Find veterans benefits contacts for Winnebago County, Iowa.
Winnebago County Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Winnebago County. Physical office: Forest City, Winnebago County.
216 S. 4th Street, Forest City, IA 50436Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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) · Official service information (opens in a new tab)
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Call (833) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 523, give or take 105 civilian veterans in Winnebago County.
Among Iowa's 99 counties and equivalents, Winnebago County ranks 75th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Winnebago County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 19 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
Winnebago County has about 126, give or take 47 veterans 75 and older, making up 24 percent of its veterans compared with 28 percent in Iowa.
Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Winnebago County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 9 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Winnebago County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Winnebago County | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $50,625 ± $13,851 | $50,056 ± $903 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $39,165 ± $2,501 | $41,543 ± $224 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 14.9% ± 10.8 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 32.4% ± 14.2 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 68.1% ± 9.4 points | 80.4% ± 1.2 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.0% ± 15.7 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 94.8% ± 4.1 points | 95.7% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 21.4% ± 12.1 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
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 204 veterans in Winnebago County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 72 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 33 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 29 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 41 |
| 100 percent | 29 |
FY2019: 162 recipients. Change to FY2025: +42.
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 15 VA-backed home loans out of 142 home loans made in Winnebago County (10.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $202,000.
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 151, give or take 53) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 100, give or take 59; 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 $4.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $3.1 million in medical care spending in Winnebago County for FY2025.
Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417-2309
New-patient wait for mental health: 15 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 40 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 109 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Albert Lea VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
2115 East Main Street, Albert Lea, MN 56007-3920
New-patient wait for mental health: 30 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 21 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 28 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Twin Cities Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
2113 Cliff Drive, Suite 100, Eagan, MN 55122
about 101 miles in a straight line from the county center.
St. Paul VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, St. Paul, MN 55111
about 108 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Winnebago County is Des Moines VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Des Moines, IA, about 121 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside Iowa, in Richfield, MN, Twin Cities Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Winnebago County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 107 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 105.9 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 127.2 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 Winnebago 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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 612-725-2000. 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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