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Indiana emergency help guide
Last updated: 18 September 2026
If you are an older Indiana resident facing a utility shutoff, no food, eviction, unsafe housing, medical-cost trouble, or possible abuse, start with the fastest local route instead of waiting for one statewide “senior grant.” Most emergency help in Indiana is handled through 211, township trustees, Area Agencies on Aging, state benefit offices, legal aid, utilities, and local providers.
Bottom Line
For help today: call 211 or 1-866-211-9966 and give your ZIP code. If the problem is aging services, meals, home care, or disability support, also call your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-713-9023. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you suspect abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an endangered adult, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978.
Need Help Right Now?
- Immediate danger, fire, crime, or medical emergency: call 911.
- Food, shelter, rent, utilities, transportation, or local referrals: use Indiana 211, dial 211 or 1-866-211-9966, or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
- Abuse, neglect, or exploitation: Indiana lists the Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-800-992-6978 on its aging contacts page.
- Suicide or mental-health crisis: call or text 988. Veterans can call 988 and press 1.
If you are homeless tonight or may lose housing very soon, tell 211 that you need an emergency shelter or homelessness referral, not only a general housing list. Our national emergency help guide can also help you sort the crisis by type.
Start Here
- Call the fastest entry point. Use 211 for a broad crisis, your utility for a shutoff, legal aid for court papers, or 911 for immediate danger.
- Call the aging network. Indiana’s AAA directory lists the local Area Agency on Aging for each service area. The statewide line is 1-800-713-9023.
- Keep proof. Save notices, bills, court papers, benefit letters, ID, income records, and the names and dates of every call.
For county-level aging contacts and service areas, use our Indiana aging offices guide.
What Has Changed
Energy assistance is between program years. Indiana says the 2025–2026 Energy Assistance Program closed on April 20, 2026. The state says it will reopen in fall 2026, but it has not posted a new application opening date on the public household page as of September 12, 2026. Do not assume an old application link means new applications are open.
Do not assume old statewide rent-aid links are open. Indiana Legal Help’s general rent-and-utility page currently says the Indiana Emergency Rental Assistance program is closed, while a current clinic notice still mentions IERA2. Because those public references conflict, this guide does not treat statewide IERA assistance as broadly open. Call 211 or legal aid to confirm what is actually accepting applications in your county.
New August 2026 disaster help is active. Indiana’s disaster page says FEMA Individual Assistance is available for qualifying residents in 21 listed counties affected by the August storms and flooding, with an application deadline of October 25, 2026. The state also lists disaster housing and State Disaster Relief Fund routes. Counties and local services can change, so verify the current list before applying.
PathWays materials changed in 2026. Indiana’s PathWays for Aging resources now include waiver materials effective August 1, 2026. If you receive Medicaid and long-term services, use the current PathWays contacts rather than an older plan letter or saved webpage.
Quick Help by Problem
| Problem | First route | Ask for | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| No food today | 211 or AAA | Open pantry, senior meal, SNAP | Pantry hours and supplies change. |
| Utility shutoff | Utility and 211 | Payment plan, local crisis fund, EAP timing | EAP is closed until fall 2026 reopening. |
| Eviction or rent crisis | Trustee and legal aid | Township assistance, local rent help, court advice | Do not rely on old IERA links. |
| August storm or flood damage | Indiana disaster page | FEMA, state relief, temporary housing | Deadlines and county eligibility apply. |
| Medicare costs | SHIP | MSP, Extra Help, plan review | The agency decides eligibility. |
| Unsafe long-term care | Ombudsman | Resident complaint help | Call 911 for immediate danger. |
August 2026 Storm and Flood Assistance
If your primary home, belongings, or basic needs were affected by the August 11, 2026 storms, tornadoes, or flooding, use the current Indiana disaster page before using older emergency-assistance information.
As of September 12, 2026, Indiana says FEMA Individual Assistance is available for eligible homeowners and renters in Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, and Wayne counties. The listed FEMA deadline is October 25, 2026. Indiana also says additional damage assessments may affect which counties are included, so confirm the live list.
The state page also lists a State Disaster Relief Fund route for certain uninsured damage to a primary residence in qualifying jurisdictions. IHCDA is providing temporary housing help for eligible displaced Hoosiers, including hotel or rental routes. These are not automatic cash payments to every household. Call 211 if you need help finding the right disaster program or application support.
Do not wait for insurance to finish every step before asking questions. Contact your insurer if you have coverage, save photos and receipts, and ask the disaster program what documents it needs. If you receive a denial letter from FEMA or another program, keep it because legal aid may be able to help with an appeal.
Utility Shutoff and Energy Bills
Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program, also called EAP or LIHEAP, can help eligible households with heating and electric costs. The benefit is not meant to pay a full year of bills. Indiana’s EAP household page says the 2025–2026 application period is closed and will reopen in fall 2026.
If you have a shutoff notice now, do not wait for EAP to reopen. Call the utility and ask for the lowest amount or plan that can prevent disconnection. Then call 211 and ask for utility funds in your county. Your township trustee may also be able to help with essential utilities when program rules are met.
Reality check: Indiana’s winter disconnection protection is not automatic for every customer. The OUCC winter rules explain that protection from December 1 through March 15 depends on receiving EAP or qualifying, applying through the local intake office, and giving the utility written proof. Other exceptions can apply.
If high bills come from a drafty or unsafe home, emergency bill help and repair help are different programs. Our Indiana home repair guide covers repair and weatherization routes that may help reduce future risk.
Rent, Eviction, and Homelessness
Indiana township trustees administer township assistance. State guidance says basic necessities can include food, shelter, medical care, household essentials, and essential utility services. The township assistance guide also notes that the trustee may authorize some utility payments when needed to prevent or restore a shutoff. Local rules and required documents still matter.
Use the state’s township lookup to identify your township, then find the trustee who serves that area. Ask how to apply, what proof is required, when you can be seen, and how to receive a written decision.
If you are homeless or at immediate risk, ask 211 for emergency shelter and coordinated entry. Indiana’s coordinated entry system is designed to prioritize people based on vulnerability and service needs. It does not guarantee an immediate housing placement.
For a rent crisis, do not rely on an old IERA application link. Indiana Legal Help currently says IERA is closed, although a current clinic notice still refers to IERA2. Because public guidance is inconsistent, call 211 or legal aid to confirm whether any statewide or local rental fund is accepting new requests where you live. If you have court papers, apply through Indiana Legal Services and do not miss the hearing while waiting for financial help.
For longer-term housing options, see our Indiana housing guide and senior apartment guide.
Food, SNAP, and State Benefits
If you need food today, call 211 and ask which pantry is open now. For senior meals, contact your Area Agency on Aging. Indiana’s older adult nutrition program serves congregate meals to eligible older Hoosiers and provides home-delivered meals based on eligibility. Local sites, meal days, and delivery rules vary.
For ongoing grocery help, the Indiana Division of Family Resources handles Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications. The state’s DFR contact page lists the Benefits Portal, local offices, and the statewide benefits number 1-800-403-0864. You can also review the current Indiana SNAP page.
Keep copies of income records, rent or mortgage costs, utility bills, and health-related expenses that the agency asks you to document. If you use the online portal, our Indiana benefits portal guide explains the main steps and common problems.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Prescription Costs
Indiana’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-452-4800 or use Indiana SHIP. A counselor can help you compare Medicare cost-saving routes, understand plan notices, and ask whether a Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, or another program may fit.
Indiana Medicaid describes four Medicare Savings Programs: QMB, SLMB, QI, and QDWI. These programs can help with certain Medicare premiums and, for some categories, cost sharing. Do not use an old income figure from a saved article or letter; ask SHIP or DFR to check the rule that applies now. Our Indiana Medicare savings guide gives a plain-language overview.
For older Medicaid members who receive long-term services, Indiana PathWays for Aging may affect care coordination, health-plan contacts, home services, and nursing-facility coverage. The current PathWays contacts list 87-PATHWAY-4 (1-877-284-9294) for plan selection or changes and 1-877-738-3511 for Member Support Services.
If the problem is keeping someone safely at home, our Indiana home care guide explains longer-term payment routes. Seniors with a disability may also need our Indiana disability guide.
Abuse, Scams, and Long-Term Care Problems
If an older adult may be endangered by abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978. If violence or immediate danger is happening now, call 911 first.
If a scammer, contractor, seller, or other business may have deceived you, contact your bank or card company first if money has moved. You can then use the Indiana Attorney General’s consumer complaint page. Keep receipts, messages, contracts, and screenshots.
If the concern is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family care home, the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman helps residents and families with complaints and rights. The state lists an information and complaint line of 1-800-622-4484 on the ombudsman contact page.
Veterans can have extra benefit and service routes through federal, state, and county offices. Our Indiana veterans guide shows where to begin.
Documents to Gather
Do not delay an emergency call because you do not have every document. Start the call, explain the deadline, and ask what is required. Then gather what you can.
| Type of help | Useful documents | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | Photo ID, utility bill, shutoff notice, income proof | Can I stop disconnection while help is pending? |
| Rent or trustee help | Lease, rent ledger, court notice, income, bank records | How do I get a written decision? |
| SNAP or Medicaid | ID, household information, income, requested expense proof | What is still missing from my case? |
| Medicare cost help | Medicare card, plan letters, drug list, income and asset records | Which savings program should I check first? |
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Say the deadline first. Tell the worker the shutoff date, court date, days of food left, or safety problem.
- Ask whether the program is open. Do not spend hours on an application before confirming that new applications are being accepted.
- Ask what serves your address. Indiana help is often organized by township, county, planning area, utility territory, or health plan.
- Ask for the backup route. If the program is closed or has no funds, ask which partner agency or local fund should be called next.
- Keep a simple call log. Write the date, office, worker name, phone number, and next step.
Reality Checks
- Emergency programs can close when funding is gone or a program year ends.
- A referral from 211 does not guarantee that another agency has money available.
- Township help can require an application, proof, and a decision under local standards.
- Housing programs may use waitlists or coordinated-entry priority rules rather than first-come service.
- Medicare and Medicaid programs have eligibility rules that change with program year and household facts.
For community groups that may help fill a local gap, see our Indiana charities guide. Availability can change quickly, so call before traveling.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for a program to reopen: use 211, the utility, trustee, or legal aid now if a deadline is close.
- Missing eviction court: financial help does not replace the court process.
- Assuming winter protection is automatic: Indiana’s moratorium has conditions.
- Ignoring mail: benefit notices can contain deadlines and requests for missing proof.
- Using an old phone number or portal: verify the current agency page before sending sensitive documents.
- Paying for a “grant list”: legitimate public-benefit applications normally start with the responsible agency, not a seller promising guaranteed money.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Call 211
“I am a senior in ZIP code ____. My urgent problem is ____. My deadline is ____. Which programs are accepting requests now, and what should I call first today?”
Call the utility
“I have a shutoff notice dated ____. I am looking for assistance. What payment or plan can stop disconnection, and what proof do you accept if I apply for local help?”
Call the trustee
“I live in your township and need help with ____. How do I apply, what papers must I bring, when can I be seen, and how can I receive the decision in writing?”
Call SHIP
“I need help lowering Medicare costs. I have my Medicare card and income information. Can you help me check Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, and other Indiana options?”
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed?
Ask for a written notice when an agency denies help. Read the reason and the appeal or review instructions before the deadline passes. If documents are missing, ask whether you can submit them and continue the case.
If housing, food, medicine, or safety is still urgent, call 211 again and say that the first referral did not solve the problem. Ask specifically for a second route. For legal notices, contact legal aid instead of guessing what the paper means.
For broader long-term planning after the immediate crisis, our Indiana senior benefits guide can help you look for programs that may reduce future monthly costs.
Resumen en Español
Si usted es una persona mayor en Indiana y necesita ayuda urgente, llame al 911 si hay peligro inmediato. Para comida, vivienda, renta, servicios públicos, transporte u otros recursos locales, llame al 2-1-1 o al 1-866-211-9966. También puede enviar su código postal por texto al 898-211.
Si sospecha abuso, negligencia o explotación financiera de un adulto vulnerable, llame a Adult Protective Services al 1-800-992-6978. Para SNAP o Medicaid, llame a DFR al 1-800-403-0864. Para preguntas de Medicare, llame a SHIP al 1-800-452-4800.
El programa estatal de energía 2025–2026 cerró el 20 de abril de 2026 y el estado dice que volverá a abrir en el otoño de 2026. Si tiene un aviso de corte ahora, llame primero a la compañía de servicios, al 211 y al trustee de su township. Guarde copias de avisos, facturas, documentos de la corte y cartas de beneficios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should I call first for emergency help in Indiana?
Call 211 or 1-866-211-9966 for local food, housing, utility, transportation, and emergency referrals. Call 911 for immediate danger. For aging services, you can also call the statewide Area Agency on Aging line at 1-800-713-9023.
Is Indiana energy assistance open now?
As of September 12, 2026, Indiana says the 2025–2026 Energy Assistance Program is closed and will reopen in fall 2026. The public household page does not yet give a new opening date, so check the official page before applying.
Can a township trustee help with rent or utilities?
Township assistance can cover certain basic necessities, including shelter and essential utilities, when the applicant meets the applicable rules. Contact the trustee serving your township and ask how to apply, what proof is required, and how to receive a written decision.
Where do I apply for SNAP or Medicaid?
Indiana’s Division of Family Resources accepts applications through the Benefits Portal and local DFR offices. You can call 1-800-403-0864 for benefits information and help finding the correct office.
What should I do if I have an eviction notice?
Contact your township trustee, call 211 for local rent resources, and seek legal help quickly. Do not miss a court hearing while waiting for financial assistance. Indiana Legal Services accepts applications for free civil legal help from eligible residents.
Who helps with Medicare costs?
Call Indiana SHIP at 1-800-452-4800. SHIP provides free Medicare counseling and can help you check Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, plan notices, and other cost-saving options.
Who handles nursing home or assisted living complaints?
Contact the Indiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-622-4484 for resident-rights and complaint help. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 18 September 2026 · Next review: 18 January 2027
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