Reasons for Denial
A denial for township public assistance shall be issued to applicants for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Applicant is not a resident of the township nor does not intend to make the township or county his/her sole place of residence.
(2) Application for Assistance will not be considered until due.
(3) Failure to cooperate with, or to provide the trustee office with necessary information for determining eligibility.
(4) Income of the household exceed the township eligibility standards (sufficient income), and no emergency exists. Applicants may have unpredictable circumstances or unusual expenses which would indicate a necessary expenditure from the township’s public assistance fund. Proper documentation of the reasons necessary for exceeding the township’s income standard must be made in those cases. The township is not obligated to pay for the 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 the goods or services.
(5) Failure to comply with the Township Trustee’s requirements set forth in these guidelines.
(6) Failure to cooperate with Agency’s referred to by the Trustee.
(7) Failure to return or notify Trustee’s Office within 24 hours.
(8) Failure to make application (within fifteen working days of the township referral) to governmental programs offering assistance for the basic necessities of living. Also, if an applicant or household member fails to complete the application process, comply with requirements, or otherwise participate in a program offered by any public or private agency after being referred by the Trustee, it will result in denial of township public assistance for sixty (60) days (I.C. 12-20-6-5 & I.C. 12-20-6-5.5). If the Trustee determines that an applicant or a household member who is granted emergency township public assistance (I.C. 12-20-17) may be eligible for public assistance other than township public assistance, the applicant/household member will, not more than fifteen (15) working days after the date that emergency township public assistance was granted, file an application for township public assistance and comply with all the requirements necessary for completing the application process for public assistance administered by the Division of Family and Children and other county, state, or federal governmental entities. An applicant or household member who fails to do so may not be granted township public assistance for sixty (60) days following the grant of emergency township public assistance (I.C. 12-20-6-5).
(9) False information or documentation is willfully given to the trustee (I.C. 12-20-6-6.5).Knowingly and willfully falsifying the affidavit, or misrepresenting the facts or withholding vital information. If the township finds that an applicant or household member has obtained township public assistance from any township by these actions, the township will refuse to extend aid for sixty (60) days. A criminal referral to the county prosecutor’s office is made (I.C. 12-20-6-6.5).
(10) Failure to meet workfare requirements within a reasonable time period required by the Trustee, (from prior assistance granted) including that assigned in another township, unless the recipient shows good cause for not performing the work. All adult household members residing in the household at the time township assistance is provided are responsible for the completion of any workfare assigned. Initially, the work order is assigned to one individual within the household. However, if the work order is not completed by that individual, other adult household members are responsible for contacting the trustee in order to have the work order reassigned, if necessary. Notice of denial for assistance due to incomplete workfare will be issued as soon as the opportunity presents itself (usually when a household member returns to the trustee’s office for further assistance) (I.C. 12-20-11-1).
(11) Refuses to do a workfare assignment.
(12) Violence, threats of violence, or abusive language used in the Trustee’s office or the premises.
(13) The township public assistance requested by the applicant or household member is during the same 30 day period and is for the same goods previously requested and denied by the township (I.C. 12-20-6-6.6).
(14) Habitually reporting the theft or loss of food stamps, TANF and/or Social Security monies or cash.
(15) Failure to liquidate countable assets with the prescribed time frame (I.C. 12-7-2-44.6).
(16) Applicant or household member refuses to sign the Reimbursement Authorization” for Supplemental Security benefits or enters into a subrogation agreement (if it is reasonably anticipated that there will be a compensation or monetary benefit received from a third party), as provided by statute for repayment of assistance during an interim period. (I.C. 12-20-27-1.5)
(17) Failure to apply a “one time only” monetary award (including but not limited to Retroactive Social Security payments, Workmen’s Compensation, pensions, inheritances, insurance settlements, income tax returns, energy assistance payments) toward basic necessities. The township will take into consideration the amount of the monetary award to determine the duration of the denial (I.C. 12-7-2-200.5).
(18) Applicant or household member has been convicted of an offense under I.C. 35-43-5-7 or I.C. 35-48-4 (welfare fraud). A Township Trustee may not extend assistance for one (1) year after a misdemeanor conviction or ten (10) years after a felony conviction.
(19) Applicant or household member having an Outstanding Warrant issued by the Federal, State, or Local Authorities failed to provide written proof to the Trustee that this matter has been resolved.
(20) Applicant or household member has been denied assistance or sanctioned by the local office of the Indiana Division of Family and Children (TANF/AFDC) for non-compliance of / or violations of Title 12, Article 14 of the Indiana Code.
(21) Failure to maintain proper immunization records on minor children can result in denial of township public assistance. (I.C. 12-14-1-1.5).
(22) Failure to participate in an education or self-help program offered under the Job Training Partnership Act or other similar programs, when referred by the township.
(23) Failure to file paternity/maternity actions when necessary and appropriate, or failing to take the necessary legal action to pursue child support (I.C. 12-14-2-24).
(24) Applicant or household member fails to initiate and execute the proper instruments for obtaining a payee to handle their finances.
(25) Applicant or household member has been convicted of township public assistance fraud and is ineligible to participate in the township public assistance program for thirty (30) years (I.C. 12-20-1-4).
(26) Applicant is coming or moving into the township for the specific purpose of applying for and/or receiving township public assistance services.
(27) Medication is not due for refill.
(28) Any request for other than basic necessities: (i.e.., cable, phone, rent to own, etc.).
(29) WASTED RESOURCES
(a) Applicant or household resources have been determined to be wasted.
Wasted resources are defined as:
—the amount of money or resources (including one time monetary awards, I.C. 12-7-2-200.5) expended during the thirty (30) days before the date of application for township public assistance by an applicant or an adult member of an applicant’s household, and/or thirty (30) days before the delinquency of a utility bill begins for items or services that are not basic necessities; or
—income, resources, and/or tax supported services lost or reduced as a result of a voluntary act, during the sixty (60) days prior to the date of application unless the adult member can establish a good reason. Income tax may be considered for six (6) months after money is received.
(30) FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT:
(a) Voluntarily terminating gainful employment. The township will not be obligated to provide assistance for a period of sixty (60) days commencing from the date employment was terminated (I.C. 12-7-2-200.5).
(b) Involuntary termination of gainful employment (fired) for a just cause (documented). See note above regarding time period for denial. Just cause firing (I.C. 22-4-15-1, I.C. 22-4-15-6.1) is defined as one or more of the following:
(1) Separation initiated by an employer for falsification of an employment application to obtain employment through subterfuge (2) Knowing violation of reasonable and uniformly enforced workplace rule (3) unsatisfactory attendance (4) Damaging workplace property through willful negligence (5) Refusing to obey instructions (6) Reporting to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol or consuming either while on workplace premises during working hours (7) Endangering the safety of self or co-workers (8) Incarceration due to the conviction of a misdemeanor or felony (9) Breach of duty in connection with work (10) Gross misconduct in connection with work.
(c) Failure to actively seek and/or accept employment when offered, regardless of whether the compensation is in the form of money, rent, or other basic necessity (I.C. 12-20-10-1). The trustee will refuse to furnish any township public assistance until he is satisfied that the township public assistance applicant or household members are endeavoring to find work. If the township public assistance applicant is in good health or if any adult household members are in good health, the Trustee will require those able to work to seek employment if the current household income is not enough to cover basic living expenses. Employment sought/secured must be enough hours and/or pay to cover basic living expenses. Each able-bodied adult household member will be required to maintain an updated employment file with the Indiana Department of Employment and Training Services, as well as provide other reasonable documentation that they are endeavoring to secure employment. The Township Trustee will require any adult household member to complete a job search form prior to receiving township public assistance. If a township public assistance applicant or household member claims an inability to work due to health, the Trustee has two (2) options: #1- The client need to have their physician fill out the Trustees medical form stating why they can not work or #2- The Trustee may require and provide for any medical examination necessary for the Trustee to determine whether they are able to perform work (I.C. 12-20-10-3.5). If the applicant or any other household member, who is otherwise eligible for assistance, is unemployed, the Trustee will require each one to furnish written verification of having submitted at least ten (10) employment applications. Applications must be currently dated and non-repetitive and commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications. The prospective employee is required to dress and conduct him/herself appropriately to increase every opportunity for employment. Individuals engaged in educational efforts, technical schools, or similar programs may insist that they are unavailable for work search or employment. If this be the case, the Trustee is not under any obligation to assist, unless the individual has been referred to the educational program by the Trustee I.C.12-20-12-1).
(31) HOUSING:
(a) Landlord refuses to accept voucher from the Trustee.
(b) Eviction from living quarters because of an act that violated the terms of a lease or landlord/tenant agreement, by the applicant or any adult member of the applicant’s household (I.C. 12-7-2-200.5). This includes an act which caused verifiable damage to a rental unit or when adults not on the lease are allowed to use or move into the household (I.C. 12-7-2-200.5).
(c) Eviction from subsidized housing. Eviction from living quarters because of an act that violated terms of a lease or landlord/tenant agreement, by the applicant or any adult member of the applicant’s household. (See appendix – HUD regulations).
(d) If applicant or household member is in bad standing & owes HUD money
(e) Only the current month’s rent will be considered for assistance when no judgment for eviction and/or back rent has been taken against the applicant or household member.
(f) Failure to accept free or low cost shelter arrangements provided by relatives or others. The Trustee is not required to provide shelter assistance to an otherwise eligible individual if:
(1) the applicant’s most recent shelter was provided by a parent, guardian, or foster parent; and
(2) the applicant, without just cause, leaves that residence for the shelter which the applicant now seeks assistance (I.C. 12-20-16-17g).
(g) Household assets have been assigned or transferred by an applicant or another member of the household for the purpose of rendering a household eligible for township public assistance during the six (6) month period immediately preceding the filing of an application for township public assistance.
(h) Applicant or household member refuses to allow a home visit.
(32) UTILITIES:
(a) Utility bill is not in “disconnect” status.
(b) Utility bill is not in legal name of an adult member of the household. (Refer to page 11)
(c) Failure to make deferred payments as agreed upon to Utility Company may result in denial of Township Public Assistance.
(d) Failure to comply with budget billing may result in denial of township public assistance.
(e) Failure to make good faith payments during the moratorium
(f) Utility bill is incurred in another township.
(g) Delinquent utility services were incurred more than the allowable limit
(33) FUNERAL’S:
(a) Funeral Home failed to contact Trustee’s Office before arrangements were made.
(b) Client being a recipient or parent of a Medicaid recipient is not eligible for Trustee assistance until they have checked with Medicaid to see what they will cover. (I.C. 12-14-6-1 & I.C. 12-14-6-2)