2008-09
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or
Disabled Veterans and Servicemembers
Fact Sheet

• 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.
• Veterans classified as deceased, 100% permanently and totally disabled, or a prisoner of war or missing in action, must have been Florida residents for one year immediately preceding time of death, determination of 100% disability, or prisoner of war/missing in action classification.
• 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, he/she may be granted a probationary award 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 hour per semester (180 clock hours) for one or both semesters requirement (during the previous summer and two semesters or three quarters) for renewal, may not receive funding the following academic year.
• To be eligible for restoration in a subsequent year, the student must apply for restoration and 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 he/she has earned an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year for which he/she 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.

• For a student attending an eligible Florida public postsecondary institution, the annual amount of the scholarship is the cost of tuition and registration fees for two semesters or the equivalent.
• A student who is enrolled in an eligible participating nonpublic Florida postsecondary educational institution is eligible for an annual award equal to the amount that would be required to pay for the average tuition and registration fees at the comparable level of a public postsecondary educational institution, prorated by number of hours enrolled.
• A student enrolled part-time shall receive a reduced award by either one-half or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending on the level or fees assessed.
• If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants, the Department will prorate awards.
• Applications received after April 1 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis if sufficient funds remain.

• 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 in equal installments 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 percent 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.