Emergency Assistance for Seniors in Indiana

Last updated: April 28, 2026

Bottom line: If you are an older Indiana resident facing a shutoff, eviction, food shortage, medical bill problem, unsafe home, or possible abuse, start with 211 and your local Area Agency on Aging. Then call the program that matches your problem. Most help is local, and many programs need proof before they can act.

Contents

• Urgent help
• Quick start table
• Indiana facts
• Main help options
• Phone scripts
• Documents to gather
• Local Indiana help
• Common mistakes
• Resumen en español
• FAQs

Urgent help in Indiana

Call 911 first if someone is in danger, there is a fire, a medical emergency, or a crime is happening now.

For food, housing, utility, and local emergency referrals, call 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966. Indiana also says people can text their ZIP code to 898-211 for help through Indiana 211, which can point you to local programs before a crisis gets worse.

If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older adult, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978. The state lists that hotline on its Aging contacts page, along with the Area Agency on Aging number.

If you have thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 now. If you are a veteran, call 988 and press 1.

Quick start table

Key Indiana facts for seniors

Indiana has many older adults living on fixed incomes, and help can be hard to find when bills hit at the same time. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Indiana had 6,973,333 residents on July 1, 2025, and people age 65 and older were 17.5% of the state population on Census QuickFacts. This is why local aging offices, energy aid, food help, and medical cost programs matter.

Main emergency help options in Indiana

211 and Area Agencies on Aging

Indiana 211 is often the fastest first call when you do not know which office handles your problem. Ask for food pantries, rent help, utility help, transportation, senior meals, and legal aid in your ZIP code. It is not the program that pays every bill, but it can help you find the right door.

Your Area Agency on Aging, often called an AAA, can help with options counseling, home-delivered meals, caregiver support, care planning, and referrals. Indiana says AAAs provide case management, information, and referrals for aging residents through the AAA directory, and the statewide AAA phone line is 1-800-713-9023.

For more local aging office details, see our guide to Indiana aging offices. Use that page when you need county-level help, not just a statewide phone number.

SNAP and Medicaid through FSSA

The Indiana Division of Family Resources handles applications for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and other public benefits. You can apply or manage a case through the state benefits portal, call 1-800-403-0864, or contact a county office. The state lists these options on the FSSA contact page, and it says local DFR offices help people apply for SNAP, TANF, and health coverage.

SNAP can help buy groceries. Older adults may have medical costs that matter during the SNAP review, so keep receipts for prescriptions, doctor bills, transportation to care, and health insurance premiums. Indiana explains the program on its SNAP page, which is the safest place to check current rules.

For a step-by-step portal guide, use our Indiana benefits portal article. It explains which problems go through the benefits portal and which ones need another phone number.

Utility shutoff and energy bills

Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program, often called EAP or LIHEAP, can help pay heat and electric bills. IHCDA says EAP provides a one-time yearly benefit paid to the utility vendor and is not meant to cover all yearly energy costs. The 2025-2026 application period closed on April 20, 2026, and the state says the portal will reopen in fall 2026 on the EAP page, so check it before you apply.

If you have a shutoff notice, still call your utility, 211, and your local EAP agency. Ask whether crisis help, a payment plan, or local charity funds are open. If the online system is open, use the EAP portal and keep proof that you applied.

The winter disconnection moratorium is not a blanket rule for everyone. The Indiana OUCC explains that the protection is tied to whether a customer receives or qualifies for energy assistance. Check the current details on OUCC winter rules before relying on the moratorium.

Weatherization is different from bill help. It may add insulation, air sealing, heating system checks, and other energy-saving repairs for qualified households. IHCDA says its weatherization page covers free services for qualified Indiana residents, but wait times can vary.

Our guide to Indiana housing help has more detail on rent, affordable housing, and home safety options.

Rent, eviction, and township help

Indiana has a local safety-net system through township trustees. A trustee may help with basic needs such as shelter, utilities, food, clothing, medical needs, or burial, but rules vary by township and assistance is often a last resort. Use the state DLGF official lookup to find local officials by address or county.

For homelessness or possible homelessness, ask 211 for coordinated entry. IHCDA says coordinated entry helps communities rank housing help by need and severity through coordinated entry, but it does not mean immediate housing is always available.

If you received a court paper, get legal help fast. Indiana Legal Help offers forms and referrals through Indiana Legal Help, while Indiana Legal Services takes applications for free civil legal aid by phone or online. Do not skip an eviction hearing, even if you are still looking for rent money.

If rent is too high for the long term, our Indiana senior apartments guide may help you look for lower-cost housing, waitlists, and voucher paths.

Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription costs

Indiana SHIP gives free Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-452-4800 if you need help with Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D drug plans, Extra Help, billing, or plan notices. The state describes one-on-one help on Indiana SHIP, and counseling can be by phone, in person, or virtual.

Indiana PathWays for Aging is for many Medicaid members age 60 and older who need long-term services. If you need to choose or change a plan, the state lists 1-877-284-9294 on PathWays contacts. This program may affect care management, rides, home care, and nursing facility services.

HoosierRx may help some low-income Indiana residents age 65 or older pay monthly Medicare Part D premiums. The state gives the HoosierRx phone number as 1-866-267-4679 on its HoosierRx page. If you are not sure whether HoosierRx, Extra Help, or a Medicare Savings Program is better, call SHIP before you apply.

Medicare Savings Programs may help pay Medicare premiums and, for some groups, deductibles or coinsurance. Indiana explains QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI on its Medicare Savings Programs page. Our deeper guide to Indiana Medicare help explains the main paths in plain language.

If the main problem is daily care at home, see our guide on Indiana home care. If the need is facility care, our article on Indiana assisted living explains common payment routes and limits.

Food, meals, and farmers market help

For food today, call 211 and ask for the nearest pantry that is open now. Then call your AAA and ask about home-delivered meals, congregate meals, and emergency meal options. Indiana’s nutrition page says local Area Agencies on Aging help distribute senior farmers market vouchers to eligible seniors.

SNAP is still the main monthly food benefit. Food pantries and senior boxes can help when SNAP is not enough, but they may have changing hours and supplies. Ask 211 whether a pantry serves seniors, offers delivery, or requires an appointment.

Property tax, scams, and safety

If you own your home, check senior property tax relief with your county auditor. Indiana DLGF keeps forms for the Over 65 Credit and Over 65 Circuit Breaker Credit on its property tax forms page. Deadlines and local processing can vary, so ask your county auditor before you miss a filing date.

For an easier walkthrough, our Indiana property tax guide covers senior credits, homestead issues, and county steps.

For scams, fraud, and unfair business practices, the Indiana Attorney General accepts complaints through the consumer complaint page. If money has already left your account, call your bank first, then report the scam.

If the problem is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or other long-term care setting, contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The state lists the toll-free number 1-800-622-4484 on its ombudsman contacts page.

Phone scripts you can use

Call 211 for fast local help

“My name is ____. I am a senior in ZIP code ____. I need help with ____ by ____. Can you give me programs that are open now, what papers they need, and the phone numbers to call today?”

Call a utility company

“I am behind on my bill and I may face shutoff. I am applying for energy help. Can you tell me the lowest payment needed to stop disconnection, whether I can get a payment plan, and where to send proof of my EAP application?”

Call a township trustee

“I live at ____. I am asking about township assistance for ____. Can you tell me how to apply, what documents to bring, how soon I can be seen, and how I can get a written decision?”

Call SHIP about Medicare

“I need free help with Medicare costs. I have Medicare, and my income is about ____ per month. Can you check whether Extra Help, HoosierRx, or a Medicare Savings Program may fit me?”

Documents to gather before you apply

Local Indiana help and backup options

Local offices matter in Indiana. A senior in Indianapolis may have different rent, transit, food, and legal options than a senior in a rural county. If one office says no, ask what office serves your address and whether there is an appeal, waitlist, or partner agency.

For transportation, Medicaid members should call the number on their plan card or care manager. Other seniors can ask their AAA about volunteer drivers, demand-response rides, and county transit. INDOT lists public transit providers on its public transit page, but local rules and service hours vary.

Veterans should also contact a County Veterans Service Officer. Our Indiana veterans guide explains where to start for benefits, health care, pensions, and local help.

Family caregivers should ask about respite, meal help, care planning, and possible pay programs before burnout becomes a crisis. Our Indiana caregiver pay guide explains the main routes and limits.

If you are not sure which benefit fits, start with our broader Indiana senior benefits page. It can help you move from emergency help to longer-term support.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until shutoff day: Call as soon as you get a notice.
• Missing court: Go to eviction court even if you are seeking help.
• Sending originals: Send copies unless the office clearly requires originals.
• Ignoring mail: Benefit letters often have short deadlines.
• Using the wrong office: Township, county, and state programs serve different roles.
• Not asking for appeal rights: Denials should often come with appeal steps.

What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

Ask for the denial in writing. Then ask how many days you have to appeal. If you are missing papers, ask if you can submit them late or reopen the case. If the issue is housing, food, medicine, or safety, call 211 again and say the first option did not work.

For legal papers, do not guess. Call Indiana Legal Services or Indiana Legal Help. For benefit notices, call the agency number on the letter and write down the date, the person’s name, and what they said. For Medicare problems, call SHIP with your card and notices in front of you.

Resumen en español

Si usted es una persona mayor en Indiana y necesita ayuda urgente, llame al 911 si hay peligro inmediato. Para comida, renta, servicios públicos, transporte o ayuda local, llame al 2-1-1 o al 1-866-211-9966. Si sospecha abuso, negligencia o explotación financiera de una persona mayor, llame a Adult Protective Services al 1-800-992-6978.

Para Medicaid o SNAP, llame a FSSA al 1-800-403-0864. Para preguntas de Medicare, llame a SHIP al 1-800-452-4800. Guarde copias de cartas, facturas, avisos de corte, papeles de la corte, tarjetas de seguro, ingresos y gastos médicos.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indiana seniors get emergency cash from the state?

Indiana does not have one simple statewide emergency cash grant for all seniors. Help is usually through township trustees, 211 referrals, SNAP, EAP, Medicaid, local charities, or legal aid.

Who should I call first if I need help today?

Call 211 first for local referrals. If there is danger, call 911. If abuse or exploitation may be happening, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978.

Can EAP stop a utility shutoff?

It may help, but it is not automatic in every case. Apply early, call the utility, ask about proof of application, and check current OUCC rules.

Where do I apply for SNAP or Medicaid?

Apply through Indiana FSSA online, by phone at 1-800-403-0864, or through a local DFR office. Keep copies of anything you send.

What help is available for Medicare costs?

Call SHIP at 1-800-452-4800. Ask about Extra Help, HoosierRx, Medicare Savings Programs, and plan changes that may lower your costs.

What if I am being evicted?

Call legal aid right away, contact your township trustee, and ask 211 for rent help. Do not miss your court hearing.

Who helps with nursing home complaints?

Call the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-622-4484. Keep notes with dates, names, and what happened.

How often should this information be checked?

Program rules, funds, and dates can change. Check official pages before applying, especially for EAP, property tax relief, Medicaid, and local rent help.