Senior benefits in Webster County, Iowa

Elderbridge Agency on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Webster 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) makes a one-time payment to your heating company to help with winter heating costs, no matter what fuel you use. In Webster County, Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO) takes applications at its outreach office at 704 Central Ave, Second Floor in Fort Dodge; call 515-576-7774 for an appointment. Households with a member age 60 or older, a disabled member, or a crisis can apply starting October 1; everyone else can apply November 1 through April 30. Both homeowners and renters can qualify. Approved households are also protected from gas or electric shut-off during the winter moratorium, November 1 through April 1. Applying for LIHEAP also signs you up for weatherization.

Estimated bill savings: $80–$800 a year

Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) has a local office in Webster County at 330 1st Ave. N in Fort Dodge. It serves Calhoun, Humboldt, Pocahontas and Webster counties. Call 515-955-6353. 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

UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge is part of UnityPoint Health, which offers financial assistance. Apply online through MyUnityPoint or call the Financial Assistance team at 1-833-874-4243. For help with the Financial Assistance Program or Medicaid applications in Fort Dodge, call a patient financial counselor at 515-574-6633.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

MIDAS Council of Governments runs the regional public transit system for Webster County and five nearby counties. It is a demand-response service open to the general public, including people with disabilities, and all vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Call dispatch at 515-573-8145 the day before your trip; rides run Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. With at least a day's notice, the fare is $2.50 each way for adults and $2.00 for students and seniors (with an approved senior sheet); same-day rides, when the schedule allows, are $3.50 and $3.00. In Fort Dodge, DART (Dodger Area Rapid Transit), owned by the city and run by MIDAS, has six fixed bus routes, generally Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; the senior fare is $1.25 per ride or $25.00 for a monthly pass, and paratransit is $3.50 per ride.

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

The Webster County Veterans Affairs office is at 723 1st Avenue S in Fort Dodge. The office helps veterans, service members and their families with federal and state benefits. Webster County also gives temporary county help to qualifying veterans in need and their families, including rent, utilities, rides for medical care, medications and burial costs. Call 515-573-1479.

Estimated cash: about $0 a year