Florida Resources for Military Travelers and Veterans

By Lauren Tjaden

In military families, travel is a way of life. Separations are frequent, as are moves.

And moving? We all know what that’s like. A move means the kids have to go to new schools, make new friends. Everything from the climate to the grocery store is likely to be different. And you leave things behind: your favorite teacher, a beloved neighbor, or your football or tennis teammates. It’s not easy.

The good news is that Florida offers abundant resources for military families and veterans—including discounted places to stay, recreation opportunities, even nursing homes. Here's where to discover organizations, laws and benefits that honor and serve the military and veterans.
 

FLORIDA MILITARY-FRIENDLY GUIDE
 

The Florida Defense Support Task Force creates this annual guide, highlighting Florida’s laws, programs and services that benefit the military service and their families. Here’s the full guide: enterpriseflorida.com/Florida-Military-Friendly-Guide.pdf . Here are some of the benefits the guide covers:

Protections

These include protection against unfair trade and insurance practices, cancellation of health or auto insurance, and termination of rental agreements. It also covers terminations of vehicle registration, telecommunications services, late voting registrations and a host of other terminations for deployed service members. Generally, these protect a service member who’s been called to active duty or deployed to a different area from fines or charges for cancelling any of these things earlier than specified in their contracts.

Licenses, Fees and Registrations

Benefits include military discounts at Florida State Parks, hunting and fishing license discounts, special license plates, waiving of age requirements for lodging and firearms, and tax exemptions for vehicles imported from a foreign country.

Professional Licensure Reciprocity

These Florida laws honor valid, current licenses for practicing law, medicine, business and teaching from other states for military spouses.

Tax and Financial Benefits

Homestead exemptions, exemptions from the local business tax, and ad valorem tax exemptions are some of the financial benefits for veterans and service members who are deployed in certain military operations.

Unemployment Compensation and Employment Protection/Assistance

These include provisions that ensure that a person who voluntarily leaves employment due to relocation as a result of his or her spouse’s military orders isn’t disqualified for unemployment compensation benefits. Further, CareerSource provides employment assistance to military spouses and dependents.

Educational Benefits

Military educational benefits include in-state tuition rates for qualified military and family members at Florida colleges and universities, waivers of undergraduate tuition for a recipient of a Purple Heart or other qualified combat decoration, and college credit for military training and education courses. In addition, the Educational Dollars for Duty (EDD) Program will pay for courses that aim toward a technical certificate or an associates, baccalaureate, or master’s degree. The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children aims to remove obstacles to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment.

Family Support

Military family support includes needs-based financial assistance for dependents of service members on active duty serving in the global war on terrorism, and who are federally deployed or participating in state operations for homeland defense. Another benefit waives the requirement for a Florida driver’s license if a service member has enrolled children in Florida public schools, if the service member has has a valid military driving permit or a valid driver’s license issued by another state.

The Governor’s Initiative on Lawyers Assisting Warriors

Under the GI LAW, Florida’s leading law firms provide pro bono legal services for military members. Those interested in obtaining pro bono legal services can visit enterpriseflorida.com/lawyers-assisting-warriors, fill out a Legal Assistance Request Form, and submit it through their appropriate Judge Advocate General or civilian military attorney’s office.

Veterans Treatment Courts

The T. Patt Maney Veterans’ Treatment Act authorizes a veterans court that addresses substance abuse and mental health needs of veterans, including active duty service members, within the criminal justice system. Veterans court requires the participant to appear regularly before the court, attend mandatory treatment sessions, and submit to frequent testing for substance use. You can find more information on Veterans courts in the Veterans Resource Guide: flcourts.org/VETERANS_RESOURCE_GUIDE.pdf

For more information on any of the topics above, see the full Florida Military Friendly Guide: enterpriseflorida.com/Florida-Military-Friendly-Guide.pdf
 

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
 

This department serves more than 1.5 million Florida veterans, promising that the Sunshine State is the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. Their website is where Florida veterans can access earned services, benefits and support. Here’s where you can learn about military benefits: floridavets.org/benefits

Here’s where you can get free benefits and disability claims counseling: floridavets.org/benefits-services/claims

Veterans benefits include:

VA Health Care

The VA offers six medical centers in Florida, situated in Bay Pines, Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Gainesville and Lake City. A new center being constructed in Orlando will be open soon as well.  The VA also operates Outpatient Clinics for veterans health care and Vet Centers for counseling throughout the Florida. Here’s where you can find a VA health care, including medical centers, clinics, and other programs: va.gov/directory/guide

Mental Health Services and Resources

For 24-hour counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone! Veterans in Florida, call the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFLVet (693-5838) or 2-1-1.. The VA offers support for Suicide Prevention, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Military Sexual Trauma and Substance Abuse.

Recovery First Treatment Center in Hollywood, Fla., offers free resources for veterans who cannot afford treatment and need support: Their Free Virtual Support Meetings allow veterans to join 12-step AA/NA meetings hosted weekly by a person in recovery. If you’re looking for a rehab center in Florida, you can take a look at the treatment options that are near to you.

Florida Veteran Nursing Homes

Florida boasts six Veterans' nursing homes and one assisted living facility. Admission requirements include an honorable discharge, Florida residency for one year prior to admission, and certification of need of nursing home care by a VA physician. Here’s where you can find their locations and contact information: floridavets.org/nursing-homes

Florida Veteran Housing

Veteran housing benefits may include a Property Tax Exemption or Homestead Exemption as well as help with your home loan. Here are details: floridavets.org/housing

Florida Veteran Jobs

Florida state, county, and municipal governments promise to give disabled veterans with honorable discharges, as well as wartime veterans, spouses and surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans, preference in hiring. Other employment programs for military member and veterans are available as well; learn about them here: floridavets.org/employment

Florida Veteran Education Benefits

Undergraduate-level tuition waivers as well as education for children of deceased or disabled Florida veterans and scholarships are available. Learn more here: floridavets.org/education
 

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA
 

The Office of the Attorney General of Florida has several resources available for military members and veterans to help them avoid being taken advantage of by bad actors. One such resource is the Military Consumer Protection Resource Guide, which contains invaluable information on predatory lending practices, identity theft, debt collection, foreclosure fraud, and other schemes used to target members of the military and veterans.

Here’s where you can learn about the Military Consumer Protection Resource Guide: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/MilCPGuide

Additionally, the Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Assistance Program (MVAP) utilizes a multi-agency approach to enforce state and federal laws that are in place to protect those who have served or continue to serve our county. The Attorney General has a designated team on standby to review complaints submitted by service members and veterans, and will continue working to ensure that all military members and veterans are protected from deceitful businesses and individuals.

Here’s where you can learn more about the Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Assistance Program and also file a complaint: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/mvap
 

OTHER FLORIDA VETERANS BENEFITS AND SERVICES
 

Other veteran benefits include recreational discounts and freebies, toll road exemptions, dental care programs, insurance, legal advice, consumer services fee waivers and more.

Visit the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs. Here’s the benefits guide detailing the programs: floridavets.org/benefits-services

Recovery First Treatment Center in Hollywood, Fla., offers free resources for veterans who cannot afford treatment and need support: Their Free Virtual Support Meetings allow veterans to join 12-step AA/NA meetings hosted weekly by a person in recovery. Their guide on Veterans and Substance Abuse provides information on commonly abused substances, co-occurring disorders, homelessness and treatment approaches. 

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is where Florida veterans can access earned services, benefits and support. floridavets.org/benefits-services

Veterans Florida is a non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military veterans transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state, providing formidable tools for veterans to take advantage of the benefits of living and working in the Sunshine State. veteransflorida.org