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.

​

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.

​

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.

​

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?

​

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