FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does the Trustee assist with?
The Trustee provides emergency short-term assistance to Perry Township residents. If you qualify, the Trustee's Office can assist with rental payments, disconnected utility bills, and cremations.
Do I need to have an appointment before visiting the Trustee’s office?
Yes. To better serve our community, we do not accept walk-in clients. Our appointment schedule is typically fully booked several days in advance, and our Case Investigators adhere to it strictly in order to provide each client with the undivided attention they deserve.
Do I need to speak with a Case Investigator before applying?
Yes. We prefer that applicants call to speak with a Case Investigator prior to starting an application. This way they can send each client the application packet personally, and better explain the next steps in the interview process.
If I’m approved, can I get my assistance the same day as my appointment?
After each appointment, even if every document has been provided and every requirement has been met, the Trustee still requires a 72 hour period to review the case and make their decision on whether or not assistance can be provided.
If I’m approved for rental assistance, does that cover late fees and eviction costs too?
No. The trustee is not permitted to help with late fees, arrearages or eviction costs. If approved for assistance, those fees must be paid by the applicant before the Trustee can intervene.
Who needs to be present for the intake interview?
All adults over the age of 18 that live in the household must be present for the intake interview. If any fail to appear, their absence will result in the appointment being immediately rescheduled.
If I am late to my appointment or missing documentation, can I still be seen?
We ask that if you are running late or you do not have your documents prepared, then please call ahead and reschedule your appointment beforehand. Any applicants who are late by ten or more minutes, or do not have any documents prepared will be automatically rescheduled upon arrival. We are typically fully booked days in advance and will not have excess time to conduct your interview outside of the scheduled appointment window.
Do I need to have a state ID for my appointment?
Yes. By law, every household member over the age of 18 must provide a valid state ID before they can receive assistance from the Trustee.
Do I have to bring my documents to my appointment?
Yes. The required documents listed in your application packet must be brought with you to your interview in a physical printed format. Applicants with out physical documents in hand will be rescheduled upon arrival.
What bank statements do I need to bring to my appointment?
When applying for rental assistance: Please bring bank statements for the 60 days prior to the month you are requesting assistance for, along with your up to date transactions for the current month being requested.
When applying for utility assistance: Please bring bank statements for the 30 days prior to the month you are requesting assistance for, along with your up to date transactions for the current month being requested. Please also note, in order to be considered for assistance, utilities have to be in disconnect status, cannot be provided via a third party, and must also be in the applicant’s name.
When applying for utility assistance: Please bring bank statements for the 30 days prior to the month you are requesting assistance for, along with your up to date transactions for the current month being requested. Please also note, in order to be considered for assistance, utilities have to be in disconnect status, cannot be provided via a third party, and must also be in the applicant’s name.
I was told that I have to file for child support to receive assistance. Why?
When filing for government assistance, if you are a single parent with no child support order in place, you will be required by the state to file for child support. Our goal to get clients into a position where they will not be in need of assistance again in the future, and as a source of potential income for the applicant, the township asks that you pursue claiming child support in order to help maintain your household's stability via every avenue available. It is not a single parent’s sole responsibility to be burdened with all parenting costs. If they do not know the other parents name or information, they will still be required to file, and the child support division will then be responsible for tracking down the absent party. This process will be used to provide your child with support, not to grant the absent party with visitation rights.