Township assistance

The Trustee's office is responsible for administering Township Assistance to those in need of assistance in securing basic necessities. In order to receive Township assistance, you must be a resident of Washington Township, Hendricks County, Indiana. A person in need of assistance must go through an application process, as stipulated by state law. Please contact the office for more information or come in during business hours. The applicant must show that they are unable to provide those needs through personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means.
Persons that may qualify for other benefit programs will be required to make a formal application with those programs.

To determine eligibility, the Trustee will consider resources and assets of the household such as but not limited to cash on hand, checking and savings accounts, CD's, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, proceeds of grants, pay for employment or self-employment, stipends, and recreational vehicles. During the application process, the township may require households  to allow an inspection of their living quarters. The inspector will assess the unit’s compliance with the minimum standards of health, safety, decency, and will determine the amount of rental assistance per trustee standards.

Every application is evaluated on the merits of the case, at the time of appointment. Decisions are made based upon the Township Assistance Manual which is filed with the Hendricks County Commissioners and available in our office.


How can I get assistance?

1.  Complete an intake form in the office.

2.  Clients are seen by APPOINTMENT ONLY and your appointment will be scheduled after completing the intake form.  At that time, an application for assistance will be provided.

3.  Bring your completed application and all requested documents to your appointment. Requested documents can be viewed by clicking the required information button below.

4.  ​The caseworker will have 72 hours to review your case and make a determination of assistance unless awaiting documentation.  A decision will NOT be made in your appointment.  A letter of determination will be sent to all applicants.
5.  If you are approved for assistance, there is a      voucher that you and the vendor (landlord, utility provider, etc.) will need to sign prior to any checks being issued that stipulates the amount of assistance granted.

6.  Checks will be issued and sent directly to the vendor.

7.  You may be required to complete an employment search form . If so, the employment search must be turned in every week to the Township Caseworker. Employment Search Form can be found by clicking button below.

Township Assistance FAQ's 

What happens after the application?
 Once an interview has been conducted and all necessary VERIFICATION are received, the trustee and/or staff will review. In some situations, it will be necessary to make a home visit.
1. Non-emergency requests for assistance will be acted upon within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays
2. Emergency requests (such as food or medicine) will be acted upon promptly
3. An action of “Pending” may exceed 72 hours, but the township must provide a statement listing the specific reasons for the action

What if the trustee denies all or part of my request for assistance?
 The township is required to provide you with a Notice of Action in writing, by mail or in person. This will include the following information:
1. The type and amount of assistance granted;
2. The type and amount of assistance denied or partially granted;
3. Specific reasons for denying all or part of the assistance requested; and
4. Information advising the applicant of the right to appeal the township’s decision to the County Board of Commissioners, along with appeal procedures.

​How does the township trustee provide aid?
 The trustee issues vouchers, never cash, to pay for the goods and services which they provide for eligible applicants. A voucher is not money, but is a written promise that the trustee will pay money to the Vendor. After the Vendor turns the voucher back in to the trustee, we are required to pay within 45 days. You will receive no change if you use less than the full amount of your voucher.

How do I find out more about my township’s application standards and eligibility for assistance?
Each township is required to adopt a set of standards, based on Indiana law. This is available for anyone to see at the township trustee’s office. The laws governing township assistance administration can be found in Indiana Code Title 12, Article 20 (IC 12-20).

Why do I see the Trustee if I need help?
 The township trustee is an elected official who, in addition to other duties, is designated as the administrator of township assistance.  It is the trustee’s responsibility to see that township residents are properly assisted in the manner required by law.

What assistance can the township trustee provide?
Specifically, the trustee may provide assistance to meet the following basic needs:
1. Shelter: We will not pay for housing that is unsafe.
2. Utilities: bills in the current name of the applicant for the current residence.
3. Medical Assistance: not otherwise provided by insurance, clinics, and/or other government subsidized programs.
4. Clothing: that is not provided by other agencies.
5. Food: for households not receiving food stamps. The trustee will not supplement food stamps except in specific emergencies such as theft, spoilage or health needs.
6. Household Supplies: cleaning and hygiene items.
7. Burial assistance: not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or other means.

Who is eligible for township assistance?
There are three (3) general rules that establish your eligibility:
1. Apply to the township where you live;
2. Be in need of the essentials of life; and
3. Be willing to help yourself as much as possible.

How is need determined?
A person or family is in need if there is not enough income or resources to provide the basic necessities of life. Necessities of life include food, shelter, utilities, medical, household supplies, clothing and other basic needs. 

How do I apply for township trustee assistance?
An individual seeking township assistance will be given an application and a list of other documents or information needed to complete the application. Generally, an appointment will be scheduled at this time for an interview with the trustee or investigator.  During the interview, the completed application and all requested information will be required. An application is not considered completed until all adult members of the household have signed all forms and documents, including the Disclosure and Release of  Information. The township trustee or staff will assist any individual in completing the application when needed if the applicant has a mental or physical disability, or cannot read or write the English language. 

What should I bring in when I come to apply?
Some of the most important information to bring with you are:
1. Identification and proof of residence for all residents in the household. (Picture ID, social security cards, birth certificates, etc)
2. household bills (most recent)
3. Lease or mortgage
4. Bank statement (prepaid card ledger) of  last 30 days showing how you have spent your money.
5. Proof of income, including paystubs, payroll statement from employer, Approval letter (if receiving TANF and/or Food Stamps), court order for child support, self-employment records, letters of gifts, etc.
6. Any additional documentation deemed necessary to processing your application.
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What determines residency in a township?
An individual is a “resident” of a township if the individual is currently located in the township, and shows an intention to make the township their sole place of residence.

What is expected of me as an applicant?
There are three major requirements to be met before a determination of eligibility can be made:
 Work Requirement By law, the trustee must require any unemployed member of an applicant’s household to seek and accept employment, unless:
a. Disabled;
b. Under age 18, or over age 65;
c. Needed to care for another person;
d. There is no work assignment available;
e. Employment would violate fair labor standards or the law
We require proof of your inability to work, such as a doctor’s statement. If you are granted assistance and are unemployed but able to work, you may be assigned to a workfare job. The work you perform for the Workfare job will help pay for the aid you received. For many, workfare has been a major step on the road to a job in the private sector.

​Other Self-Help Requirements 
All members of an applicant’s household are required to apply for other forms of aid if it might help the household meet basic needs. Examples of other forms of assistance are:
a. Food Stamps
b. TANF
c. Social Security
d. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
e. Medicare
f. Medicaid
g. Veteran’s Benefits
h. Unemployment
i. Child Support
3. Cooperation
 Applicants for township assistance must cooperate with the trustee’s office in providing necessary information, documents and signatures. Failure to cooperate with the trustee will result in denial or termination of assistance.

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Additional Resources
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