Veterans Affairs

Overview of the Veterans Affairs Office

Des Moines County Veterans Affairs Office was established per Chapter 35B of the Code of Iowa. The Commission was established to assist all Des Moines County Veterans who have other than a dishonorable discharge, and served on active duty at least 90 consecutive days. We also serve veteran's spouses and dependent children. Monetary relief can be given to indigent veterans to assist with bills pertaining to rent, utilities, clothing, medical treatment, food, and funerals.

Assistance is also given to help veterans and their dependents to file for VA pensions/compensation, to apply for admission to the Iowa Veterans Home, and to get help from the VA Hospitals.

Additional Assistance & Help

Other help is given to assist veterans in getting copies of Military Discharges and other military records, to get any military medals or awards they may be eligible for, to apply for education benefits, to get head-stones for a deceased veterans grave, to apply for home loans, to apply for GI Insurance, and any other assistance a veteran might need as a result of being in the military.

View resources outlining Eligibility for County Assistance (PDF).

Application for County Assistance

Application for County Cremation

War Time Periods

War Time
Dates
WWII
12/7/41 - 12/31/46
Nicaragua
1926 - 1933
China Service
1937 - 1939
Yangtze Service
1926 - 1927; 1930 - 1932
Korean
6/25/50 - 1/31/55
Vietnam
8/5/64 - 5/7/75
Lebanon / Grenada
8/24/82 - 7/31/84
Panama
12/20/89 - 1/31/90
Persian Gulf
8/2/90 - Present

Useful Phone Numbers & Web Sites

Phone Numbers

Organization
Contact Information
CHAMPA
1-800-733-8387
Debt Collection Center
1-800-827-0648
Education Benefits
1-888-442-4551
Headstones & Markers
1-800-697-6947
Health Care
1-877-222-8387
Homeless Veterans
1-877-424-3838
Home Loans
1-877-827-3702
Life Insurance
1-800-669-8477
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255
Pension Management Center
1-877-294-6380
Presidential Memorial Certificate Program
1-202-565-4964
Special Health Issues
1-800-749-8387
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)
1-800-829-4833
VA Benefits
1-800-827-1000
Women Veterans
1-202-461-1070


Web Sites

Resource
Website
Burial and Memorial Benefits
www.cem.va.gov
Caregiver Support
www.caregiver.va.gov
CHAMPA
ww.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/forbeneficaries.asp
Education Benefits
www.gibill.va.gov
Federal Jobs
www.usajobs.gov
Health Care Eligibility
www.va.gov/healtheligibility
Home Loan Guaranty
www.homeloans.va.gov
Life insurance
www.insurance.va.gov
Memorial Certificate Program
www.cem.va.gov/pmc.asp
Mental Health
www.mentalhealth.va.gov
Women Veterans
www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth
VA Vet Centers
www.vetcenter.va.gov
VA Home Page
www.va.gov
VA Forms
www.va.gov/vaforms


Commission Members

Commission Member
Period Served
Marilyn Box
Vietnam Era
Arne Hausknecht
Vietnam Era
Francis McAllisterVietnam Era