Jackson County General Assistance shall be provided to residents of this county as mandated by the Code of Iowa, Section 252.25.

What is General Assistance

Jackson County General Assistance shall be provided to residents of this county as mandated by the Code of Iowa, Section 252.25. The purpose and policy of such provisions of relief where appropriate, is to direct the applicant in removing barriers to self-sufficiency and economic self-support to prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency

Who Qualifies for General Assistance

Jackson County General Assistance provides emergency payments and/or vouchers to needy and poor people in need of immediate assistance or people who cannot obtain assistance from any other source. Assistance may be provided to an individual that has income or benefits delayed from a state/federal program or not actually received because of reasons not attributable to the person, and who does not have liquid assets of the family unit to pay for the items of assistance that can be provided.

To qualify a person must:

Be a resident of Jackson County
Be at least 18 years of age
Meet current income and resource guidelines
A veteran who served during designated war time years with an honorable discharge must apply at Jackson County Veteran's Affairs.

Types of Assistance Available

There are three kinds of assistance in Jackson County

Emergency assistance for needy persons,
Assistance for poor persons,
Assistance for an extended nature.

How to Apply

The Jackson County General Assistance Director does not accept walk-ins, so an appointment is necessary.  When you come bring financial information such as documentation of income, Social Security Card, bills that have been paid and any outside income beyond a job.  A complete list of verification items needed at the time of appointment is listed on the front of the application and can be obtained from the outer office door, located in the lower level of the courthouse.

PLEASE BE ADVISED… Funding may not always be available due to County budget constraints.

Other services available in the Jackson County Assistance Department:

Jackson County Rx is a prescription assistance card that is issued from the Jackson County General Assistance Director for families in need of prescription assistance. Be advised that this is not an insurance card, but an assistance card.

Protective Payee Services: Jackson County offers payee services to Jackson County residents who are mandated by the Social Security Administration to have a representative payee. Applications may be obtained from the General Assistance Director or are available for download.