Senior benefits in Clark County, Indiana

The Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) pays a one-time winter-heating or summer-cooling credit toward the bill and protects a household from winter disconnection. In Clark County, EAP applications go to Ohio Valley Opportunities, Inc. in Madison, the local service provider IHCDA assigns to the county. Community Action of Southern Indiana is still the Community Action and weatherization agency here, but it no longer takes EAP applications. Call 812-265-5858 (option 1) or toll-free 877-782-5882. Applications open in the fall for the November-to-April heating season.

$200–$675/yr

Clark 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. Clark County has 12 townships; find your trustee through the county offices. (2) LifeSpan Resources for senior case management, meals, and PathWays/CHOICE (812-948-8330). (3) The regional Community Action agency for EAP utility help. (4) The county hospital Financial Assistance Programs for healthcare. (5) Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul / Catholic Charities. (6) Dare to Care Food Bank (Louisville metro, serving Southern Indiana). (7) Dial 211 for general referrals.

$200–$3,000/yr

Clark County hospital safety net: Clark = Norton Clark Hospital (Jeffersonville, formerly Clark Memorial, now Norton Healthcare) — the county anchor. Indiana hospitals do not have a single state-mandated charity-care law (unlike New Jersey); each runs its own Financial Assistance Program, typically a sliding scale to 200-300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and non-profit hospitals must offer one. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://nortonhealthcare.com/location/loc0000191946/. Phone: 812-282-6631.

$500–$30,000/yr

In this county: Clark: Clark = Norton Clark Hospital (Jeffersonville, formerly Clark Memorial, now Norton Healthcare) — the county anchor. Each hospital runs its own Financial Assistance Program (no Indiana state-mandated charity-care law).

Clark County's Area Agency on Aging is LifeSpan Resources (Area 14 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; Meals on Wheels and congregate meals; caregiver support (NFCSP); transportation; and home modifications. LifeSpan serves the 4-county Indiana side of the Louisville metro and is one of Indiana's 16 AAAs. Apply by calling 812-948-8330 or 888-948-8330.

$1,500–$6,000/yr

TARC buses connect Clark County with downtown Louisville: Route 72 (Jeffersonville-Clarksville-Greentree Mall) and Route 76 (Jeffersonville-Census Bureau). The regular fare is $2.25 (exact change, or stored value on a MyTARC card with 2-hour transfers). Riders age 65 and over, Medicare cardholders, and riders with disabilities qualify for the reduced fare of $1.00 per ride with a reduced-fare MyTARC photo ID card. The card costs $5.00 and is issued in person at TARC Customer Service, 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) — bring proof of age or a government-issued ID, or a Medicare card. Call 502-585-1234 with questions.

$50–$400/yr