Effective Date: January 1, 2007
Purpose:
To provide financial grants to United States Armed Forces active duty military members who served in a combat zone whose primary residence is homestead exempt property located in Hendry County, in order to assist them in the maintenance and support of their families. This program is subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Board of County Commissioners.
Eligibility:
Military Personnel. Qualified Military Personnel includes Hendry County residents who, for the respective Grant Year for which their Combat Duty application is received, served for an aggregate of forty-five (45) days of duty in a Combat Zone.
Disabled Military Personnel. Qualified Military Personnel includes Hendry County residents who, for the respective Grant Year for which their Combat Duty application is received, served less than an aggregate of forty-five (45) days of duty in a Combat Zone due solely to an injury(ies) or disabling injury(ies) in that Combat Zone.
Surviving Spouse. Qualified Surviving Spouse includes the un-remarried surviving spouse of a deceased Qualified Military Personnel includes Hendry County residents who, for the respective Grant Year for which their Combat Duty application is received, served less than an aggregate of forty-five (45) days of duty in a Combat Zone who died from injury(ies) suffered in that Combat Zone.
Definitions:
Combat Duty. Military personnel serving on active duty, including but not limited to Active Duty Personnel, Reserve Personnel and National Guard Personnel serving in a combat zone for a named United Stated military conflict. A combat zone is any area the President of the United States designates by Executive Order as an area in which the United States Armed Forces are engaging or have engaged in combat.
Qualified Military Personnel. Includes Hendry County residents who, for the respective Grant Year for which their application is received: owned and resided on Qualifying Property, paid Property Taxes, and completed Combat Duty during that period.
Proof of Combat Duty. May include the following:
DD Form 214 or equivalent document - showing the dates of Combat Duty
Leave and Earning Statement – showing payment for hostile fire pay, combat pay, etc
Orders – showing actual reporting to and departing a Combat Zone
Department of Veteran Affairs Rating Decision
Combat Duty Grant. The maximum amount awarded per Grant Year shall not exceed $1,000.00 or the total amount of the applicant’s Property Taxes, paid by the applicant, whichever is less..
Qualifying Property. The primary residence of the applicant located in Hendry County upon which a homestead exemption has been granted as of January 1 of the respective Grant Year for which application is made.
Homestead Exemption. The exemption from taxation provided in Section 6(a), Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Florida.
Property Taxes. All ad Valorem taxes paid on the qualifying Property by the individual applicant during the Grant Year, including those for schools, and other special taxing districts. This excludes all non-ad Valorem assessments included on the property tax bill.
Grant Year. Shall be a calendar year – January through December.
Procedures:
To apply for the Combat Duty Grant, the applicant, must complete and file with the Hendry County Veterans Services Office, an original Hendry County Combat Duty Grant Application for the respective year. The applicant is required to provide the appropriate documentation for each application. The applicant has until June 30 of the next Calendar Year to file their application.
The County Veteran Service Officer, or in his absence the County Administrator, shall approve or disapprove all applications. The approved application shall be forwarded to the Clerk of Court Finance Office, via the County Administrator for payment. If the application is denied, the applicant has the right to file an appeal with the Hendry County Administrator. The appeal must arrive no later than 3 months from the date of the denial letter.
If the military member cannot apply for the Combat Duty Grant, follow the instructions on the application form under “The application must be accompanied by:”. The military member must submit a statement attesting to why they cannot sign the form.
An applicant may file for more than one Combat Duty Grant, if they become re-eligible during a subsequent Grant Year.
Hendry County
____Combat Duty Grant ____ Disabled Veteran Grant ____Surviving Spouse Grant
Military Member Name: ______________________________________________________
Applicant Name: ___________________________________________________________
Telephone Number: (______) ______ - ___________ SSN: ______ - ____ - __________
Property’s
Physical Address:
__________________________________________________
City: ____________________________________ , FL Zip Code: ____________________
Strap Number: ______________________________________________________________
Ad Valorem Taxes Paid: $______________ Date Paid: __________________________
Military Service (check one): ____Active Duty ____Reserve ____National Guard
(circle one): Army Navy Marine Corp Air Force Coast Guard
Combat Zone Location: ________________________________________________________
Dates in Zone: _______________ to _______________
Date of Injury: _______________ or Date of Death: __________________
The application must be accompanied by:
CERTIFICATION
STATEMENT I certify that the military member identified in this
application owns and resides in the property listed above for which I am
applying. I understand that the
grant amount will not exceed $1000.00. Signature of Applicant:
______________________________________________________ Date:
___________________ SSN:
_________________________ CVSO Signature:
_________________________________ Date Granted:
___________________
Amount of Grant:
$_________________