Eligibility

• <b>Tribal Burial (up to $3000)</b>
  • Applicants must notify the Tribal Burial Program at time of death.
  • The application must be received within 30 days of passing.
  • Applicants must provide the following:<ul><li>Copy of the deceased member's Choctaw CDIB and tribal membership card (verified thru our membership department)</li><li>Copy of the deceased member's Social Security card</li><li>Finalized, official copy of the death certificate (not pending)</li><li>Itemized billing statement (invoice) and current W-9 statement from vendor</li></ul>
  • This is not an entitlement program, and reimbursements are not allowed. Services will be denied if resources are available or paid in full.
• <b>Supplemental Program (up to $500)</b>
  • The deceased must be a U.S. resident who passed away after October 1, 2022.
  • Applicants must notify our office no more than 30 days after death.
  • Applicants must provide the following:<ul><li>Copy of the deceased member's Choctaw CDIB and tribal membership card (verified thru our membership department)</li><li>Copy of the deceased member's Social Security card</li><li>Finalized, official copy of the death certificate (not pending)</li><li>Itemized billing statement (invoice) and current W-9 statement from vendor</li></ul>
  • The vendor(s) will be paid directly.
  • This is not an entitlement program, and reimbursements are not allowed. Services will be denied if resources are available or paid in full.
  • This benefit can be used as a standalone or in-addition to the tribal burial program but cannot be used with the BIA program.
• <b>BIA Burial (up to $3500)</b>
  • The deceased must:<ul><li>Have lived within the Choctaw Nation service area at least six months prior to death</li><li>Be a member of any federally recognized tribe, verifed by an active tribal membership card or letter, CDIB card and social security card</li><li>Be indigent, with no other resources available (insurance, veteran's benefits, cash over $1,000 saving accounts, IIM account monies, victim assistance program or other state and federal assistance programs, etc.)</li></ul>
  • Applicants may be asked to provide any of the following verification documents:<ul><li>Income or pay stubs</li><li>Bank statements</li><li>Benefit checks</li><li>Savings accounts</li><li>Award letters</li><li>Address verification</li><li>Copy of certified death certificate</li><li>Other documents as needed</li></ul>
  • Applications can be filed up to 180 days after death
  • This program cannot be used in conjuction with other tribal burial programs.