Senior benefits in Whitley County, Indiana

Indiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for Whitley 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

Whitley 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

Whitley County hospital safety net: Whitley = Parkview Whitley Hospital (Columbia City, Parkview Health) — 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 (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: 260-248-9000.

$500–$30,000/yr

In this county: Whitley: Whitley = Parkview Whitley Hospital (Columbia City, Parkview Health) — the county anchor. Each hospital runs its own Financial Assistance Program (no Indiana state-mandated charity-care law).

Whitley 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

Whitley County Transit, run by the Whitley County Council on Aging, transports Whitley County residents of any age — to work, school, medical appointments, the grocery, the pharmacy, and more. Seniors age 60 and over ride within the county on a donation-only basis, and service is not denied to anyone unable to donate. General-public in-county fares run $6.00 to $17.00 one way by distance ($29 one way out of county); children under 12 ride free with an adult. Reserve 48 hours ahead at 260-248-8944 ext. 1 (toll-free 800-290-1697), phones open 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

$500–$2,500/yr

In this county: Whitley: open to everyone; riders 60+ pay only a donation in-county (no one is turned away). Call 260-248-8944 ext. 1 two days ahead, mornings.