TOWNSHIP ASSISTANCE The Trustee's office is responsible for administering Township assistance to those in need of help paying for basic necessities. In order to receive Township assistance, you must be a resident of Washington Township, Hendricks County, Indiana. A person in need must go through an application process, as stipulated by state law. The applicant must show that they are unable to provide basic needs through personal effort and that they have exhausted all other means. Persons that may qualify for other benefit programs will be required to complete an 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 income, gifts, stipends, and recreational vehicles. Every application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are made based upon the Township Assistance guidelines which are available in our office.
Applicants are seen by appointment only. An appointment will be scheduled after completion of an intake form. A list of documents needed to complete the application will be provided. This list can also be viewed by clicking the application requirements button below.
Bring all requested documents to your appointment. If you cannot locate all of the paperwork, make certain you come to your appointment anyway. You will be given an additional 72 hours after the appointment to turn in everything. If you miss your appointment without emailing or calling, you will not be able to schedule another one for 30 days.
Everyone in the household who is 18 or older, or turning 18 during the pendency of the application, should come to the interview. An application is not considered complete until everyone who is 18 or older has signed all necessary forms and reviewed the application, nor until all requested information has been turned in.
After receiving a completed application, the Trustee will have 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, to review your case and make a determination. A decision will NOT be made during your appointment. A letter of determination will be sent to all applicants. If you are approved for assistance, there is a voucher that you and the vendor (landlord, utility provider, etc.) must sign within five working days of issuance. The voucher will stipulate the amount of assistance granted.
Checks will be issued and sent directly to the vendor.
You may be required to complete an employment search form. If so, the form must be turned in every week to the Township investigator. This can be found by clicking the employment search form button below.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY? ONCE A COMPLETE ApPLICATION IS RECEIVED (AN INTERVIEW HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND ALL NECESSARY VERIFICATIONs have been RECEIVED) THE TRUSTEE AND/OR staff WILL REVIEW AND BEGIN an INVESTIGATion. THis MAY ENTAIL CONTACTING LANDLORDS, FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYERS, AND RELATIVES.
EMERGENCY REQUESTS (SUCH AS requests for BURIAL, FOOD, OR MEDICINE) WILL BE ACTED UPON PROMPTLY.
NON-EMERGENCY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE WILL BE ACTED UPON WITHIN 72 HOURS, EXCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.
IF ALL INFORMATION CANNOT BE GATHERED IN THE 72 HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED APPLICATION, THE APPLICATION MAY BE ‘PENDED’ FOR AN ADDITIONAL 72 HOURS. THE TOWNSHIP MUST PROVIDE A STATEMENT LISTING THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR THIS 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; 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 A WRITTEN PROMISE THAT THE TRUSTEE WILL PAY THE VENDOR. AFTER THE VENDOR SIGNS THE VOUCHER THE TRUSTEE IS REQUIRED TO PAY THE VENDOR WITHIN 45 DAYS.
HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY TOWNSHIP’S ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES? EACH TOWNSHIP IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT A SET OF GUIDELINES WHICH ARE BASED ON INDIANA LAW. THESE GUIDELINES ARE 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 ENSURE THAT TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ARE PROPERLY ASSISTED IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHAT ASSISTANCE CAN THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PROVIDE? THE TRUSTEE MAY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE FOLLOWING BASIC NEEDS: 1. SHELTER 2. UTILITIES 3. MEDICAL 4. CLOTHING 5. FOOD 6. HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES 7. BURIAL
HOW IS ELIGIBILITY DETERMINED? OUR GUIDELINES MUST BE MET. THE INCOME GUIDELINES ARE BASED ON 100% POVERTY LEVEL. THE HOUSEHOLD MUST HAVE A BASIC NEED THAT IS BEING UNMET EVEN AFTER THE BEST EFFORTS OF EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD. WHAT DETERMINES RESIDENCY IN A TOWNSHIP? AN INDIVIDUAL IS A RESIDENT OF A TOWNSHIP IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND SHOWS AN INTENTION TO MAKE THE TOWNSHIP THEIR SOLE PLACE OF RESIDENCE.
OTHER 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: 1. FOOD STAMPS 2. TANF 3. SOCIAL SECURITY 4. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) 5. MEDICARE 6. MEDICAID 7. VETERAN’S BENEFITS 8. UNEMPLOYMENT 9. CHILD SUPPORT 10. ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
COOPERATION APPLICANTS WANTING TOWNSHIP ASSISTANCE MUST COOPERATE WITH THE TRUSTEE’S OFFICE AND PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBiLITY. FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH THE TRUSTEE WILL RESULT IN DENIAL OR TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.