The mission of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is to advocate with purpose and passion for Florida veterans and link them to superior services, benefits, and support. The Cabinet agency is responsible for providing quality benefit information, advocacy, education, and long-term health care in order to improve the well-being of Florida veterans and their families.

The department has a main administrative office in Largo, a capitol office in Tallahassee, and a division in Bay Pines. The department provides services through two organizational units: the Division of Benefits and Assistance and the State Veterans' Homes Program.

The Division of Veterans' Benefits and Assistance assists Florida veterans with obtaining health and financial benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The State Veterans' Homes Program operates six veterans' nursing homes and one veterans' assisted living facility that provides both long-term skilled care services and assisted living services to eligible Florida veterans. Two additional veterans' nursing homes, one under construction and another under renovation, are expected to open to residents in 2021.

The department assists veterans to obtain financial and health benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The department assists veterans in many components such as receiving medical treatment, prescriptions, prosthetic devices, benefit checks, and school program approval. The department also employs Veterans' Claims Examiners who work with veterans to receive benefits. Additionally, the department provides long-term skilled nursing care and assisted living services.

Florida is home to 1.5 million veterans, the third largest veteran population in the nation. Among those veterans are 41,950 World War II veterans, 118,975 Korean War-era veterans, 511,438 Vietnam-era veterans, 362,909 peacetime veterans, 202,852 Gulf War-era veterans, and 206,091 post-9/11 veterans.

Florida Veterans' Care Coordination Program. The 2021 Legislature enacted Chapter 2021-198, Laws of Florida, which authorizes the department to establish to the Florida Veterans' Care Coordination Program as a statewide program to provide veterans and their families dedicated behavioral health care referral services, primarily for mental health and substance abuse. Through the Program, a veteran may call a separate veteran-dedicated support line to receive assistance and support from a fellow veteran trained to respond to the calls for assistance. Program goals include suicide prevention among veterans and increasing of programs and services provided by the department and other community-based entities. 

Other Reports
Annual Reports, Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.
Websites of Interest
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Board of Veterans' Appeals
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration
Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapters 292, 295, and 296, and s. 20.37, Florida Statutes.

Florida Veterans Support Line: 1-800-273-8255

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