Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans

The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) provides an award to dependent children or Un remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

Students seeking scholarship funding for the academic year, beginning with the fall term, must submit a completed, error-free Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by April 1st, for priority consideration of an initial award (available October 1st).

NOTE: All questions related to CSDDV on the FFAA must be answered with information related to the veteran by April 1st, so that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs can certify that the veteran qualifies.

General Eligibility Requirements for a Child

The child must:

  • Be between the ages of 16 and 22.
  • Be initially eligible prior to his or her 23rd birthday.
  • Be a dependent child of a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Receive educational opportunity until such a time as the parent classified as prisoner of war or missing in action is returned alive or otherwise classified

General Eligibility Requirements for a Spouse

As certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, the spouse of a disabled veteran must:

  • Be married to a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Have been a Florida resident for one year immediately preceding the occurrence of the veteran’s disability.
  • Be married to the disabled veteran for one or more years.
  • Accept scholarship funding only during the duration of the marriage and up to the point of termination of the marriage by dissolution or annulment.

As certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, the spouse of a deceased veteran must:

  • Be Un remarried.
  • Have been the spouse of a qualified veteran whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Apply for the scholarship within 5 years after the veteran’s death.

Qualified Veteran Requirements

The veteran will:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Have been a Florida resident for one year immediately preceding time of death, determination of 100 percent permanent and total disability, or prisoner of war/missing in action classification.
  • Have met at least one of the following criteria:
  1. Died because of service-connected disability sustained while on active duty.
  2. Be certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having service-connected 100 percent permanent and total disabilities.
  3. Be classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the Armed Forces of the United States or as civilian personnel captured while serving with the consent or authorization of the United States government during wartime service for a dependent child to receive scholarship funding

Requirements to Receive Funding

The student must:

  • Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution.
  • Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
  • Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.
  • Enroll in an undergraduate degree or certificate program for a minimum of six credit hours, 180 clock hours, or the equivalent, per term at an eligible participating postsecondary institution. A student who is enrolled in a private postsecondary institution shall receive a fixed award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee calculation for full-time attendance at a public postsecondary institution at a comparable level. A student enrolled part-time shall receive a reduced award by either one-half or three-fourths of the maximum award

Contact Information

Florida Department of Education

Office of Student Financial Assistance State Scholarship and Grant Programs

Suite 1344

325 West Gaines Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Phone: 888-827-2004

Email: OSFA@fldoe.org

For more information about Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans visit floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org.