit: https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm

Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and setting availability.

Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes.

Talk with a VA social worker about the eligibility requirements of State Veterans Homes near you and to figure out a plan for paying for State Veterans Home care services.

Veterans Homes Locations:

Florida State Veterans Home

The Robert Jenkins, Jr. Assisted Living/Domiciliary Home provides a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and incidental medical care to eligible veterans. Veterans admitted must be residents of Florida for one year prior to admission and have an honorable discharge. The cost of care is determined based on income.

Veterans Nursing Homes of Florida

The state of Florida operates 6 Veterans’ nursing homes and 1 assisted living facility throughout the state. Basic admission requirements for all veterans’ nursing homes in Florida include an honorable discharge, Florida residency for one year prior to admission, and certification of need of nursing home care by a VA physician.

Florida National Cemeteries

For more detailed information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/state.asp?STATE=FL

National Veterans Cemeteries:

Barrancas National Cemetery 1 Cemetery Road Pensacola, FL 32508 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 850-453-4108 Fax: 850-453-4635
Bay Pines National Cemetery 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard North St. Petersburg, FL 33708 Burial Space: Cremation Only	Phone: 727-319-6479 Fax: 727-319-6490
Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 5525 U.S. Highway 1 Mims, FL 32754 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 321-383-2638 Fax: 321-383-2642
Florida National Cemetery 6502 S.W. 102nd Avenue Bushnell, FL 33513 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 352-793-7740 Fax: 352-793-9560
Jacksonville National Cemetery 4083 Lannie Road Jacksonville, FL 32218 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 904-766-5222 Fax: 904-766-5980
Sarasota National Cemetery 9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 877-861-9840 Fax: 941-922-3457
South Florida National Cemetery 6501 S. State Road 7 Lake Worth, FL 33449 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 561-649-6489 Fax: 561-649-3948
Tallahassee National Cemetery 5015 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, FL 32311 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 850-402-8941 Fax: 850-402-4099

State Veterans Cemeteries: No Records were found for State run Veterans Cemeteries

Many states have established state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility is like Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries but may include residency requirements. Even though they may have been established or improved with Government funds through VA’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, state veterans cemeteries are run solely by the states.

Florida Veteran Financial Benefits

Basic Property Tax Exemptions

Resident veterans with VA disability of at least 10% can get a $5,000 deduction on their home’s assessed value. The unremarried surviving spouse who had been married to the veteran for at least 5 years may also entitled to this exemption.

Consult the local assessor’s office for detailed requirements regarding these exemptions.

Annual refiling is required.

Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm

Homestead Exemption

Florida resident veterans with an honorable discharge and are 100% permanently and totally disabled as well as quadriplegic veterans are exempt from paying property tax on their residence.

Unremarried surviving spouses may also be eligible.

Florida resident veterans who are paraplegic, hemiplegic, or permanently and totally disabled who must use a wheelchair for mobility, or are legally blind, may be exempt from real estate taxation depending on income.

Consult the local assessor’s office for detailed requirements regarding these exemptions.

Annual refiling is required.

Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm

Florida Driver’s License/ License Plates/ Disabled Parking Permit

Visit the following site for more information: https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/

Drivers License and ID Card: Veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability are eligible for a no fee driver license, with endorsements, or an identification card. The same veterans are also entitled to a no fee Veteran’s designation on their driver license or ID card. The “Veteran” designation can be used to show proof of status for discounts at participating merchants.

Qualified veterans should provide a valid identification card from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, indicating the 100 percent, total and permanent service-connected disability rating.

License Plate: 100 percent disabled veterans are eligible for a “DV” license plate at no charge to the applicant.

Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles for a complete list of needed documents.

You will need your Summary of Benefits letter.

Many of the needed documents can be found at the following link: https://www.flhsmv.gov/military/military-forms-packet/

Disabled Veteran Parking Permit: There is no fee for a permanently disabled parking permit. To make application for a disabled parking permit, please complete an Application by Disabled Person Parking Permit (HSMV form 83039) and bring it in to a local motor vehicle service center.

Application Link: https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/83039.pdf

Florida Veteran Hiring Preference For Government Jobs

Florida state, county, and municipal governments give disabled veterans with an honorable discharge, wartime veterans, spouses and surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans preference in hiring for government jobs.

Visit the following site for employment opportunities: https://www.floridavets.org/benefits-services/employment/

Florida Veteran Education Benefits

Florida offers a wide variety of Educational Benefits to resident veterans and their dependents.

State Educational Benefits can be used in conjunction with the National Educational Benefits (DEA)

Visit the following link for a full list: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/veterans.stml

Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver Program

Florida waives out-of-state tuition fees for all honorably discharged veterans who reside in the state and who are enrolled in Florida public, post-secondary institutions, through the “Congressman C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver Program.” The out-of-state tuition and fee waiver is extended to spouses and dependent children who reside in Florida and who are using GI Bill® benefits for enrollment in Florida public, postsecondary institutions

Purple Heart Recipient Waivers

Florida waives undergraduate-level tuition at state universities, community colleges, and career and technical training facilities for Florida recipients of the Purple Heart and higher combat decorations.

Education for Children Of Deceased Or Disabled Florida Veterans (CSDDV)

Link to Scholarship Fact Sheet: https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/factsheets/CSDDV.pdf

Florida provides four-year college educational opportunities for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected disability or who are 100% percent service-connected totally and permanently disabled veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

For more information, Visit www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org or call toll free (888) 827-2004.

Dependent children of service members Missing In Action or Prisoners Of War may also be eligible for tuition benefits.

Death Benefits for Survivors of First Responders and Military Members

The spouses or dependents of deceased members of the Florida National Guard and the United States Armed Forces are eligible to receive tuition waivers equal to the cost of tuition and matriculation and registration fees for a total of 120 credit hours or 3,600 clock hours. Members of the National Guard must have been full-time Florida active duty. In addition, the deceased military member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard must have been a Florida resident, or their duty post must have been within Florida at the time of death. For more information, please contact the Veteran Affairs contact at the institution of enrollment.

Florida Veteran Recreation Benefits

State Park Admission

25% discount for annual pass to all state parks for all honorably discharged veterans.

Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive a free military entrance pass, good for admission to all Florida State Parks. This lifetime pass is valid for park admission of up to eight people, at most locations.

Proof of identification, service-connected disability and honorable discharge are required.

Acceptable documentation include: Valid driver’s license; Documentation from Department of Defense or another appropriate agency of service-connected disability; DD Form 214 showing honorable discharge.

The military entrance pass can only be obtained in person at any Florida State Park.

Surviving Spouses and parents of US military members who have died in combat are also eligible for this pass.

Campsite Discount:

Additionally, if you plan to do some camping in the Sunshine State, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on your campsite. This discount is only available to Florida citizens who either are at least 65 years old or have a 100% disability. Proof of age, disability and residency are required upon arrival in order to receive this discount.

County and Municipal Parks

County and municipal parks offer free or reduced entrance fees to current military members, honorably discharged or disabled veterans and their spouses. Contact your local county or municipality for details.

Hunting and Fishing License

Active-duty and retired military Florida residents can get a Military Gold Sportsman’s License for $20. The license covers hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing and a variety of associated permits at a greatly reduced cost.

100% permanently and totally disabled service-connected veterans are entitled to a free five-year hunting and fishing license.

Apply online at: https://www.gooutdoorsflorida.com/

Apply at a local Tax Collector’s Office:

Provide the Tax Collector clerk with proof of residency and qualifying disability documents.
To ensure your local tax collector office processes these applications, contact the local office for details.