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.