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Benefits
The Department
of Veterans' Affairs may issue an identification card to any veteran who is a permanent resident of the state and who has
been adjudged by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a 100-percent, service-connected
permanent and total disability rating for compensation, this could also be a rating of Individual Unemployability from the
VA, or who has been determined to have a service-connected total and permanent disability rating of 100 percent and is in
receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services, upon the written request of such
veteran. Such card may be used by the veteran as proof of eligibility for any benefit provided by state law for 100-percent,
service-connected permanently and totally disabled veterans except this card may not be used as proof of eligibility
for Exemption of Homesteads. The identification card shall bear a statement that it is unlawful for any person other than
the veteran to whom it was issued to use the card. FS 295.17
Tuition Benefits
Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law the "Florida GI Bill," modeled after the World War II-era program and intended to make Florida the most military-friendly state in the nation. The new law provides university tuition waivers for veterans and is expected to help increase employment opportunities for veterans. Florida state universities and colleges will be giving $11.7 million in waivers for out-of-state tuition charges for all honorably discharged veterans. Because in-state tuition is thousands of dollars cheaper than out-of-state rates, lawmakers hope the new waivers encourage veterans from outside of the state to apply to Florida schools.
Veterans will pay less to attend Florida colleges and universities starting Tuesday, July 1, 2014. This is just one of a handful of laws taking effect at the start of a new budget year. For example, the Florida GI bill means any veteran living in the Sunshine State only has to pay in-state tuition. That tuition is typically one-third the cost of out-of-state rates.
Florida Service Award Governor’s Veterans Service Award honors Floridians who have served in the U.S. Military.
WHEREAS, it is proper that all Floridians honor America’s military veterans, including Florida’s more than 1.5 million living veterans, through whose selfless service and sacrifice we enjoy freedom and liberty. As a result, the Governor of Florida created executive order number 14-88 “The Governor’s Veterans Service Award” to honor Florida Veterans. Eligibility: Any Florida resident who is either serving honorably as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Coast Guard, or the U.S. Reserve Forces or any Florida resident who has been honorably discharged or retired from active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida National Guard, the U.S. Reserve Forces, or Merchant Mariners with veteran status is eligible. Note: Veterans need not have served in a combat zone to be eligible.
Free Rides for Veterans
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will once again offer free bus rides to active military and veterans in recognition of Veterans Day, November 11, 2015. For more information call 727-540-1800 or 727-540-1900.
New Program to Help Veterans & Family Members State health and Veterans' Affairs officials are teaming up in a new program aimed at helping veterans' families obtain benefits. The new program gives funeral directors the ability to notify the certifying physician that the decedent may have a service-connected disability. The veteran's spouse or other family members may be entitled to VA compensation and other benefits if the service-connected condition wa the underlying cause of death or a contributing factor. Survivors need a death certificate indicating the cause of death was service-connected when applying for the benefit. Florida has one of the largest veteran populations in the U.S. with more than 1.5 million as of: March 2016
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