Senior benefits in Cedar County, Iowa

Heritage Area Agency on Aging, in Cedar Rapids, is the Area Agency on Aging for Cedar County. Its services include information and referral, options counseling, case management, caregiver support, home-delivered meals for homebound adults 60 and older and their spouses, nutrition counseling, balance and fall-prevention classes, senior farmers market checks, and an elder rights program for abuse, neglect and exploitation. Meal sites in Cedar County: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Durant (563-785-4525) and the Cedar County Senior Center in Tipton (563-886-3293). Services are offered on a contribution basis to adults 60 and older and their caregivers. Call 319-398-5559 (toll free 800-332-5934).

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

LIHEAP (the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) gives a one-time payment toward winter heating bills for households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Households with someone 60 or older or disabled can apply starting October 1; everyone else can apply starting November 1, and applications close April 30. Community Action of Eastern Iowa is the community action agency for Cedar County and takes LIHEAP applications. It has an office in Tipton; walk-ins are welcome, or call to set up an appointment. If you have a disconnection notice or your power has been shut off, contact the agency right away. Call 563-324-3236 (toll free 866-324-3236), Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lists an office for Cedar County at 101 Lynn St, Tipton. This office is by appointment only and is served by the Muscatine County office. Phone: 563-263-9302. 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

River Bend Transit gives weekday door-to-door rides to rural residents of Cedar County, including older adults and people with disabilities, in fully accessible vehicles. Its Cedar County schedule: Monday trips to Iowa City/Coralville; Tuesday and Wednesday rides anywhere within Tipton; Thursday trips to Davenport/Bettendorf; and Friday trips to Cedar Rapids (2nd and 4th Fridays) or Muscatine (1st and 3rd Fridays), with pick-up spots in towns such as Tipton, Bennett, Durant, West Branch, Wilton, Lowden, Clarence, Stanwood and Mechanicsville. Seniors 60 and older and people with disabilities pay a suggested round-trip donation of $1.50 in town, $3.00 in the county and $6.50 out of county. Veterans ride free. Call 563-386-1350 (toll free 800-292-8959).

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

Cedar County Veterans Affairs, in the Cedar County Courthouse (400 Cedar St, first floor) in Tipton, helps honorably discharged veterans find out which county, state and federal veterans benefits they qualify for. Its Veterans Emergency Assistance helps honorably discharged Cedar County wartime veterans, and widows or minor children of wartime veterans, who cannot meet basic needs because of an emergency: shelter, food, utilities, burial, special needs and medical needs. You must live in Cedar County, meet income guidelines, sign a repayment agreement and apply for other benefits first. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; an appointment is required. Call 563-886-2170.

Estimated cash: $200–$1,500 a year