Senior benefits in Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Connections Area Agency on Aging serves older adults and family caregivers in 20 counties in southwest and western Iowa, including Pottawattamie 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. In Pottawattamie County, a partnership with the Pottawattamie County Housing Trust Fund helps pay for S.O.S. projects. 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 Pottawattamie County, West Central Community Action (WCCA) takes applications for LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP helps qualifying low-income Iowa homeowners and renters pay part of their main heating costs for the winter heating season. The amount is based on household income, household size, type of fuel, and type of housing. Applications open November 1 and end April 30. Contact the WCCA Pottawattamie County Outreach Office at Omni Centre Business Park, 300 W Broadway, Suite 35, Council Bluffs (phone 712-322-2621). Outreach offices also offer energy crisis help.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lists an office for Pottawattamie County at 417 E Kanesville Blvd., Council Bluffs. Phone: 712-328-5661 or toll free 866-788-1805. 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

Council Bluffs has two hospitals with financial assistance. At Methodist Jennie Edmundson (Methodist Health System), patients with yearly family income less than four times the federal poverty level and limited assets can qualify. Free care is for patients with limited assets and income at or below two times the poverty level; discounted care is for incomes between two and four times poverty, and patients with very high medical bills may get medical hardship help. Call Methodist Jennie Edmundson Patient Financial Services at (712) 396-7457 (933 E. Pierce St., Council Bluffs). At CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs, the CHI Health policy helps uninsured and underinsured patients with household income and/or resources at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level who need emergency or medically necessary care; complete a Financial Assistance Application or call (866) 881-0293.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) is the public transportation system for all residents of Pottawattamie County and seven other southwest Iowa counties. On-demand rides are available Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (not on holidays), and all vehicles are handicapped accessible. In-town taxi rides cost $3.00 one way for the general public, or $2.50 for riders 60 and older with a Connections Area Agency on Aging form. Medical transportation costs $35 per hour. Call 1-800-842-8065 to schedule a ride. In Council Bluffs, Metro Area Transit (MAT) runs city bus routes. Riders age 65 and older (or 62 to 64 with a Social Security award letter or pension proof) and Medicare cardholders can apply for a Metro half-fare photo ID card and ride for $0.60 a trip, with a $27.50 half-fare 30-day pass; the half fare does not apply to paratransit. For Council Bluffs route and schedule information call 402-341-0800; for Council Bluffs paratransit applications call 712-890-5296.

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

The Pottawattamie County Commission of Veteran Affairs is the county veterans office. The Pottawattamie County Veterans Service Office helps veterans and their dependents find out which county, state and federal veterans benefits they qualify for, completes forms and gives referrals and follow-up, free of charge. Its caseworkers are nationally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Commission of Veteran Affairs runs a Veteran Emergency Assistance program (county and state assistance) as well as federal claims help. Visit the office at 623 6th Ave, Council Bluffs, or call 712-328-5797.

Estimated cash: $200–$1,500 a year