Tribal Assistance Programs

Modified: November 30, 2009

The following is a list of Tribal Assistance Programs for enrolled members of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. The application forms are now online for you to download, printout, fill-out, and send to the Human Services Department.

Download the Application here.

Tribal Assistance Programs are available to all enrolled members of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, contingent on the availability of Tribal funds.    Assistance forms must be completed for requested services.  The Iowa Tribe recognizes next-of-kin, in order of preference priority, as:  spouse, adult child, parent, sibling (by birth order), grandparent, or grandchild.  Any legal order shall take precedent over next of kin.

 

 

 

All Tribal Assistance Programs

Eligibility Time Period

Tribal budgets are approved January of each calendar year

Amount of Assistance

Total amount is established each calendar year

  1. All requests for assistance must be submitted on official Assistance Forms. Forms must be complete, legible, and include all required attachments.
  2. Strict adherence to the policies shall be followed by any Tribal personnel entrusted to administer the Tribal Assistance Program. All requests for assistance shall be approved by the Tribal Administrator.
  3. . Awards are subject to the availability of funds as well as meeting the eligibility guidelines of the program.
  4. Appeals of denied requests or requests for changes in this policy shall be addressed in writing to the Business Committee. An appeal review shall be scheduled within 30 days of receipt, and the determination shall be rendered by action of a majority of the Business Committee. No one Business Committee member has the authority to amend the policies of this program without majority vote of the Business Committee.
  5. Stop payment on checks cost $30/check. For member requests for stop payment for assistance due to member convenience or failure to report correct address, the cost of the stop payment will be deducted from the assistance. Stop payments caused by errors or omissions of the ITO staff not be charged to the member. Stop payments will be issued 7 working days after notification of a lost check.

 

 

Burial Assistance

Burial assistance is provided to Iowa Tribe Members.

Assistance is provided to assist in the cost of funeral and traditional ceremonial expenses at the time of death of a Tribal member.

Eligibility Time Period

Once / lifetime

Amount of Assistance

$3,750 funeral
$1,250 family
$5,000 total

  1. The decedent must have been an enrolled member. The person completing the application on behalf of the decedent family must be the next-of-kin. Cases of dispute will be determined by action of the Business Committee.
  2. The application must be supported by presentation of the death certificate or other official documentation of death provided by a funeral home. If the funeral home is unable to provide documentation in a timely manner, program staff may verify the information via telephone so that the family's portion of the assistance may be paid. Written documentation must be received before release of the check to the funeral home.
  3. The Tribe will pay $3,750 directly to the funeral home and up to $1,250 to the family to provide for additional funeral expenses, or the family may request that all funds be paid to the funeral home.

Download Application

 

 

Burial Assistance – infants

Assistance is provided to assist in the cost of funeral expenses at the time of death of an infant of an enrolled Tribal member

Eligibility Time Period

Once / lifetime

Amount of Assistance

$1,500 funeral

  1. The infant decedent must have been the biological child of an enrolled tribal member, who, if they had survived, would have been eligible for membership with the Tribe.
  2. The application must be supported by presentation of the death certificate or other official documentation of death provided by a funeral home.
  3. Total funds will be paid directly to the funeral home.

 

 

Critical Illness Family Assistance

Assistance is provided for the care of enrolled tribal members who are terminally ill or who have been injured in a life threatening accident

Eligibility Time Period

Once / lifetime or the patient

Amount of Assistance

$500

  1. Patient may be any age.
  2. The patient must be an enrolled Tribal member who is either hospitalized, in a nursing home, or under the care of a recognized hospice.
  3. The application must be supported by a medical doctor’s statement on official letterhead verifying the patient’s condition as terminal or life-threatening.
  4. The applicant must be the next-of-kin, legal guardian, or primary caregiver. Assistance is limited to one applicant.
  5. Funds will be paid directly to the applicant.

 

 

Dental Assistance

  • Financial assistance is available for each tribal member every year according to each individuals eligibility date.
  • This assistance is used for dental or eye exams, fillings, gum treatments, crowns, caps, cleaning, extractions, partials, dentures, braces, frames, lenses, contact lenses, etc.
  • An application must be submitted and approved before seeking services.
  • The Tribal member will receive an approval letter if he/she is eligible.
  • Reimbursements to Tribal members are not allowed

Eligibility Time Period

Every year from the January thru December

Amount of Assistance

$500 Yearly

  1. Open to all ages.
  2. May be used for services of a dental or optical provider.
  3. Applicants may elect to have funds paid directly to the dental or optical provider or may be reimbursed for expenses.
  4. For provider payments, applicants must be pre-approved before the medical exam is scheduled. Pre-approved requests require five (5) working days for processing of paperwork. Following approval, a letter of authorization will be issued to the service provider. The letter must be used within 60 days or the applicant must re-apply.
  5. For reimbursements, applications must be supported by an original receipt before funds are released to the applicant.

 

 

Eyeglass Assistance

supplements optical wellness.

Eligibility Time Period

Every year from the January thru December

Amount of Assistance

$500 Yearly

  1. Open to all ages.
  2. May be used for services of a dental or optical provider.
  3. Applicants may elect to have funds paid directly to the dental or optical provider or may be reimbursed for expenses.
  4. For provider payments, applicants must be pre-approved before the medical exam is scheduled. Pre-approved requests require five (5) working days for processing of paperwork. Following approval, a letter of authorization will be issued to the service provider. The letter must be used within 60 days or the applicant must re-apply.
  5. For reimbursements, applications must be supported by an original receipt before funds are released to the applicant.

 

 

Education Incentive – Higher Education

The higher education program serves Iowa Tribal members only. Tribal members are not required to reside within the Tribe’s service area

Eligibility Requirements: Member of the Iowa Tribe, High School graduate or GED, formally accepted by an accredited college or university, assurance that the student will be successful in completing a degree program

Students who are single with no dependents will receive the maximum applicable award per semester. Also, students who are married or with dependants will receive the maximum applicable award per semester.

Eligibility Time Period

1 / academic semester

Amount of Assistance

Individually calculated

  1. Open to students enrolled in university courses leading to a degree program.
  2. Applications must be supported by University Grades submitted within 120 days after the close of the semester and/or the receipt of grades. Grades must be documented by a certified statement on university letterhead, an official transcript or other university-generated report, or original grade report.
  3. . Awards are calculated by multiplying the dollar amount, which is based on current grade point average (GPA), times the credit hours passed per semester:

    $92 Graduate level

    $70 GPA of 3.5 or higher

    $65 GPA of 2.5 to 3.49

    $60 GPA of 2.0 to 2.49

    $ 0 GPA less than 2.0
  4. Funds are paid directly to the applicant.
  5. The Tribe reserves the right to independently verify the submitted grades.

 

 

Education Incentive – High School Senior Assistance

Assistance to help offset the added expense for graduating seniors.

Eligibility Time Period

1 / lifetime

Amount of Assistance

$500

  1. Open to senior high school students who are graduating.
  2. Application must be supported by a statement from the high school on official school letterhead stating the date of planned graduation and signed by an official of the school.
  3. The Tribe reserves the right to independently verify the submitted statement.
  4. The student must state the purpose of the assistance including yearbooks, senior cap and gown, senior announcements, letter jacket, senior pictures, class ring, senior trip, college testing, or other graduation-related expense.
  5. Application must be supported by an invoice or receipt.
  6. Student may be reimbursed for expenses with proof of payment or vendor may be paid directly by the ITO.

 

 

Education Incentive – Secondary School

The Tribe provides monetary awards to Tribal members who provide documentation of completing the following education levels: 8th grade, 12th grade, GED or Vocational Training. Also, there are incentives for college hours passed depending on the GPA of the credit hours.

Eligibility Time Period

1/ academic semester

Amount of Assistance

Individually calculated

  1. Open to students enrolled in secondary, GED, or vocational education programs in the 8th grade and beyond.
  2. Applications must be supported by documentation from education institution on school letterhead attesting to completion of the following:
    1. $100 8th grade graduate
    2. $200 12th grade graduation
    3. $200 GED completion
    4. $200 Vocation training of 800 clock hours
  3. Funds are paid directly to the legal guardian if a minor or to the applicant if 18 years of age or older.

 

 

School Expense Assistance

Financial assistance is available per year for each Tribal member ages 5 through 17 and in school. This program will reimburse for the following expenses related to school attendance and participation: clothes, class pictures, class rings, school lunches, school supplies, instrument rental, lad fees, testing fees, graduation gowns, extra circular supplies, sports activities, summer school academic fees, science projects, etc. The $100.00 is available in two allotments, and one full allotment after August 1st.

Eligibility Time Period

Each calendar year

Amount of Assistance

$400 Total - $200 Jan/June and $200 July/December

  1. Open to students enrolled in pre-school to 12th grade including juniors and seniors enrolled in vocational technical education classes.
  2. Reimbursement for school-related expenses related to attendance, academics, and extra-curricular activity participation including, but not limited to, clothes, pictures, class rings, lunches, supplies, lab fees, testing fees, graduation expenses, extra-curricular supplies, sports activities, summer academic fees, and science projects.
  3. The application must be supported by original receipts.
  4. Payment shall be made only to the parent or legal guardian of the applicant, or to the applicant if over 18 years of age.
  5. Applicants who submit lay-away receipts will be sent a check made payable to the vendor only.

 

 

Elder´s Assistance

Financial Assistance from the date of the authorization to December 31, is available for each Tribal member age 55 or older. The intent of this assistance program is to enhance the quality of life for our Tribal senior citizens. This program may be used for payments such as household repairs, appliances, furniture, utility or household bill payments, medical expenses, loan payments and etc. Payments are made directly to the business vendor or supplier.

Eligibility Time Period

Each calendar year

Amount of Assistance

$500 available 1/1 of each year; $200 available 7/1 of each year; Total: $700

  1. Open to ages 55 years of age and older.
  2. May be used for household expenses or personal costs.
  3. Application must be supported by estimated bids or invoices.
  4. The application takes five (5) working days for processing of paperwork.
  5. Gift cards from vendors such as Wal-Mart may be purchased with an itemized list of proposed expenses.
  6. Payments will be made to vendors or reimbursement to the individual with original receipt(s).

 

 

Hearing Aid Assistance

Financial assistance is available for each tribal member every five years according to each individuals eligibility date. The assistance is used towards testing and purchasing a hearing aid. An application must be submitted and approved before seeking services. The Tribal member will receive an approval letter if he/she is eligible. Payments are made directly to the doctor.

Eligibility Time Period

Every 2 year period from date of original application

Amount of Assistance

$500

  1. Open to all ages.
  2. Must be used for hearing testing and/or purchase of hearing aid or other hearing apparatus from a medical provider.
  3. Applicants may elect to have funds paid directly to the provider or may be reimbursed for expenses.
  4. For provider payments, application must be pre-approved. The application takes five (5) working days for processing of paperwork. After approval, a letter of authorization will be issued to the service provider. The letter must be used within 60 days or the applicant must re-apply.
  5. For reimbursements, applications must be supported by an original receipt before funds are released to the applicant.

 

 

Household Assistance

Financial assistance is available in each calendar year for each Tribal member 18 years of age and older to pay for household expenses such as utilities, rent, or other expenses. Payments are made directly to the utility company, landlord, or other vendor. An application along with documentation of the bill must be submitted before payment is made.

Eligibility Time Period

Each calendar year

Amount of Assistance

$350 Jan/June $350 July/December

  1. Assistance to tribal members age 18 years and older.
  2. The applicant ion must be supported by a copy of the invoice and evidence that they are the bonafide permanent resident of the household for which assistance is sought. Evidence to document residency may include a vendor invoice or lease in the name of the applicant or an “Affidavit of Resident” form attesting to residency and financial responsibility for household expenses.
  3. The application takes ten (10) working days for processing of paperwork.
  4. Tribal members who are incarcerated may apply to the Household Assistance fund. Such applicants must provide the completed application including their identification number. The payable amount will be sent to the inmate’s commissary account.
  5. Payments must be paid directly to the vendor.

 

 

Prescription Assistance

Financial assistance is availed per year for each Tribal member to pay for medications prescribed by a doctor that are not covered by Indian Health Services, private insurance, or other sources of aid. The tribal member will be reimbursed the actual cost or co-payment of the prescription. An application, and a cash receipt with other documentation must be submitted before being reimbursed.

Eligibility Time Period

Each calendar year

Amount of Assistance

$100 Total

  1. Open to all ages.
  2. Medications must be prescribed by a medical doctor, and shall not be covered by any insurance plan or by the Indian Health Service.
  3. The application must be supported by an original receipt with the following information:
    • Pharmacy name and telephone number
    • Prescription number
    • Name of person receiving the medication
    • Amount of prescription
    • Date of prescription
  4. Reimbursement shall be made only to the applicant.

Tribal Assistance
RR 1 Box 721
Perkins, OK 74059
FAX: (405)547-1090

April Carson
405)547-2402 x269
email: acarson@iowanation.org