SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Iowa State Benefits
Injured Veterans Grant
This grant provides up to $10,000 to members or former members of the U.S. military who are residents of Iowa and were seriously injured in the Iraq or Afghanistan theatre of operation.
Homeownership Assistance
This $5,000 grant is available to a service member who is buying a home in the state of Iowa. Members must have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 and purchased a home after March 10, 2005.
Contact: To learn more, call 1-800-432-7230
Property Tax Exemption
This benefit reduces a veteran’s assessed home value for property tax purposes by $1,850. In order to qualify, a service member must have served on active duty during a period of war or for a minimum of 18 months during peacetime.
Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License
Veterans in receipt of at least a 0% service connected disability can receive a lifetime hunting or fishing license for a $5.50 fee. In order to qualify, the Iowa resident must have served on active federal service and was disabled as a result of that service.
War Orphan Tuition Assistance
Children of Iowa veterans killed in action following September 11, 2001 are eligible for tuition assistance at the rate of the most expensive Iowa Regents University at an Iowa secondary education institution. Dependents of those killed in action prior to September 11, 2001 are eligible for $600 per year with a maximum of $3,000. Residency is required to receive this benefit.
Licenses Plates
Honorably discharged veterans are eligible to purchase specialty veteran license plates for their vehicle. These special plates are available for an additional charge through the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Vietnam Conflict Bonus
Iowa residents who served on active duty for at least 120 days between July 1, 1973 and May 31, 1975 are eligible for this bonus program. Veterans who served in Vietnam will receive $17.50 for each month served. Veterans that served outside of Vietnam during this time will receive $12.50 for each month of service. The maximum bonus amount is $500 for veterans who served in Vietnam and $300 for those who were not in country.
Trust Fund
The State of Iowa has established a multi-million dollar fund to provide certain services to veterans. Beginning in December 2007, interest from this fund has been available to provide relief for Iowa veterans and their families. At this time, interest funds are received monthly and approved applicants are placed on a waiting list based on the date received and approved. Currently, funds are used for unemployment or underemployment assistance due to service-related causes, assistance with vision, hearing, dental care, durable medical equipment, and prescription drugs; counseling and substance abuse services; housing repair; and transitional housing in an emergency. Trust fund expenditures are approved through the Iowa Veterans Commission. Use form below to contact representative for help.
Education
The Iowa Department of Education has been designated by the governor of the state of Iowa as the location for the Iowa State Approving Agency. The State Approving Agency is responsible for approving all GI Bill programs in Iowa for veterans and other eligible persons. (Program approval is a function of the State not the Department of Veterans Affairs.)
Contact Information:
Thomas Beasley, Consultant
Phone: 515-281-3490
Marlene Higdon, Support
Phone: 515-281-3317
High School Diploma
This program furnishes an honorary high school diploma to qualifying veterans who did not complete high school due to armed service enlistment. The application form is used by the IDVA and the Department of Education to establish eligibility for honorably discharged veterans.
Iowa Veterans Cemetery
The Iowa Veterans Cemetery began operation on July 3, 2008. Located 10 miles west of Des Moines, near Van Meter, the cemetery is available to all veterans, their spouses, and dependent children for burial. Honorably discharged veterans will be interred at no charge and spouses/dependents will be buried for a $300 fee.
Over 200,000 veterans call the Hawkeye State home. In 1912, Iowa resident Otto Rohwedder was tired of trying to cram hand-sliced bread into a toaster, so he invented a machine that would cut the bread and the saying, "better than sliced bread" began! Iowa is a bit more advanced when it comes to civil rights. Married women in this state received property rights back in 1851. More than a quarter of the state’s electricity comes from wind power. While in this state, you should remember a few laws, like kisses can’t last for longer than five minutes and one-armed piano players must perform for free.
Taxes
Iowa has a tax exemption for military retirement benefits. This exemption is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014 as well. It may also be used in addition to the general $6,000/$12,000 pension exclusion available for Iowa taxpayers 55 years or older.
Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit is equal to 100 percent of the actual tax levy. To qualify, you need to have a 100 percent service-related disability. Vets with a permanent and total disability rating based on individual un-employability qualify as well. Claims must be filed on or before July 1. A current Benefits Paid letter and DD214 must be included with your application.
Homestead Tax Credit is equal to the first $4,850 of actual value of the property. Persons in the military or nursing homes and do not occupy the property are also eligible.
Iowa Military Exemption reduces the taxable value of property for military veterans. The amount of the exemption varies.
Drive-Up Food Pantry
A "Drive-Up" Food Pantry program started recently for local veterans. Food will be distributed at the Freedom Foundation’s parking lot located at 609 Center Point Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Any veteran who would like to receive food from the pantry will need to currently be on the food pantry list or present a DD Form 214, Iowa Driver's License with "Veteran" on it or VA Medical ID Card or an organization Veteran ID Card. Veterans are able to pull up to the front of the building to receive food and stay inside their vehicle.
Operation Home
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to improve the housing stability of homeless Veterans and their families in Linn, Jones, Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Washington, Dubuque, Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Delaware counties, in a program HACAP has dubbed “Operation Home.”
In addition to stable housing, Veterans who enroll in the Operation Home Program are eligible to receive case management services, connections to Veteran and mainstream benefits, and temporary financial assistance. For more information call 319-653-7275.
