Find veterans benefits contacts for Palo Alto County, Iowa.
Palo Alto County Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Palo Alto County. Physical office: Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County.
1010 Broadway, Emmetsburg, IA 50536Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Iowa directory.
Contact the listed county or regional service for benefits assistance. Confirm the appointment, eligibility and meeting location with the provider.
Official service information (opens in a new tab) · Official service information (opens in a new tab)
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Call (833) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 507, give or take 107 civilian veterans in Palo Alto County.
Among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents, Palo Alto County ranks 78th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Palo Alto County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 22 percent below the Iowa share; below the national share. | 26 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 8 percent below the Iowa share; below the national share. | 9 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Palo Alto County number about 174, give or take 53; their 34 percent share is above Iowa's 28 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Palo Alto County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans in Palo Alto County number about 49, give or take 23; their 10 percent share is above Iowa's 7 percent.
| Measure | Palo Alto County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $40,435 ± $6,571 | $50,056 ± $903 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $39,524 ± $1,869 | $41,543 ± $224 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 2.8% ± 2.1 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 33.5% ± 10.2 points | 29.5% ± 0.8 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 89.0% ± 13.6 points | 80.4% ± 1.2 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 1.9% ± 14.0 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 94.2% ± 4.6 points | 95.7% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 10.7% ± 4.4 points | 23.8% ± 0.8 points | 31.8% ± 0.2 points |
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.
VA reports 173 veterans in Palo Alto County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 55 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 27 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 21 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 44 |
| 100 percent | 26 |
FY2019: 165 recipients. Change to FY2025: +8.
VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).
In 2025, lenders reported 5 VA-backed home loans out of 107 home loans made in Palo Alto County (4.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $187,000.
The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 217, give or take 71) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 73, give or take 52; a small survey sample; treat as rough).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $3.6 million in compensation and pension spending and about $5.5 million in medical care spending in Palo Alto County for FY2025.
Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital (opens in a new tab)
2501 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105-5046
New-patient wait for mental health: 16 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 31 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Spirit Lake VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1850 Royal Avenue, Spirit Lake, IA 51360-1092
New-patient wait for mental health: 0 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 33 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Sioux City Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
4280 Sergeant Road, Suite 104, Sioux City, IA 51106
about 96 miles in a straight line from the county center.
2501 W 22nd Street, Building 38, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Palo Alto County is Des Moines VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Des Moines, IA, about 113 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside Iowa, in Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux Falls Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Palo Alto County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 110 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Des Moines RO (station 333); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Fort Snelling National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
7601 34th Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55450
612-726-1127
About 143 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Iowa Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
34024 Veterans Memorial Dr Adel, IA 50003
515-727-3444
About 112 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules.
National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Palo Alto County.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
On one night in January 2024, Iowa Balance of State CoC counted 72 veterans experiencing homelessness (59 sheltered, 13 unsheltered).
IA-501 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 77 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital (opens in a new tab), 605-336-3230. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)
Qualifying Iowa veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability receive a full homestead property tax credit.
Iowa waives disabled veteran plate issuance and annual registration fees for a qualifying vehicle purchased with federal assistance.
Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.
ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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