State & City Resources
Des Moines, Iowa: Disability Resources
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Des Moines residents can use Polk County resources for certain financial and support needs and DART for paratransit. Confirm the county attached to the residence and the service area for the trip; metropolitan coverage and county assistance are not identical.
Polk County Rental Assistance
Polk County Rental Assistance describes help for qualifying households facing a temporary financial disruption. Assistance may cover only part of the rent, and the landlord must accept a county payment voucher. Income, documentation and other requirements apply. Explain the immediate problem and ask which rules fit your circumstances, including any inability to work.
PEER Advocates for Support and Referrals
Polk County PEER Advocate Program assists older adults and certain adults receiving disability benefits with questions and referrals. The county lists help with rent-reimbursement applications, Medicare information and other concerns. There is no charge to participate. Describe the issue you need help understanding; a PEER conversation does not replace an application to the underlying benefit program.
DART Bus Plus Paratransit
DART Paratransit In Des Moines is for people whose disabilities prevent use of regular DART routes some or all of the time. Applying includes confirmation from a qualified professional. Pickup and drop-off must both be inside the service area, even though residency there is not required for eligibility. Review the zone map and current booking instructions.
Before You Contact a Program
- For rent help, gather the rent obligation and household information requested by the county.
- For PEER support, identify the notice or question causing difficulty.
- For DART, explain functional barriers and check both trip addresses.
- Record the separate application, referral and ride-booking steps.
Federal Benefits and Next Steps
Apply for SSDI[1] or SSI[2] through the Social Security Administration. Local resource programs have separate applications and do not decide federal disability benefits.
For the federal process, read our Disability Application Guide and Document Preparation Checklist.
See Iowa Resources and the State Resource Directory.
Educational directory. Not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or listed organizations. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Eligibility and availability are determined by each program; no result is promised.
Official Sources and References
These SSA.gov links support the explanations above. Official applications, account services, and agency forms are completed through SSA.