TYPES OF SERVICES 

Poor Relief

Under the Calumet Township Trustee's Office Poor Relief system, assistance can be provided to eligible township residents in the following categories:

Household
•  Clothing
•  Furniture

Clothing and Furniture assistance is provided in Extra-Ordinary Circumstances, such as, burn-outs and reunification. Ask your service investigator for more information.

Shelter
•  Rent
•  Mortgage

Household and shelter assistance is based on household size and income. See Eligibility/Guidelines for more information.

Health Care
•  Burial
•  Prescriptions
•  Diagnostic Service
•  Physicians Service

Food Referrals and Assistance

Qualified residents are referred to a local food pantry or other resources which are based on availability and circumstances.

Area Agency Support

Calumet Township Trustee's Office acts as a referral agent to area social service agencies, which can provide help to those needing assistance. Ask your service investigator for more information.

Energy Assistance

•  Utility
•  Electricity
•  Water
•  Gas

Also, under the Calumet Township Trustee's office Poor Relief system, utility assistance is provided to eligible township residents, based on household size and income. See Eligibility/Guidelines for more information.

Job Search Works Transportation Assistance

Job Search Works program recipients can receive bus ride tokens to local educational centers or potential employment sites, based on circumstances and availability. Ask your Job Search Counselor for more information.

Eligibility Guidelines

Per Indiana State law, the Calumet Township Trustee must set standards and eligibility guidelines to determine service for township assistance. Financial guidelines are set per household size. Eligibility is determined in the service investigation consultation. By subtracting the total household income for the past 30 days from the income standard set for the household size, the service investigator can provide a client with their eligibility rate.

See General Assistance for procedures and standards for servicing township clients.

Example - Household of four (4) calculation

Effective January 1, 2003 , the following is the current Federal Poverty Guidelines. All applicants for poor relief assistance will be eligibility, only is the total monthly household income is less than the following standard guidelines.

Once financial eligibility is determined, the applicant must present paid receipts to verify how 80% of the total household income for the past 30 days was expended. Only receipts for the basic necessities of living will be accepted (i.e., shelter, utilities, medical, food - if the client is not receiving food stamps). The amount is services requested is approved, partially approved, or denied.

As part of the process to establish Eligibility for clients seeking assistance, once a client has been denied service, they have the Right To Appeal.

See General Assistance for procedures and standards for servicing township clients.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY

Once financial eligibility is determined, certain other non-financial requirements for eligibility must be met:

Under Indiana Code 12-20-6-5

Application for other assistance, and 12-20-6-5.5, Application for Public Assistance before grating poor relief. Application and members of applicant's household shall, when referred by trustee, apply for other public assistance within fifteen (15) days from the referral, with the Division of Family and Children Services or any other state entity.  Failure to apply within fifteen (15) days will result in denial of poor relief services for not more than sixty (60) days.