Des Moines VA Regional Benefit Office

We help Veterans, service members, and their families access VA benefits and services. Benefits we can help with include disability compensation, education benefits, life insurance,

pensions, and home loans.

Hours may vary for different services. Select a service on this page to check the hours.

When you visit, please bring a current, unexpired photo ID.    

Depending on the reason for your visit, you may need to bring additional documents and information about you and your dependents, including

We can help you find out what documents to bring to your visit. We can also request documents for you. Call the office for more information.

Hourly fee parking is available in the parking garage immediately to the south of the Regional Office. Enter the garage from 3rd Street between Walnut Street and Court Avenue. There is

Skywalk access from the garage to the Regional Office.

There is also metered street parking surrounding the Regional Office.

We are accessible via the DART bus lines 1, 4, 10, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, and 99 at the nearby Cowles Commons (Locust Street & 4th Street) .

We recommend visiting the DART website to plan your route and check the schedules.

Walk-Ins are accepted for some services, additional information for specific services is available within the facility services section of this website.

To schedule an appointment with a Benefits Counselor please visit VERA and follow the onscreen instructions.

Appointments are available Monday - Friday (excluding holidays). 

VA-accredited representatives can help you file a claim or request a decision review. 

Get responsible, qualified help from a VA accredited representative.

Meet face-to-face with us to get claims assistance, enroll in healthcare, and access other VA and community services.

We can help you explore your options for learning new skills, finding a new job, starting a business, getting educational counseling, or returning to your former job. We can also help you

apply for employment benefits and services, apply for education benefits, and get support for your Veteran-owned small business.

We can guide you through the disability compensation process. We can help you understand your eligibility, start a claim, or complete your paperwork. If you’ve already filed a disability

claim or requested a decision review, we can help you check the status. If you already receive disability benefits, we can help address any payment issues.

We can help you apply for VA education benefits, find the right school or training program, or get career counseling.

If you’re a Veteran who’s homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, we can help. We can connect you, or a Veteran you care about, with resources throughout VA or in your community. This

includes health care, case management, supportive services, and other resources.

We can help you learn about VA life insurance options for Veterans and families—and the benefits you’ll receive with each plan. We can also help you apply for life insurance or file claims

for benefits.

If you’re a Veteran or service member who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), we can help with benefits-related questions and with filing benefits claims. We can also update you on the

status of claims you’ve already filed. Our MST outreach coordinators can help you find and access VA services and programs.

We can help you apply in advance to be buried in a VA national cemetery. This can help make the burial planning process easier for your family members in their time of need.

Our VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) counselors provide the support and assistance you need to pursue your educational and employment goals, such as vocational testing and educational and career

counseling. We can connect you to campus and VA benefits and services.

We’ll help you achieve your job and career goals. We can connect you with one-on-one support, counseling, and training. If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to

work or prevents you from working, we can help you explore your options. Our Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E or Chapter 31) program can help with learning new skills, finding a new

job, starting a business, getting educational counseling, or returning to your former job.

If you meet certain service, income, and disability requirements, we can help you apply for monthly pension payments.

We can help you apply for Veterans burial allowances to help cover burial, funeral, and transportation costs. We can also help you apply for certain memorial items to honor the military

service of a Veteran or Reservist.

We can help you apply for VA education benefits for family members, including Dependents’ and Survivors’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) and the Fry Scholarship. We can also help you

apply to use transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, we can help

you learn about eligibility and apply for VA survivor compensation.

If you’re returning from military service, we can help you readjust to civilian life, understand the benefits you’re entitled to, and enroll. We can also help restart your benefits, file

claims, and connect you with programs that offer mental health services, education, and career counseling.

We can help you prepare for the move from military to civilian life by learning about VA benefits that you may be eligible for. We can also help you find out which time-sensitive benefits to

consider when separating or retiring.

We can help you find and download VA letters and documents that include information about your benefits.

If you receive VA disability compensation, pension, or education benefits, we can help you update your direct deposit information. You’ll need your bank’s routing number and account number

to make the updates.

We’re here to support you if someone close to you has died or you’re adjusting to a difficult life change. We can connect you to counseling and other support, such as outreach and referral

services to family members.

We can help you request a DD214 or other military service records. We can also help you request your military service treatment and private medical records to support your claim​.

We can connect you with a VA-recognized Veterans Service Organization or approved representative who can file a claim, decision review, or appeal on your behalf.

Call our VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711). We’re here 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.