Assistance, Retirement, and Student Aid

Disaster assistance.gov 
This government site helps you determine if your address is in a declared disaster area. It also links to local FEMA and Red Cross centers.

Social Security Administration (SSA) home page 
The SSA manages social security payments, which includes retirement, disability, and survivor benefits that is paid in through a payroll tax on your wages. This page includes tools to understand your contributions so far and estimate future payments. In order to start receiving retirement benefits, like with Medicare, you need to enroll. Here is the link to the SSA online application for receiving retirement benefits.

Nestled between the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east, Iowa is the epitome of America’s Heartland. Seniors enjoying assisted living in Iowa are surrounded by clean air and friendly communities.  Residents ofIowa benefit from safe neighborhoods, top-notch medical facilities, a low sales tax and easy access to a wide variety of shopping and entertainment opportunities. It’s no wonder that Iowa consistently receives high marks on surveys determining the best places to live in America, and that CQ Press ranked Iowa as the nation’s second-most livable state in 2010.

 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application 
The FAFSA is a free student aid application managed by the U.S. Department of Education. Most colleges and universities encourage students to fill out this application as part of their process for determining finanial aid. Aid packages typically include a combination of grants (money you don't have to pay back), loans, and work-study funds.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers all benefits for U.S. military veterans, their families, and survivors. This includes health care, educational, and burial benefits. The VA Applying for Benefits page covers the different kinds of benefits and how to apply for each.