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Education Benefits for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Servicemembers

Florida pays for the education of a dependent child or spouse of a servicemember who died from service-connected causes or is rated 100% disabled.

Verified August 15, 2026

What this benefit is

Florida pays for the education of a dependent child or spouse of a servicemember who died from service-connected causes, or who is rated 100% disabled.

What it's worth: Education at state expense at a Florida public institution

  • Administered under §§295.03–295.05 and §1009.40; the award is set by those provisions rather than named in §295.01.
  • A spouse of a deceased servicemember must apply within 5 years of the death.

Who is entitled to it

  • A dependent child, or a spouse or surviving spouse of a servicemember.
  • Where the servicemember died from service-connected injuries or disease sustained on active duty, holds a 100% service-connected rating, or holds a valid FDVA identification card.
  • And where Florida is the servicemember's official home of record in DEERS, or the applicant meets the residency test in §1009.21.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

The thing most people get wrong

The five-year clock, and the DEERS test

A spouse of a deceased servicemember must apply within five years of the death — a hard deadline that runs from the death, not from when they decide to enrol. And eligibility keys on the DEERS home of record, not on where the family lives now. A family that moved to Florida after service may not qualify; one that left Florida may still.

How to claim it

Deadline: April 1
  1. 1Confirm Florida is the servicemember's home of record in DEERS.
  2. 2Apply through the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs before April 1.
  3. 3Take the award to your institution's financial aid office.
Form
FDVA application
File with
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, then your institution
Documents you will need
proof of relationship · va letter or death certificate · deers record
Apply each term
A surviving spouse must apply within 5 years of the servicemember's death. That clock is easy to miss.

Common mistakes that cost people this benefit

  • Letting the five-year window pass while deciding whether to study.
  • Assuming current Florida residence is what matters. The DEERS home of record is the test.
  • Missing the April 1 deadline, which is already on our calendar page.
Worth knowingThe 5-year application window for a surviving spouse runs from the date of death, not from when the child or spouse enrols. It is one of the few hard clocks in the Florida corpus.

Questions people ask

How much is it worth?
§295.01 establishes the entitlement; the award mechanics sit in §§295.03–295.05 and §1009.40. Ask the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs for the current award for your programme.
Does a 100% disabled living veteran qualify their children?
Yes. The statute covers death from service-connected causes and a 100% service-connected rating, as well as holding a valid FDVA identification card.

Sources

Why only one source type: The statute establishes the entitlement; §§295.03–295.05 and §1009.40 govern the award mechanics.

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.