WELCOME TO 
1st VETERANS KIDS CARE

Education Scholarship

Education Benefits  2000 toward tuition costs per year the student remains eligible

1st Veterans Kids Care

Children and Spouses of Veterans Scholarship Program    1stVCSV

• 1stVCSV Scholarships Explained – Program Overview 

• Eligibility – Veteran, Child, Spouse

 • Florida Residency Requirements 

• Applying

• Eligibility Disputes 

• Disbursements

• The 1stVCSV Scholarship is a scholarship offered to dependents of deceased or disabled

   veterans. This scholarship is unique as it is only available to dependents of veterans. 

• The 1stVCSV scholarship does not take into consideration a family’s income and Expected

   Family Contribution (EFC), like many other scholarships do. 

• All applicants receive equal consideration as long as they meet eligibility and application

   requirements. 

• 1st Vet's role in the process is to ensure the veteran meets the criteria for his/her family

   member to receive the scholarship. It is our responsibility to notify the Florida Department

   of Education of a veteran’s eligibility status

Veteran Eligibility

• To be eligible for the CSDDV Scholarship, the veteran must be: – 100% permanent and

   totally disabled as determined by the Veterans’ Administration – Died from a service-

   connected disability – Killed in action – Individually Unemployable – Prisoner of War or

   missing in action.

• Benefits cease when the veteran is returned alive or otherwise classified AND – Be a Florida

   resident 12 months immediately preceding the date of disability award.

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Eligibility for Children

• Children of veterans must be between the ages of 16 and 22.

• Children must be initially eligible before their 23rd birthday

• Be a dependent child of a qualified veteran certified by the FDVA – Adopted –

   Biological – Step

• Pursuing an undergraduate degree • Listed with the VA as a dependent child

Eligibility for Spouse

• Legally married to a qualified veteran (including civil unions) for a minimum of one year –

   Benefits stop if the marriage is dissolved or annulled.

• Listed with the VA as a dependent of the veteran

• Widowed spouses must use the benefit within 5 years of the veteran’s date of death –

   Remarried spouses are not eligible for this scholarship.

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Florida Residency Requirements 

• For a veteran’s dependents to be eligible for the CSDDV scholarship, the veteran must have

   been a Florida resident 12 months immediately preceding the disability award date –

   Example: The veteran is awarded 100% permanent and total disability with an eligibility

   date of 15 Jan 2020 • In this scenario, the veteran is required to be a Florida resident on

   15 Jan 2019 – 15 Jan 2020 – Veterans cannot receive disability starting 15 Jan 2020 and wait

   a year to claim Florida residency for the purpose of the CSDDV scholarship – Residency

   must be obtained prior to the disability award.

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When Do I Apply? 

• The on-time application window is 1 October – 1 April the following year – Example: An

   individual may apply from 1 Oct 2020 – 1 Apr 2021 as an on-time applicant for the

   academic year 2021/22 – Applications received after 1 Apr 2021 will be wait-listed and will

   only receive funding if there is money left over from on-time applications

• Funding decisions will be made by the Florida Department of Education in the month of

   July before the Fall term begins Do I Have to Apply?

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Do I Have to Apply Every Year? 

• If you are eligible for the scholarship and receive funds, you do not need to apply for

   subsequent years, unless – You lose funding because your GPA is not met – You take time

   off from school. 

• If you are eligible for the scholarship and do not receive funds, you will need to reapply 

• Reminder: If you lose funding for any reason, you will need to reapply What Happens if I

   Transfer to Another School? 

• If you would like to transfer from one school to another, you are required to notify the

   Florida Department of Education.

 • You must be enrolled in the new school prior to leaving the old one. Otherwise, you could

   lose funding. 

• The Florida Department of Education sends scholarship money directly to the school

   Where Do I Apply? What Information Do I Need? 

• Applications must be completely and correctly filled out at floridastudentfinancialaid.org to

   be eligible for consideration. 

• Applicants are required to provide the veteran’s – Name – SSN or Claim Number – Phone

   Number – Email Address – Military Conflict. 

• The applicant must provide the requested information on the application. Review the

   CSDDV Scholarship Application. 

• The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs will conduct a review of all applications and

   notify the Florida Department of Education of the applicant’s results – It is the applicant’s

   responsibility to follow their application from start to finish – The FDVA will not notify you

   of any application issues, but a note will be added to your application – Applicants will

   receive email updates from the FL Department of Education when additional information

   is requested – Eligibility does NOT guarantee funds After You Apply for the CSDDV

   Scholarship.

• The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs will complete the initial review of the

   application.

• Upon completion of review, the applicant will be updated in the system to – Eligible –

   Ineligible.

• Funds disbursement decisions are not made until July, prior to the Fall semester start

• Questions about disbursements can be directed to the FL Department of Education at

   888-827-2004 – Do not direct disbursement questions to the Florida Department of

   Veterans’ Affairs CSDDV Eligibility Disputes.

• What you should do if your application for the CSDDV is determined ineligible – Contact

   the Florida Department of Education for clarification

• They will either assist with the ineligible status or

• They will have you contact the scholarship administrator for more information

• The most common reasons for denial – The veteran is not 100% permanent and totally

   disabled as determined by the Veterans’ Administration – Florida residency is not met

• Not all veterans update their address history with the VA

• Veteran’s records are how we determine residency

• Veteran will have to provide proof of Florida residency

• The applicant does not provide a veteran’s requested information disbursements

• All funds disbursements and amounts are determined by the Florida Department of

   Education (FDOE)

 • The FDVA only determines eligibility for the CSDDV • Funds are disbursed directly to the

    educational institution the dependent is attending

• If a dependent changes schools, they must notify the FDOE of the new school – Inaccurate

   information can result in a delay in funding.

• Scholarship decisions are made in July, and funds are disbursed in late July – early August

   – All disbursement questions must be directed to the FDO