2009-10
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or
Disabled Veterans and Servicemembers
Fact Sheet

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Be a Florida resident for one year immediately preceding time of death, determination of 100% disability, or prisoner of war/missing in action classification.
• Have died as a result of a service-connected disability(ies) sustained while on active duty.
• Have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected 100% permanent and total disability.
• Have been 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.

• 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. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
• 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.
• Meet State of Florida’s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid.

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

• Be unremarried.
• Have been the spouse of a qualified veteran or servicemember whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Have been, with the servicemember, a Florida resident for 1 year immediately preceding the servicemember’s death as certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Apply for the scholarship within 5 years after the servicemember’s death as certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Be the spouse of a qualified veteran or servicemember whose official military and residency status is certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Have been married to the disabled servicemember for one or more years as certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Have been, with the servicemember, a Florida resident for 1 year immediately preceding the occurrence of the servicemember’s disability as certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Accept scholarship funding only during the duration of the marriage and up to the point of termination of the marriage by dissolution or annulment.

• Submit a fully completed error free Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application by April 1.
• Ensure that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs certifies the applicant’s eligibility by April 1.

• A renewal application is not required.  A recipient is automatically considered for a renewal award.
• Eligibility for renewal is determined at the end of the second semester or third quarter or the equivalent each academic year.  Credit or clock hours earned the previous summer can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required for renewal.
• To be eligible for renewal, a participant must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and earned six credit hours or 180 clock hours per term, or the equivalent, for the number of terms for which the award was received.

• If a student does not meet the minimum institutional cumulative GPA, a probationary award may be granted for two semesters or three quarters.
• To be eligible for renewal the following year after probation, the student must have earned the required credits or clock hours and institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• If a student does not meet the annual minimum 6 hours per semester (or equivalent) requirement for renewal (for one or both semesters), funding may not be received the following academic year.
• To be eligible for restoration in a subsequent year, the student must apply for restoration, meet the general eligibility requirements for restoration, and have earned an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• The student may be eligible for restoration if an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is earned at the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year for which the student was ineligible.
• To request restoration, the student must complete the Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students by April 1.
• The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available beginning February 1 at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students.

• A student who was eligible for an award but did not accept an award during the previous academic year must complete the Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students by April 1.
• The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available beginning February 1 at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students.

• A student enrolled in at least six credit hours at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary institution will receive the specified cost per credit hour award listed below for two semesters or the equivalent per academic year.
• If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants, the Florida Department of Education will prorate awards.
• Applications received after April 1 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis if sufficient funds remain.

Students will receive the cost per credit hour award amounts listed
below as specified in the 2009-10 General Appropriations Act.

• From the funds available, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) awards a student who meets the eligibility requirements.
• The postsecondary institution will disburse the scholarship to an eligible student each term after the end of regular registration, inclusive of the drop/add period.
• Awards are made for the first and second semesters; or the first, second, and third quarters; or the equivalent of the regular academic year.

• An eligible student may receive funding for up to 110% of the number of the required credit hours of an initial baccalaureate degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled.
• Unused hours may not be used for further course funding after a student earns a baccalaureate degree.

• An applicant may appeal if he or she believes the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) erred determining eligibility or in failing to transfer an award.
• If aid is denied for failure to meet state academic progress requirements, an applicant may appeal the denial to the institution by providing proof of illness or other emergency beyond the applicant's control.

• By accessing and updating the student record on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
• Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
• select Application Status & Award History, and then
• under Initial Student Update, select the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.