1.00.05 APPLICATION REVIEW - The client's affidavit will be reviewed. Then, an investigation and verification will be done as soon as possible by the township's staff. Only upon and after the completion of all investigation and verification, will a decision be made. Indiana law requires that this effort be completed within 72 hours (holidays and weekends excluded) from the time the "Affidavit and Application for Relief - Form PR #1" is completed by the applicant and filed with the township office. Unusual circumstances concerning the household or failure to supply the township with needed documentation may necessitate an additional 72 hour period. This is often referred to as "pending" and is permitted by Indiana law. (IC 12-20-6-7&8)
1.00.06 REFERRALS - All applicants for poor relief and members of the applicant's household are required to comply with all referrals from the trustee to other public or private assistance programs within 15 working days of the referral date. Failure to comply may result in a denial for not more than sixty (60) days. (IC 12-1-20-6-5&3)
1.10.01
NOTICE OF ACTION - The applicant will be given a written notice
of the township's decision. Included in the notice will be:
- The type and amount of assistance granted.
- The type and amount of assistance denied or partially granted.
If assistance is denied, the reasons for the denial will be stated. The denial notice will be on Form PR #1 A. This will inform the applicant of their right to appeal the trustee's decision to the board of commissioners, and where the appeal is to be filed. The PR #1 A may be presented to the applicant or sent to them, at their last known address, via the U.S. Postal Service. (IC 12-20-6-8)
1.30.00 DENIALS - The township will not extend aid to or for the benefit of any member of an applicant household if the aid requested would pay for goods or services that were previously requested and denied by the township. (IC 12-20-6-6.6). Also denials may be given to individual applicants for one or more of the following reasons:
1.30.01 Knowingly and willingly falsifying their affidavit, or by misrepresenting the facts or withholding vital information. If the township finds that an individual has obtained poor relief from any township by these actions or means of conduct described in IC 35-43-5-7 (Welfare Fraud), the township shall refuse to extend aid for sixty (60) days. The township will also make a criminal referral to the county prosecutor's office. (IC 12-20-6-6.5)
1.30.02 Failure to comply with the workfare requirements as outline by these standards. (Denial may be for a period not to exceed 180 days) (IC 12-20-11-1)
1.30.03 Voluntarily terminating gainful employment, or being involuntarily terminated for; just cause, i.e...absenteeism, theft, or willful misconduct. A denial from the Indiana Office of Employment and Training for Unemployment Compensation may also be used as grounds for being denied poor relief benefits. The township shall not be obligated to provide poor relief benefits to or for an applicant for a period of sixty day (60) days from the date of his\her application.(IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.04 Failure to actively seek and\or accept gainful employment when offered, whether the compensation for the work will be payable in money or in house rent, or in commodities consisting of the necessities of life. The township may require applicants to furnish documented evidence that they are actively seeking employment. The township may periodically provide and require individuals to complete an Employment Search form in order to comply with this statutory provision. (Denial up to 60 days) (IC 12-20-10-1&2)
1.30.05 Failure to accept adequate free or low cost shelter arrangements provided by relatives or others, or moving from adequate free or low cost shelter, without just cause. (Denials up to 60 days) (IC 12-20-10-2), (IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.06 Violence, threats of violence, or abusive language used in or around the township offices or premises, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. (Denial up to 60 days) (IC 12-20-17-2)
1.30.07 Failure to complete and maintain monthly report forms as required by governmental programs offering assistance for the basic necessities of living; failure to cooperate with other governmental agency programs; or failure to comply with the rules and regulations of an assisting governmental agency. (Denial up to 60 days)
1.30.08 Excess income or other financial resources as determined by these standards, or failing to apply other tax supported monetary benefits toward the household's basic needs. (IC 12-7-2-44.7), (IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.09 Failure to cooperate with, or to provide the township with the documentation\information which is necessary to determine eligibility, and that which is not readily available or cannot be secured in a timely manner by the township. (IC 12-20-6-1)
1.30.10 Failure of an applicant (within 15 working days of the township referral), if referred by the township, to make and complete the application process for other governmental programs for which they may qualify or failure to participate or comply, after being referred by the township, in a program offered by any other public or private agency. (Denial up to 60 days) (IC 12-20-6-5), (IC 12-20-6-5.5)
1.30.11 Frequently reporting the loss or theft of money or food stamps.
1.30.12 Making an assignment of or transferring assets, by an applicant or another member of an applicant's household, during the six (6) month period immediately preceding the filing of an affidavit and application for poor relief.
1.30.13 Failure to cooperate with or provide needed information\documentation to other tax supported public assistance programs. (Denials up to 60 days)
1.30.14 Failure of the applicant or a member of an applicant's household to apply "one time" monetary awards toward the household's monthly basic need expenses. One time monetary awards may include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:
- Energy Assistance
- Retroactive Social Security Payments
- Workmen's Compensation
- Inheritances
- Pensions
- Insurance Settlements
- Income Tax Returns
- Any other "one time" cash award which is available to the household and can be used for basic necessities.
The township shall consider the amount of the "cash award" when determining the duration of the denial. (IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.15 Failure to file paternity actions when necessary and appropriate, or failing to take the necessary legal action to pursue child support. (IC 12-14-2-24)
1.30.16 Wasted Resources - "Wasted Resources" is defined, for the purpose of Poor Relief administration, as an amount of money or resources expended for items or services that are not considered basic necessities during the thirty (30) day period before the date of application. Or, income, resources, or tax supported services lost or reduced as a result of a voluntary act during the sixty (60) days before the date of application for poor relief by an adult member of the applicant household, unless the adult can establish a good reason for the act. (IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.17 Sufficient Income - The township shall not be obligated to pay for services or the cost of goods incurred by an applicant or a member of an applicant's household during the period the applicant or a member of the applicant's household had sufficient income or resources to have paid for either the goods or service.
1.30.18 Being evicted or forced to vacate present living quarters because of an act that violates the terms of the lease or landlord\tenant agreement, by the applicant or any adult member of the applicant's household; or, the applicant invites or allows other adults to use or move into their household. (IC 12-7-2-200.5)
1.30.19 Moving into or coming to the township for the specific purpose of applying for and\or receiving township poor relief services.
1.30.20 TANF SANCTIONS\DENIALS - The township is not obligated and will not extend aid to a poor relief applicant or any member of a poor relief applicant's household if any member of that household has been denied assistance or sanctioned by the local office of the Indiana Division of Family and Children for non-compliance of\or violations of Title 12 Article 14 of the Indiana Code. (IC 12-20-6-0.5)
1.30.22 WELFARE\POOR RELIEF FRAUD - A person convicted of an offense under IC 35-43-5-7 (welfare fraud), the township will not extend aid to or for the benefit of the individual for the following periods: one (1) years if convicted of a misdemeanor; ten (10) years if convicted of a felony; and , if the township finds that an individual has obtained poor relief assistance from any township by means of conduct described in IC 35-43-5-7, the township may refuse to extend aid to or for the benefit of that individual for sixty (60) days. (12-20-6-6.5)
