Veterans Affairs

Our highest priority at the Mahaska County Veterans Affairs office is to help veterans access the federal, state and local benefits they have earned for themselves and their families by virtue of their service.

Federal benefits for qualifying veterans may include service-connected disability compensation and indemnity, non-service-connected pension, death pension, healthcare, home loan guarantees, education benefits and burial allowance.

State benefits may include burial at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, comprehensive care at the Iowa Veterans Home, temporary emergency assistance through the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, home ownership assistance, military property tax exemption and veteran designation on license plates and driver’s licenses.

The Mahaska County Veterans Affairs Commission has limited funding to help indigent county veterans with emergency assistance including utilities, rent, food and transportation.

Eligibility varies by program or benefit, but only resident veterans as defined below may receive emergency assistance.

A “resident veteran” is one who served on active duty in the armed forces at any time during the following dates and who was discharged under honorable conditions:

World War II - December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946
Korean Conflict - June 25, 1950 through January 31, 1955
Vietnam Era - August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975
Lebanon or Grenada service - August 24, 1982 through July 31, 1984
Panama service - December 20, 1989 through January 31, 1990
Desert Storm - August 2, 1990 through a date to be determined

AND... maintains a residence in Mahaska County AND claims a homestead or military tax exemption in Mahaska County OR is registered to vote in Mahaska County OR maintains an Iowa driver’s license OR does not reside in any other county for more days of the year than the individual resides in Mahaska County.

Emergency assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Mahaska County Veterans Affairs Commission.

Contact Us

For more information on assistance available to veterans, call Mahaska County Veterans Affairs Director Curt Grandia at (641) 673-7727 or email grandia@mahaskacountyia.gov.