FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide financial assistance for basic needs of needy eligible American Indians who reside on or near reservations, including those American Indians living under Bureau of Indian Affairs service area jurisdictions, when such assistance is not available from State or local public agencies.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Provides cash payments to eligible American Indian individuals and families to meet basic needs (i.e., food, clothing, shelter, etc.). Provides extra monthly benefits to tribal members on general assistance who also work on tribal projects under the Tribal Work Experience Program. Provides monthly assistance for non-medical institutional or custodial care of adults who are not eligible for care from Indian Health Services, Social Security, or any other county, state or Federal program. Provides foster home care and appropriate institutional (non-medical) care for dependent, neglected, and handicapped American Indian children in need of protection. This program also pays the burial expenses of indigent American Indians whose estates do not have sufficient resources to meet funeral expenses and provides emergency assistance to prevent hardship caused by fire, flood or acts of nature.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   An American Indian who is a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe, who resides on or near a federally recognized Indian reservations, who is in need of financial assistance and who meets the eligibility criteria in 25 CFR Part 20.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   American Indians who are members of federally recognized Indian Tribes.

Credentials/Documentation:   Proof of American Indian status, residency, and income/resources available must be provided by applicant.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   A verbal or written request for assistance to the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency or regional representative or designated tribal authority.

Award Procedure:   Assistance is provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency or regional office or contracted tribal program.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Generally within 10 days depending upon applicants needs and the extent of investigation required. Decisions will take no longer than 45 days.

Appeals:   An unsuccessful applicant may appeal a Bureau of Indian Affairs official's decision under the procedures contained in 25 CFR Part 20, Subpart D "Hearings and Appeals" and 25 CFR Part 2 "Appeals from Administrative Actions."

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The length of assistance is indefinite, depending on continued need and available resources. Assistance is usually provided monthly or as needed.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   None.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-452.

Obligations:   (Total program funds including direct payments) FY 01 $76,000,000; FY 02 est $66,499,360; and FY 03 est $63,534,180.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   May range from a few hundred to several hundred dollars monthly depending upon the assistance provided.

General assistance is provided to over 41,000 persons on a monthly basis. Indian Child Welfare Assistance is provided to an estimated 3,000 children on a monthly basis and Non- Medical Institutional or Custodial Care is provided monthly to about 1,100 disabled American Indian adults.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR 20.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices. Information can be secured from the Agency Superintendents and from Regional Directors (see Catalog Appendix IV for addresses). Applications for general assistance are made at the local agency or tribal level.

Headquarters Office:   Deputy Director, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C St., NW., MS 320 SIB, Washington, District of Columbia 20245 Phone: (202) 513-7642.

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Individual financial assistance (welfare) grant to a single American Indian person or to an American Indian family of eight based upon public assistance standards of the State where recipients reside.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Must be an American Indian residing on or near a reservation as defined in 25 CFR 20 and must be in need as defined in 25 CFR Part 20. All eligible applicants will be funded subject to availability of funds.