BIA increases payments for burial assistance, emergency assistance and adoption subsidy

WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Indian Affairs today announced increased payment limits for certain Financial Assistance and Social Services programs which directly support American Indian and Alaska Native families and individuals. The last time there was an increase to these payment amounts was in 2000.

“These increases will have immediate impact on our Native relatives and families,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. “The federal government has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure Native people have the right to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives together as Tribal people in their Tribal homeland. These programs are a small part of that responsibility, providing essential resources to those most in need of our support and compassion.”

The programs with new, higher payment limits are:

Burial Assistance: This program provides funds to assist with the burial expenses of deceased indigent Indians whose estates do not have sufficient resources to meet funeral expenses. The program can now pay up to $3,500 per burial, an increase from $2,500.

Grieving families have been faced with rising costs of funerals, adding to the emotional toll in the grieving process. The updated payment amount will better support culturally dignified funeral and burial services.

Increasing access to funding for funeral expenses was recommended by the Not Invisible Act Commission as part of broader efforts to combat and address the impacts of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis.

Emergency Assistance: This assistance is provided directly to individuals whose homes were damaged or destroyed by fire, flood or other calamities. It is used for the essential needs of food, shelter and utilities when other resources are not available. The program can now pay up to $1,500 per household, an increase from $1,000.

Native communities are often the most vulnerable to climate impacts and extreme weather events. This funding will help families with basic necessities as they recover from these incidents.

Child assistance for adoptions/guardianships: This subsidy provides assistance to a child in need of adoption or guardianship. The program may now pay up to the maximum basic foster care rate for the age group of the child in the state where the child resides. Previously, payments were limited to 75% of basic foster care rate in the state where the child resides.

This increased subsidy will reduce barriers to permanent homes for Native children. Permanency for youth is fundamental to a secure foundation that is safe, stable and secure by a loving family system to support them through childhood and beyond.

Families and individuals can reach out to the BIA Headquarters Division of Human Services for information on how to access these programs at (202) 513-7642 or by contacting a BIA regional office by visiting https://www.bia.gov/bia/ois/dhscontacts.