Apply for Services

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is researching better ways to communicate with our customers. Please complete this short survey. It will ask you 2-7 questions and should take approximately 5 minutes or less to complete.

Health Care (Medicaid)

How do I apply for Medicaid?

How do I make changes to my existing case or application?

To report a change to an existing case, please download and complete this form. You can then email the completed form to IMCustomerSC@dhs.state.ia.us. Please see the instructions on the form for a complete list of ways to submit.

How do I apply for benefits if I don't have an email address?

How do I discuss someone else's case on their behalf?

To discuss another person’s case, please download the Authorization to Obtain or Release Health Care Information form and send the completed form to Imaging Center 4, PO Box 2027 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 or fax to 515-564-4017.

How do I apply for Nursing Facility Medicaid?

For information on how to apply for Nursing Facility Medicaid visit the Long Term Care page.

Assistance Programs

How to apply for food assistance, rent reimbursement, child care, and more.

Rent Reimbursement

You can now apply for Rent Reimbursement for 2023 and 2022 claims using any device that connects to the internet. Click here to apply for Rent Reimbursement.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Family Investment Program (FIP) and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

If you were directed here from the Human Services benefits portal because you do not have an email address, download the HHS Food and Financial Support Application (Solicitud de Ayuda Financiera) to apply. For help with completing your online application, please contact your local HHS Office.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

To apply, contact your local WIC program and make an appointment. To find the agency closest to you, view the map.

Child Care

To apply for Child Care Assistance, go to the Human Services Client Portal.

State Supplementary Assistance

To apply for State Supplementary Assistance, go to the Human Services benefits portal and complete the HHS application. To download a paper application, click here (Spanish version). If you were directed here from the Human Services benefits portal because you do not have an email address, download the paper application to apply.

Family Planning Program (FPP)

You can apply for the FPP at an FPP family planning clinic.

Remember that your income, citizenship and identity must be verified.

Services will be available immediately; however, it may take up to 30 days for an eligibility determination to be made.

Child Support Services

You may apply for Iowa Child Support Services online by going to the Apply for Child Support Services page on the Child Support Services website.

Estate Recovery

When you received Medicaid benefits, which includes capitation fees paid to a managed care organization, even if the plan did not pay for any services, the State of Iowa has the right to ask for money back from your estate after your death. Members affected by the estate recovery policy are those who:

Are 55 years of age or older, regardless of where they are living; or

Are under age 55 and:

Reside in a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with intellectual disability, or a mental health institute, and

Cannot reasonably be expected to be discharged and return home.

Weatherization

The Weatherization Assistance Program (Weatherization) is a low-income energy efficiency program administered by the Department of Energy (DOE).

It helps make the homes for low-income constituents more energy efficient, which can help lower household energy bills.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program designed to assist low income families in Iowa to meet the cost of home heating by providing a one-time payment to the heating utility. LIHEAP is a federally-funded program. Homeowners and renters are eligible, within the federal poverty guidelines.

For more information and how to apply, visit LIHEAP.