Senior benefits in Woodbury County, Iowa

Connections Area Agency on Aging serves older adults and family caregivers in 20 counties in southwest and western Iowa, including Woodbury County. Its Information and Assistance specialists and Options Counselors help people find and apply for benefits such as Medicare Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, Medicaid, SNAP food help and LIHEAP energy help. Other services include case management for people age 60 or older who need help with at least two daily activities (such as bathing or dressing) so they can stay at home, senior center meals and home-delivered meals for people 60 and older, caregiver support and respite options, free Medicare counseling through SHIIP, and Solution Options for Seniors (S.O.S.), which helps pay for home repairs or changes for people 60 and older who own their home or live with a caregiver. Call toll free 1-800-432-9209. The Council Bluffs office (231 S. Main St.) and Sioux City office (2301 Pierce St.) take walk-ins Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the Creston office (109 N. Elm St.) is by appointment.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

In Woodbury County, Community Action Agency of Siouxland takes applications for LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP helps qualifying low-income homeowners and renters pay part of their main heating costs. Household gross income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The amount depends on household income, household size, type of home, heating fuel and other factors. LIHEAP runs November 1 to April 30; households with someone age 60 or older or a person with a disability can apply starting October 1. Apply online, or call 712-274-1610 for a phone or in-person appointment at 2700 Leech Avenue, Sioux City. The Energy Crisis Intervention Program gives emergency energy help to LIHEAP-eligible households, and LIHEAP-eligible households also qualify for weatherization.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lists an office for Woodbury County at 822 Douglas St (Trosper-Hoyt County Services Building), Sioux City. Phone: 712-255-0833. Iowa HHS says you can apply for SNAP food benefits and for Medicaid health coverage, including Medicaid for older adults and people with disabilities, at your local HHS office. You can also apply online through the Iowa HHS Benefits Portal, or apply for Medicaid by phone at 1-855-889-7985.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Sioux City's hospitals are UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Downtown (the former MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center). UnityPoint Health helps patients who cannot reasonably pay for some or all of their care. Patients of Iowa UnityPoint Health hospitals and clinics can request financial assistance online in MyUnityPoint (enter household, income, expense and asset details and upload the required documents), or call the Financial Assistance team at 1-833-874-4243 or email FA_CBO_Request@unitypoint.org. The plain-language summary, policy and application can be downloaded in several languages.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In Sioux City, the Sioux City Transit System runs city bus routes. Reduced fares are available to senior citizens age 62 or older, Medicare cardholders and people with disabilities: $0.90 per ride, a $2.00 day pass, or a $42.00 monthly pass (the adult cash fare is $1.80). Show a Medicare card or state ID; you can also apply for a reduced-fare photo ID card. Veterans with a service-connected disability ride fixed-route buses free with their VA photo ID showing the service-connected disability. ADA paratransit (door-to-door rides for people who cannot use the bus because of a disability) costs $3.60 a ride; apply through Sioux City Transit at 712-279-6405, and book rides with SRTS at 712-279-6919. For bus route information call 712-279-6404. Outside the Sioux City metro, Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS) gives demand-response rides to the general public in the rest of Woodbury County, Monday to Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; reserve 24 hours ahead at 712-279-6919 or 800-881-2076. Outside the metro, curb-to-curb rides are $4 plus $0.50 per mile, and rides within Sergeant Bluff are free.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year

The Woodbury County Commission of Veteran Affairs is the county veterans office. The Woodbury County Commission of Veteran Affairs helps Woodbury County veterans and their legal dependents apply for and keep state and federal benefits, including disability compensation and pension, survivor and burial benefits, medical benefits, Iowa Veterans Home admission, headstones, license plates, hunting and fishing licenses, and the veteran mark on an Iowa driver's license. The office door is locked for security, so call or knock when you arrive for your appointment. It also gives temporary county help with basic living needs: housing, utilities, food and household necessities, medical help, and funeral or burial costs. Visit the office at 1211 Tri View Ave., Sioux City, or call 712-279-6606.

Estimated cash: $200–$1,500 a year