Senior benefits in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Elderbridge Agency on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Cerro Gordo County and 28 other counties in north central, northwest and central Iowa. Its services include information and assistance, options counseling, case management, congregate and home-delivered meals, nutrition counseling, falls prevention classes, family caregiver support (support groups, training and help finding respite care), help for grandparents and older relatives age 55 and up who are raising a child, elder abuse prevention, legal assistance on elder rights issues, and Medicare help. Meals can have a wait list. Elderbridge has offices in Mason City, Fort Dodge, Carroll and Spencer. Call 800-243-0678.

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

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay part of your winter heating costs with a one-time payment to your heating or fuel company. Extra help may be available to repair or replace a furnace, or for an air conditioner for medical reasons. Income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. People age 60 and over or with a disability can apply October 1 through April 30; all other households can apply November 1 through April 30. In Cerro Gordo County, North Iowa Community Action (NICAO) takes applications at its Family Resource Center at 100 1st Street NW, Suite 140 in Mason City; call 641-423-7766 or toll free 800-873-1899.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) has a local office in Cerro Gordo County at 525 9th St. SE in Mason City. It serves Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties. Call 641-424-8641. Iowa HHS runs help programs such as SNAP food assistance (formerly food stamps), LIHEAP heating help, rent assistance and WIC.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City is part of MercyOne. The MercyOne Financial Assistance Program can be used for all medically necessary hospital services, including inpatient, emergency and medical group outpatient care, for residents of its service area. Download the application, policy and plain language summary from the MercyOne website, or call the North Iowa (Mason City) financial assistance line at 641-428-3029 or 641-428-7824.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Region 2 Transit, run by the North Iowa Area Council of Governments (NIACOG), gives rides to the general public, including people with disabilities, in Cerro Gordo County and the rest of north central Iowa. Call 641-423-2262 to schedule a ride (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). Fares for elderly, disabled and student riders are $1.00 for city service, $2.00 for travel within a county, and $3.00 between counties in Region 2 (general public fares are higher). Rides to medical appointments may be covered by health insurance or Medicaid. In Mason City, the city's Mason City Transit fixed-route buses run 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; all rides are $.50 one way (call 641-421-3616). Region 2 Transit also runs door-to-door Mason City paratransit for elderly and disabled riders who cannot use the fixed routes.

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

The Cerro Gordo County Veterans Affairs office is at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse, 220 N. Washington Ave. in Mason City (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). The office helps veterans with VA disability compensation, pensions, VA health care, and county and state services, including veteran assistance. Call 641-421-3085.

Estimated cash: about $0 a year