Veteran Benefits in Iowa
Iowa VA benefits are available under the state Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), an organization working to advocate for servicemembers and their surviving family members. These veterans benefits include long-term medical care at the state’s Veterans Home in Marshalltown, in addition to educational grants and employment resources.
Other veterans assistance programs include property tax exemptions and burial benefits. Federal veterans administration benefits are also available, including VA disability pay, health care and pensions. To learn more about the administration of veterans benefits by state agencies, including how to apply for them, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Iowa VA disability benefits are available under the IDVA and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Local disabled veterans benefits include the Injured Veterans Grant, an award available to servicemembers with serious service-related injuries.
The grant provides veterans with an award of up to $10,000. To apply for the VA disability payment, service members must complete an Injured Veteran Grant Application and mail it to the following address:
Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs 7105 NW 70th Avenue Camp Dodge, Building 3465 Johnston, IA 50131-1824
Note: Federal VA disability compensation is also available, including Dependency and Indemnity (DIC) and Special Monthly (SMC). General VA disability pay is also available. To make DIC or SMC VA disability claims, applicants must complete VA Forms 21-534EZ or 21-2680. To apply for VA disability benefits, complete VA Form 21-526EZ.
Additionally, Iowa VA life insurance is available on a federal level. Disabled veteran life insurance includes Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI), Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI), Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), and Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI).
Additional veterans life insurance policies are available through Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) and Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI).
Note: For assistance in applying for life insurance for veterans, contact the IDVA at 515-252-4698.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Federal VA health care includes coverage under the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who have VA health insurance can receive access to preventative care services, emergency aid, prescription medications and assisted living.
To apply for VA medical benefits, service members must call 1-877-222-8387 to apply by telephone, or they may visit a local veteran health care center to apply in person.
Alternately, patients may apply for veterans health insurance online or by mailing an Application for Health Care (Form 10-10EZ) to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Additional VA medical benefits are accessible under the IDVA. As such, healthcare for veterans in IA includes access to the state Veterans Trust Fund, a program helping to provide unemployed or underemployed servicemembers with medical-related financial assistance. To apply for VA health care benefits, servicemembers must complete an Iowa Veterans Trust Fund Assistance Request and mail it to the IDVA office in Johnston.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Federal VA pension programs include Aid and Attendance (A&A), Housebound benefits, survivors payments and assistance for financially-needy veterans.
To apply for a veterans pension in Iowa, servicemembers must complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, or 21P-534EZ to receive survivors benefits. To receive a VA pension benefits through A&A or the Housebound program, applicants must submit medical evidence to support their claim.
Applicants must send medical documentation to the Pension Management Center (PMC) at the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: St. Paul Pension Center P.O. Box 5365 Janesville, WI 53547-5365
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Several VA housing benefits are available under the IDVA, including homeownership assistance, property tax exemptions and homestead tax credits for veterans with disabilities. To receive VA housing assistance in Iowa, veterans may apply for the following programs:
- The state Finance Authority’s Military Homeownership Assistance Program – apply through VA home loan lenders
- Property Tax Exemption – complete an Application for Military Exemption (form 54-146)
- The Disabled Veteran Homestead Property Tax Credit – complete form 54-049a
Note: Servicemembers in need of veterans housing assistance may use grant awards from the state Veterans Trust Fund to make home-related repairs.
Furthermore, federal veterans housing programs include mortgage servicing assistance, access to a VA home loan and financial counseling. To prevent VA Foreclosures, VA Regional Loan Centers offer financial counseling by telephone at 1-877-827-3702.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Iowa VA education benefits include tuition assistance, educational programs under the GI bill, honorary high school diplomas and scholarship opportunities. Available scholarships for veterans include the following:
- Branstad/Reynolds veteran scholarships – complete an Application for the Children of Fallen Iowa Service Members Scholarship
- War Orphan Tuition Assistance – complete a War Orphan Educational Assistance Application
- National Guard benefits – contact 515-252-4579
Additional veterans education benefits include honorary high school diplomas (Operation Recognition) for qualifying servicemembers. To apply for the benefit, veterans must complete a High School Diploma Application for Iowa Veterans.
Furthermore, the post 911 GI bill provides service members and eligible family members with schooling benefits under the state’s Department of Education. These GI bill benefits include on-the-job training (OJT), apprenticeships, tutoring and more.
To apply for Montgomery GI bill benefits, veterans must complete an Application for Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990) and mail it to the following address:
VA Regional Office P. O. Box 32432 St. Louis, MO 63132-0832
Note: Students applying for VA college benefits may use Form 22-1990 to receive payments under the VA GI bill, Post-911 program, Montgomery bill, or the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP).
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Service members seeking VA jobs assistance in Iowa may take advantage of the many VA employment resources available in the state. To help applicants find jobs for veterans, the following programs and organizations are available to help servicemembers obtain Department of Veterans Affairs jobs:
- Home Base Iowa
- Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
- VA For Vets
- Veterans’ Employment and Training Services
- Iowa Workforce Development
- National Guard Job Connection Education
- Feds Hire Vets
Additionally, the federal veterans employment center helps servicemembers to find veteran jobs, start a new business or take free online classes.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Iowa
Servicemembers may apply for VA death benefits in Iowa through the state Veterans Cemetery in Adel. These VA burial benefits are available to veterans, their spouses and eligible dependent children.
Additional veterans burial benefits include free interment for eligible servicemembers and $300 burials for spouses and dependents. To pre-register for veterans death benefits, military members must complete an Application for Pre-Registration of Burial Determination.