Indiana Assistance Programs and Benefits
Free help finding assistance programs for Hoosiers, from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River
A plant layoff, a sick kid or a rent increase can tip an Indiana family's budget in a single month. Helping Hands lines up the Indiana assistance programs that match your needs and tells you how to reach them.
You tell us what's wrong. We show you the programs, the rules that apply and the Indiana offices that handle each one.
Hoosiers in all 92 counties in Indiana can use our guidance. You could live in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne or Evansville, in Marion, Lake or Allen County, or in a small town surrounded by corn and soybean fields. We never charge you for it.
Hoosiers get help from FSSA programs, federal programs, local charities, food banks and community action agencies. We help you figure out where each one fits.
Check Your Eligibility for Free
Programs each keep their own rules. Income, family size, age, disability, housing and work history all shape what you can receive.
Helping Hands helps you find the programs that may fit and your first step.
Indiana Financial Assistance Programs
A lost job, a car repair or an injury can use up savings in a few weeks. Indiana families have several kinds of financial help to explore, and your situation decides which ones make sense.
If the basics have become hard to cover, we help you find resources that fit and show you where to apply.
Helping Hands can help you locate information about programs and resources involving:
Indiana Food Assistance and SNAP Benefits
Grocery prices keep going up, and tight budgets feel it first.
For Hoosiers, Indiana food assistance programs start with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and we explain how to apply. Indiana puts SNAP benefits on the Hoosier Works card, an EBT card you use like a debit card at approved stores.
If putting meals together has gotten harder, check whether you may qualify for SNAP.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) handles SNAP, TANF cash help and Medicaid through its Division of Family Resources, and you can apply online through the FSSA Benefits Portal.
We can also help Indiana residents locate:
Indiana Utility Bill Assistance
Indiana winters run long and cold, and summer humidity keeps air conditioners busy. Fall behind on gas, electric or water and a shutoff notice may come next.
Hoosier households that qualify may get help with gas and electric bills through EAP and other programs, and we show you how.
Resources may include information about:
LIHEAP Help in Indiana: EAP
Indiana runs the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), managed by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).
Local service providers across the state take EAP applications and decide eligibility. The application opens and closes each season, so check current dates with the provider for your county.
We help you find that provider and start your application.
Indiana Rental Assistance and Housing Assistance
Rent can take a huge share of your paycheck when income drops or an emergency hits.
Behind on rent, facing eviction, looking for a place you can afford, or worried about losing your home? Indiana nonprofits and housing programs may step in, and we help you find them.
Helping Hands provides information about housing resources that may be available to qualifying Indiana residents, including:
Section 8 and Housing Assistance in Indiana
Hoosiers who need affordable housing should learn about Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other subsidized housing.
Local housing authorities and state partners run these programs, and rules and wait lists differ across the state.
Helping Hands can provide information and resources to help you understand:
Indiana Eviction Assistance
If you got an eviction notice or owe back rent, move quickly. Eviction cases leave little room to wait.
We track rental assistance, eviction prevention, emergency housing, legal aid and local community resources for Indiana renters.
A township trustee, a nonprofit, a legal aid office or a housing program may be the one that helps, depending on your situation.
Foreclosure Prevention Assistance in Indiana
Homeowners in a tough stretch should review their options before missed payments stack up.
We keep a list of foreclosure prevention and housing counseling referrals for Indiana homeowners.
Afraid you could lose your home? Reach your mortgage servicer before the next due date and book time with a housing counselor.
Indiana Assistance for Seniors
Older Hoosiers may qualify for help with health care, meals, housing, transportation and monthly bills.
For Medicare questions, call Indiana SHIP at 1-800-452-4800 for free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
Helping Hands provides information about resources that may be available to older adults, including:
Indiana Medicaid and Medicare Resources
Medical bills fall hardest on seniors, people with disabilities and families with lower incomes.
Helping Hands helps you find information about Medicare, Medicaid, health-care assistance and other medical resources in Indiana that fit your situation.
Medicare and Medicaid run on different rules, so check the current requirements for the program you want.
Disability Assistance in Indiana
Hoosiers living with a disability may qualify for specialized programs and community support.
Each program sets its own qualifications, so look at them one at a time.
Helping Hands can help Indiana residents locate information about resources involving:
Legal Assistance for Indiana Residents
A benefit denial, a housing dispute or a debt problem can call for legal help.
Helping Hands helps you find legal aid and free legal resources for Hoosiers who qualify.
Indiana Legal Services and other groups each decide who they can serve for free or at low cost.
Legal assistance may be particularly relevant for issues involving:
Education, Employment and Training Assistance
Quick help fixes this month. Training and a better job fix the months after.
Helping Hands also shares education, job training and workforce resources that can help Hoosiers find better work and build steadier income.
Resources may include:
Indiana Food Banks and Emergency Food Resources
Need food today? Indiana food banks and pantries hand out groceries and meals in cities and farm towns across the state.
Pantries in Gary, Evansville and small towns across Indiana serve families, seniors and people with disabilities, and we help you find the closest one.
Can't wait on food, shelter or a bill? Dial 2-1-1 in Indiana. Indiana 211 is free, runs 24/7 and connects you to local services.
Assistance Available Throughout All 92 Indiana Counties
Our program information and guidance reach Hoosiers in all 92 counties in Indiana.
Our Indiana resources cover cities, suburbs and small towns, including:
- Indianapolis
- Fort Wayne
- Evansville
- South Bend
- Carmel
- Fishers
- Bloomington
- Hammond
- Gary
- Lafayette
- Muncie
- Noblesville
- Terre Haute
- Kokomo
- Anderson
- Marion County
- Lake County
- Allen County
- Hamilton County
- St. Joseph County
- And communities throughout Indiana
From an apartment in downtown Indianapolis to a farmhouse outside Vincennes, the help you can get depends on your household and the programs in your county.
How Helping Hands Can Help
Between the agencies, rules, forms and wait lists, finding the right program can wear you out.
Helping Hands works as your guide to the options open to Hoosiers.
Our goal is to help you:
- Identify programs that may match your situation.
- Understand basic eligibility requirements.
- Find the appropriate agency or organization.
- Learn where and how to apply.
- Locate additional resources if one program does not meet your needs.
Hoosiers pay nothing for our help and resource information, in any Indiana county.
Need Help in Indiana? Start Here.
Struggling with food, rent, energy bills, medical costs or another crisis? You don't have to look up every program alone.
Tell us your situation and we'll steer you to FSSA, township trustees and local groups that may help.
Common Indiana Assistance Programs
Food & Nutrition
- SNAP / Food Stamps
- EBT information
- Food banks
- Food pantries
- Emergency food assistance
Housing
- Rental assistance
- Section 8
- Low-income housing
- Eviction assistance
- Foreclosure prevention
- Emergency housing
Utilities
- LIHEAP (EAP)
- Electric assistance
- Gas assistance
- Utility bill assistance
Financial Assistance
- Emergency financial assistance
- Cash assistance
- Family assistance
- Single-parent resources
- Community grants and assistance
Health & Senior Services
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Senior assistance
- Disability resources
- Health-care assistance
Other Resources
- Legal assistance
- Education
- Job training
- Workforce resources
- Community services
Immediate Indiana Assistance
Dial 2-1-1 any hour and Indiana 211 will point you to local food, shelter and utility help.
For SNAP, TANF cash help and Medicaid, contact the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA).
For Medicare questions, call Indiana SHIP at 1-800-452-4800.
Helping Hands makes the path to help in Indiana shorter.
Find out what you may qualify for and explore Indiana assistance programs, from Lake County to the Ohio River.
Helping Hands is a resource and information service. Program eligibility, availability, funding, and application requirements are determined by the applicable government agency, nonprofit organization, housing authority, or other program administrator. Providing information about a program does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
