Senior benefits in Allen County, Indiana

Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for Allen County residents is delivered through Brightpoint (the regional Community Action agency), the Community Action agency for northeast Indiana. EAP provides a one-time winter-heating / summer-cooling credit (up to $675) plus winter disconnection protection for households at or below 60% of the State Median Income (~$33,556/year for one person). Apply through the Indiana EAP client portal (in.gov/ihcda) or Brightpoint (260-423-3546).

$200–$675/yr

Allen County emergency aid: (1) DISTINCTIVE to Indiana — each elected Township Trustee provides 'poor relief' (township assistance): emergency help with rent / eviction prevention, utility shutoff, food, clothing, medical needs, and burial expenses for residents of that township; find your trustee through the county offices. (2) Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana for senior case management, meals, and PathWays/CHOICE (260-745-1200). (3) Brightpoint for EAP utility help. (4) The county hospital Financial Assistance Programs for healthcare. (5) Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul / Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne-South Bend. (6) Community Harvest Food Bank of NE Indiana. (7) Dial 211 for general referrals.

$200–$3,000/yr

Allen County hospital safety net: Allen = Parkview Regional Medical Center (Fort Wayne flagship, 15-hospital system) vs Lutheran Health Network (Lutheran Hospital + Dupont) — the two-system Fort Wayne market. Indiana hospitals do not have a single state-mandated charity-care law (unlike New Jersey); each runs its own Financial Assistance Program (Parkview, for example, covers up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level), and non-profit hospitals must offer one. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.parkview.com/patients-and-visitors/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 260-266-1000.

$500–$30,000/yr

In this county: Allen: Allen = Parkview Regional Medical Center (Fort Wayne flagship, 15-hospital system) vs Lutheran Health Network (Lutheran Hospital + Dupont) — the two-system Fort Wayne market. Each hospital runs its own Financial Assistance Program (no Indiana state-mandated charity-care law).

Allen County's Area Agency on Aging is Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana — Area 3 Agency on Aging. Services: Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) options counseling; enrollment/assessment for the Medicaid PathWays for Aging waiver and the state CHOICE program; home-delivered and congregate meals; caregiver support (NFCSP); transportation; and home modifications. One of Indiana's 16 AAAs. Apply by calling 260-745-1200 or 800-552-3662.

$1,500–$6,000/yr

Citilink runs Fort Wayne's fixed-route buses. Regular fares are $1.50 per ride, $3.75 for an all-day pass, and $54.00 for a 31-day pass; senior citizens age 60 and over, Medicare cardholders, riders with disabilities, and children 5-18 pay reduced fares of $0.75 / $1.85 / $27.00. To ride at the reduced fare, show a Medicare card or get a Citilink photo ID ($3.75, valid 3 years, issued at the Citilink office on Leesburg Road). Citilink Access ADA paratransit is $3.00 per ride. Call 260-432-4546.

$50–$300/yr

In this county: Allen: the senior reduced fare starts at age 60 (or any age with a Medicare card). Get the ID at the Leesburg Road office, not the downtown station.