Congratulations—your child has graduated from high school or will soon! Now, it's time to determine how your child's college education will be funded.
As a 100% permanent and total disabled veteran, my child was fortunate enough to qualify for the Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) Scholarship Program, a state-sponsored initiative in Florida that provides financial assistance to eligible dependents pursuing higher education. My daughter's journey with CSDDV has been a testament to the program's potential to alleviate financial burdens and empower individuals to achieve their academic goals.
Everything You Need to Know About the Florida CSDDV Scholarship
The Florida CSDDV Scholarship offers financial assistance to spouses and dependent children of eligible Florida veterans for their undergraduate education at eligible institutions. This scholarship is unique as it focuses specifically on the dependents of veterans and does not consider family income or Expected Family Contribution (EFC). All eligible applicants receive equal consideration. The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) determines the veteran's eligibility, and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) disburses the funds directly to the educational institution .
Who is Eligible for the CSDDV Scholarship?
Eligibility for the CSDDV scholarship depends on the status of the veteran and their relationship to the applicant .
Qualified Veteran Requirements: To be eligible, the veteran must meet one of the following criteria and have been a Florida resident for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the disability award:
Be 100% permanent and total disabled as determined by the Veterans' Administration.
Have died from a service-connected disability.
Have been killed in action.
Be classified as Individually Unemployable by the VA.
Be a Prisoner of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA) .
Eligibility Requirements for a Dependent Child:Â To be eligible, a dependent
child must meet the following criteria:
Be between the ages of 16 and 22.
Be initially eligible before their 23rd birthday.
Be a dependent child (adopted, biological, or stepchild) of a qualified veteran, as certified by the FDVA.
Be pursuing an undergraduate degree.
Be listed with the VA as a dependent child .
Eligibility Requirements for a Spouse:Â To be eligible, a spouse must meet the following criteria:
Be legally married to a qualified veteran (including civil unions) for a minimum of one year. Benefits cease if the marriage is dissolved or annulled.
Be listed with the VA as a dependent of the veteran.
Widowed spouses must apply for the scholarship within 5 years of the veteran's date of death. Remarried spouses are not eligible.
Dependent Type | Specific Requirements |
Veteran | 100% permanent and total disabled (VA), Died from service-connected disability, Killed in action, Individually Unemployable, Prisoner of War or Missing in Action, Florida resident for 12 months preceding disability award |
Child | Age 16-22, Initially eligible before 23rd birthday, Dependent child (adopted, biological, step), Pursuing undergraduate degree, Listed with VA as dependent |
Spouse | Legally married for 1 year (including civil unions), Listed with VA as dependent, Widowed spouses apply within 5 years of veteran's death, Not remarried |
How to Apply for the CSDDV Scholarship
The application period generally begins on October 1st and ends on April 1st of the next year for the upcoming academic year. Applicants are required to fill out the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) online at floridastudentfinancialaid.org, including the veteran's name, SSN or claim number, phone number, email address, and military conflict.
How Much Does the CSDDV Pay?
The CSDDV scholarship is particularly valuable in Florida, where the average cost of tuition and fees at public four-year universities is around $6,070 per year.* For families struggling to make ends meet, this amount can be a significant barrier to higher education. However, the CSDDV scholarship effectively covers a substantial portion of these expenses, making it a lifeline for many students.
Personal Experience with the CSDDV
The application process was straightforward and positive. My daughter applied through the Bright Futures website and simultaneously applied for the Bright Futures and CSDDV scholarships. She applied for the scholarship during her senior year, around November/December. We didn't receive a final notice that she was accepted until September after she started college.
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Initial CSDDV Payments
Since my daughter did not receive the first CSDDV payment before the term started, we had to pay out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. She enrolled in 14 credit hours for her first semester; the first payment amount was $2,981. This equaled the $211 per credit hour limit for 2023 and covered 95% of her tuition and fees. She also received the Bright Futures Scholarship, which covered housing and other miscellaneous fees. So, for the first semester, we only had to pay for her meal plan. For the spring, she enrolled in 12 credit hours; her payment was $2,768.74 for CSDDV. She'll receive the Bright Futures Scholarship to recover any remaining costs.
Does the CSDDV Renew?
Yes, as long as your student stays enrolled each semester, the CSDDV will renew, and the amount will be applied to your student's financial aid. For example, for the spring semester, the college automatically applied the CSDDV amount, so we only had to pay out-of-pocket costs that were not covered by any scholarships. Luckily, we didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for the spring semester.
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Does CSDDV Increase Each School Year?
I have found that the financial award did increase on an annual basis. This is beneficial because the cost of college courses remained the same, but her housing and meal plan did increase. So, the increase in the CSDDV award covered an additional portion of the cost of college and allowed us to pay less out of pocket.
My Dependents CSDDV Stopped! What Now?
So, we ran into the unfortunate event of our child's CSDDV stopping during her sophomore year in college. There are a few reasons why your CSDDV might stop, and they are:
Your student's GPA dropped below 2.0.
Your student's did not earn six credit hours in each term.
Your student's met the required six-hour minimum but did not obtain a 2.0 GPA.
Your student's school did not receive funding for the new academic year.
If your student doesn't meet one of the first three requirements, they can reapply after one full academic year to renew their eligibility. If this happens, your student will be responsible for paying for their tuition until they receive renewal approval.
The fourth requirement happened to my student. As a result, we had to pay the remainder of her tuition out of pocket until the school received funding. Luckily, we saved some money for her school expenses and could use that to pay her tuition until the school received the funding. Two weeks after the semester started, the school received funding and refunded our out-of-pocket payment.
CSDDV Impact Beyond Financial Assistance
Beyond its financial assistance, the CSDDV scholarship also offers a sense of community and support for eligible dependents. The FDVA organizes regular events and workshops for CSDDV recipients, providing opportunities to connect with other students, share experiences, and access additional resources.
Furthermore, the CSDDV scholarship serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. It is a tangible expression of gratitude and recognition for their service to our country.
Key Takeaways for the CSDDV Scholarship
My experience with the CSDDV scholarship has highlighted its immense value in supporting the educational pursuits of eligible dependents in Florida. The scholarship provides essential financial assistance, fosters a sense of community, and honors the legacy of our veterans. I encourage anyone who may qualify for CSDDV to explore this valuable resource and take advantage of the opportunities it presents.
Here are some additional tips for applying for the CSDDV Scholarship:
Start the application process early. The deadline to apply for the CSDDV Scholarship is typically in the spring.
Make sure you have all of the required documentation from the disabled veteran. This includes the DD214, the Permanent and Total Disability award letter, and the veteran's honorable discharge status.
Get help from your school's financial aid office. They can help you complete the application process and answer any questions.
Need additional educational scholarship guidance? Schedule a time to chat.