FLORIDA VETERAN BENEFITS

  Veterans who have a combat related disability rating from the VA of 10% or more are eligible for an exemption from taxes on their property up to $5,000 in assessed value. Surviving spouses can receive the discount as long as they do not remarry. If the surviving spouse sells the property, they are only eligible for a discount up to the amount they received on their previous property.

Veterans who have a service-connected, total and permanent disability rating from the VA, or who are confined to a wheelchair are eligible for a total property tax exemption on their homesteads. Surviving spouses can receive the exemption if they do not remarry. If the surviving spouse sells the property, they are only eligible for an exemption up to the amount they received on their previous property.

 Veterans 65 years old or older who have a combat related, service-connected disability rating from the VA can receive a discount on the assessed value of their homesteads. The discount is a percentage of the assessed value of the property that is equal to the percentage of the Veteran’s disability rating. Surviving spouses can receive the discount if they do not remarry. If the surviving spouse sells the property, they are only eligible for a discount up to the amount they received on their previous property.

 A service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can receive a property tax exemption if they were deployed during the previous calendar year. The deployment must have been outside the U.S. and in support of a main or subordinate military operation designated by the Florida Legislature. The percent of the taxable value exemption is equal to the percent of time during the previous year that the service member was deployed. 

 The surviving spouse of a resident service member who died from service-connected causes while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces is exempt from taxes on their homestead. 

 Active-duty and retired military Florida residents can get a Military Gold Sportsman's License for $20. The license covers hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing and a variety of associated permits at a greatly reduced cost.

100% permanently and totally disabled service-connected veterans are entitled to a free five year hunting and fishing license.

 Florida State Parks offer a 25% discounted annual pass to all state parks for all honorably discharged veterans and active-duty members.

Florida State Parks also offer a free-for-life Military Entrance Pass to honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disabilities; this pass is offered to the surviving spouses and parents of service members who died in combat as well.  County and municipal parks offer free or reduced entrance fees to current military members, honorably discharged or disabled veterans and their spouses. Contact your local county or municipality for details.

 Florida waives undergraduate-level tuition at state universities, community colleges, and career and technical training facilities for Florida recipients of the Purple Heart and higher combat decorations.  

 Florida provides four-year college educational opportunities for dependent children and spouses of veterans who died from a service connected disability or who are 100% percent service-connected totally and permanently disabled veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces

 The state of Florida operates 6 Veterans' nursing homes and 1 assisted living facility throughout the state. Basic admission requirements for all veterans' nursing homes in Florida include an honorable discharge, Florida residency for one year prior to admission, and certification of need of nursing home care by a VA physician.