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1.
What Does a Township Trustee Do? |
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The
trustee is assisted in his duties by an elected board and
an appointed staff. The Township Trustee is an elected official
who is the Overseer of the Poor within his township.
A trustee
is responsible for helping poor persons in their township
only. Rules and procedures may vary between townships.
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2.
Who is Eligible for Trustee Help? |
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There
are three (3) rules of thumb concerning trustee assistance:
- Apply
within the township where you live.
- Be
in need of essentials of life.
- Be
willing to help yourself as much as possible.
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3.
How is Need Determined? |
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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.
Individual
qualification is determined by the trustee or staff based
on written standards adopted by the township. back
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4.
Can I Get Trustee Assistance More Than Once? |
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Yes, however,
by law trustee assistance is short-term. Trustee's assistance
can continue as long as your needs exist IF you continue to
try to help yourself by seeking employment and/or other forms
of assistance. back
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5.
How Do I Apply for Trustee Assistance? |
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In
most cases you will need to phone the trustee's office to
schedule an appointment. Some townships accept walk-ins, but
most prefer or require an appointment.
You must
be interviewed after you have filled out the application form.
The application is a legal affidavit and you must state your
situation as accurately and completely as you can. Applications
are signed by all adult members of the household. There are
criminal penalties for deliberately giving false information.
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6.
What Should I Bring In When I Come To Apply? |
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You
should bring any papers which help explain your situation.
For example, your rent or house payment receipt will show
where you live, how much your rent or house payment is, to
whom you make your payments, etc. You should also bring receipts
for any money you have spent for at least the past thirty
(30) days. This will help show how you have spent your money.
To show
what your income has been, bring check stubs or statements
from any person or agency helping you. Brining as much proof
as you can about your situation can help speed up the application
process. The trustee, by law, may request your permission
to verify (by phone or mail) any information you give during
your application.
If you
are asking for help with utilities, bring the latest bills
with you. If you are presently receiving TANF or Food Stamps,
bring the most recent Certificate of Action from your caseworker.
The trustee
may require additional documentation depending on an individual's
situation. back
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7.
What Happens After the Application? |
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If
you have an immediate need, such as food or prescriptions,
the trustee can give help the same day. In some situations,
it will be necessary to make a home visit before assistance
can be granted. You may be asked to bring in additional information
before a decision can be made. In most cases, a determination
can be made within three (3) business days, not including
weekends or holidays.
If the
trustee determines you are not eligible for assistance at
this point, you will be given a "Notice of Poor Relief Action"
which is a written statement of the decision and the reason
for it. back
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8.
What If the Trustee Denies Assistance? |
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You can
appeal within fifteen (15) days. The "Notice of Poor Relief
Action", which gives the reason you were denied, also tells
you how to appeal with the County Commissioners. The Board of
County Commissioners will set a time to hear your side of the
story and the trustee's and then make a decision. They are bound
to use the same set of guidelines that the trustee does. You
can bring documents and witnesses to the hearing to help prove
your case. You can be represented by legal counsel or anyone
you choose. back
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9.
What Kind of Assistance Can the Trustee Provide? |
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Specifically,
the trustee can meet the following basic needs:
- Clothing
- necessary for employment, school, or ordinary decency.
- Food
- for households not receiving food stamps. The trustee
will not supplement food stamps except in specific emergencies:
theft, spoilage, health needs.
- Household
Supplies - cleaning and hygiene items.
- Medical
Assistance - not otherwise provided by insurance, clinics
and HCI, and other government subsidized programs. Columbus Township assistance with prescriptions
is handled through the Bartholomew County Medical Assistance Program Office located in the United Way building.
- Shelter
- rental payments not to exceed established schedule (if
specified in the Township Assistance Standards). The landlord or
property owner does not have to accept trustee payment.
The trustee will not pay for housing that is unfit. The
trustee can assist in emergency relocation in the event of fire, flood, or some snow emergencies.
Non-payment of a utility bill is not considered an emergency.
- Utilities
- bills in the current name of the applicant for the current
residence. Apply for utility assistance as soon as you realize
you are unable to pay your bills - do not wait until the
service is disconnected. Bills must be in a disconnect status.
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10.
What About the Residency Requirement? |
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To be considered a resident of the township, an applicant must have
their first months rent with deposit paid and with all utilities connected in the name
of an adult member of the household with corresponding deposits paid. A traveler stranded
in the township may apply for assistance as a transient through the offices of Horizon House,
with or without the assistance of the local police or county
sheriff's department.
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11.
What Is the Person Applying for or Receiving Trustee Assistance
Expected to Do? |
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The Work Requirement:
By law, the trustee must require any able-bodied, unemployed
member of a household receiving assistance to seek and accept
employment, unless:
- Disabled
- Under age 18 or over 65
- Needed to care for another person
- There is no work assignment available
- Employed full-time
- Employment would violate fair labor standards
or the law
The trustee may require proof of your inability
to work, such as a doctor's statement.
Other self-help requirements:
Any member of the household receiving assistance is required
to apply for other forms of aid if it might help the household
meet basic needs. Examples of other forms of assistance are:
- Food Stamps
- Unemployment
- TANF
- Veteran's Benefits
- Social Security
- SSI
- Medicaid
- Medicare
The recipient must cooperate with the trustee's
office in getting necessary papers signed. For instance, in
order for the trustee to pay rent, the person receiving help
must sign a "voucher" to go to the landlord. Failure to cooperate
with the trustee could result in denial or termination of
assistance.
If you are unemployed but able to work, you
may be assigned to a workfare project. The work you perform
will help pay for the aid you get. For many, workfare has
been a major step on the road to a job in the private sector.
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12.
How Does the Trustee Provide Aid? |
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The trustee issues vouchers, never cash,
to pay for the goods and services which they provide. A voucher
is not money, but is a written promise that the trustee will
pay money to the company or person who provides the aid. For
instance, if you need food, the trustee may give you a food
voucher to take to a grocery store. The voucher is good only
if you take it to that particular store. The grocery takes the
voucher in exchange for food you select. You will receive no
change if you use less than the full amount of your voucher.
Then the store turns the voucher back in to the trustee and
the trustee pays the grocery store the amount on the voucher.
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13.
I'm a Landlord and I have a Tenant In Need Who Is Unable to
Pay Rent. Can The Trustee help? |
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Yes, IF the tenant qualifies for assistance.
You can refer the tenant to the trustee's office to make application.
If eligible, the recipient will sign a voucher for the rent.
This voucher will be brought to you by your tenant for your signature and should
be returned to this office immediately. The Trustee's Office
will forward a check to you, within four-five days. Any questions
about rent vouchers may be directed to the Trustee.
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14.
How Do I Find Out More About the Trustee's Practices and Procedures? |
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The Trustee and the Township Board are elected officials and
are governed by laws and standards. The laws are
in Indiana Code 12-2-1-1 and following. The trustee has adopted
a set of standards to give more detail about eligibility and
office procedures. These Township Assistance Standards are available
for anyone to see at the Trustee's Office.
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