Tribal Assistance Programs

Tribes offer so many helpful programs that it can sometime be difficult to find the right one for your needs. It’s best to call someone at your tribe’s Social Services department to discuss your situation and find the best program. But it can also save you time and effort if you start with understanding a program's purpose before you choose which one to apply to. 

As an example, many tribes provide at least two types of direct cash assistance — Emergency and General assistance — that each have different purposes. 

The purpose of Emergency Assistance is meeting immediate needs in crisis situations. Tribes typically have a lot of flexibility in their decision making for these funds. Some only help with the loss of homes and personal possessions, while others can be used for bills or to pay for car repairs and replacing major appliances when they go out. Because this is an emergency-based program, most tribes limit members to one award per year that’s usually between $250-$500. 

Conversely, General Assistance funds can be used to meet any basic needs (food, shelter, etc.) but tribes have a lot less discretion in how they carry out this program because it is funded by the BIA.

The purpose of General Assistance is to equip tribal members with the support they need to increase their self-sufficiency over time. One of the main ways the program seeks to do this is by encouraging employment. General assistance applicants must work with social services staff to create an Individual Self-Sufficiency Plan (ISP). The ISP sets out the applicant’s employment goals, details what support they might need to obtain those goals, and establishes a timeframe for accomplishing them. Payments are ongoing on a monthly basis, but tribes must use income and expense-based formulas to determine the amount of the award. 

To get the full run-down on General Assistance benefits, check out our latest article in the Resources tab of the Totem app!