The purpose 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 agency assists Florida veterans, their families, and survivors to improve their health and economic well-being through quality benefit information, advocacy, education, and long-term health care.

The department's activities include the following.

• Claims has state veterans' service officers that offer free assistance with claims for all state and federal veterans' programs.
• Education offers educational benefits for veterans, active duty members, and their families, including tuition waivers, scholarships, priority registration, and high school diplomas for honorably discharged veterans.
• Employment offers various resources to help veterans find employment, including job portals, employment training resources, and unemployment compensation.
• Governor’s Initiative on Lawyers Assisting Warriors provides active-duty service members in Florida access to pro bono legal services in civil cases.
• Health Care services are delivered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs through two Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) in Florida. VISN 8 encompasses 60 counties in North, Central and South Florida. VISN 16 serves the remaining 7 counties in Northwest Florida. The VISN is a service of the VA Sunshine Healthcare Network that offers 24/7 virtual health care services to veterans enrolled in VA Health Care in Florida, including appointment scheduling, nurse triage, and virtual visits with doctors or nurse practitioners through telephone, VA Video Connect, or VA Health Chat.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse has several resources available to veterans, servicemembers and their families to seek mental health and substance abuse. Resources include the Veterans Crisis Line, the Florida Department of Children and Families Service Members, Veterans, and Families resource page, The Fire Watch, the National Alliance of Mental Illness, and Hope for Healing Florida.
• State Veterans' Homes operates eight nursing facilities and one assisted living facility in Florida for honorably discharged veterans that are Florida residents and have a certification of need of assisted living or skilled nursing care. The facilities offer high-quality, skilled nursing care on a cost-effective basis to Florida veterans.  
• Veterans' Preference gives employment preference to veterans and their families in state and local government jobs. Veterans who believe they were denied preference can file a complaint with the department within 60 days of receiving a non-selection notice. The department will investigate and determine if a violation occurred.

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Please contact the department for more information on its funding. Additional information about department funding and activities is available on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal.

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

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website. 

Other Reports
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Annual Reports
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, Florida Veterans Foundation
Veterans Florida
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

Article IV, section 11 of the Florida Constitution and Chs. 292, 295, and 296 and s. 20.37, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs Contact Website
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K
Largo, Florida 33778-1630
(727) 518-3202
Website