James Hartsell

New Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide 2022

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Thank you for reading the 2022 edition of the Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide. At the end of World War II, the State of Florida recognized the need to provide services to returning service members and created a division within state government to connect veterans with their earned benefits. To better serve Veterans and their families, Florida voters in 1988 overwhelmingly approved a Constitutional Amendment to create a Cabinet Agency to “Honor Those Who Served U.S.” Today, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is the premier point of entry for Florida Veterans to access earned services, benefits and support.

FDVA operates a network of seven State Veterans’ Homes and
provides statewide outreach to connect Veterans, their families and
survivors with earned services, benefits and support. Two additional
state veterans’ homes will open in the first half of 2022.

Our Veterans’ Claims Examiners, who are often the first-line contact
with our state’s Veterans, can be reached by calling (727) 319-7440.
You may also contact them via e-mail at VSO@fdva.state.fl.us. You’ll
also find our claims examiners in all VA Medical Centers and most VA
Outpatient Clinics. All outreach services are free to the Veteran.

We encourage you to learn more about your earned services, benefits
and support. Follow us online at www.FloridaVets.org and on our
many social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Working together to ensure a positive future for Florida Veterans
and their families, we’ll ensure the Sunshine State continues to be
the most Veteran sought after state in the nation. We are honored to
serve you.

James S. “Hammer” Hartsell
Executive Director
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affair