Sec. 18. (a) After petition to and with the approval of the judge of a court of the county where an applicant for or recipient of public assistance resides, a county office may take the actions described in subsection (b) if:

(1) an applicant for public assistance is physically or mentally incapable of completing an application for assistance; or

(2) a recipient of public assistance:

(A) is incapable of managing the recipient’s affairs; or

(B) refuses to:

(i) take care of the recipient’s money properly; or

(ii) comply with the director of the division’s rules and policies.

     (b) If the conditions of subsection (a) are satisfied, the county office may designate a responsible person to do the following:

(1) Act for the applicant or recipient.

(2) Receive on behalf of the recipient the assistance the recipient is eligible to receive under any of the following:

(A) This chapter.

(B) IC 12-10-6.

(C) IC 12-14-1 through IC 12-14-3.

(D) IC 12-14-5 through IC 12-14-8.

(E) IC 12-14-13 through IC 12-14-19.

(F) IC 12-15.

(G) IC 16-35-2.

     (c) A fee for services provided under this section may be paid to the responsible person in an amount not to exceed ten dollars ($10) each month. The fee may be allowed:

(1) in the monthly assistance award; or

(2) by vendor payment if the fee would cause the amount of assistance to be increased beyond the maximum amount permitted by statute.

[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-1-3-11(a), (b).]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.2-1993, SEC.111; P.L.4-1993, SEC.170; P.L.5-1993, SEC.183; P.L.273-1999, SEC.93; P.L.145-2006, SEC.108; P.L.146-2008, SEC.404; P.L.44-2009, SEC.25; P.L.210-2015, SEC.58; P.L.84-2016, SEC.62.