Eligibility & Disclaimer
Cherokee Nation At-Large citizens must meet certain eligibility standards to be eligible for this program.
Must be a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
If requesting burial assistance please provide the proof of citizenship (a blue card for Cherokee Nation citizens) of the deceased.
Must have resided outside the Cherokee Nation reservation for six months.
Must document insufficient resources to meet essential living needs.
Disclaimer: By submitting an application to the Cherokee Nation At-Large Mutual Assistance Group, applicants acknowledge that meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding. All applications will be reviewed and considered at the discretion of the Board Members. The approval and allocation of funding are subject to available resources, and the Board reserves the right to determine which applications will be funded. The decision of the Board is final.
Tips for a Complete Application
Please provide a description of the expenses in your request.
For example, if you are requesting help with a funeral, please provide a breakdown of the expenses and upload any supporting documents.
If you are requesting the purchase of an item, please provide as specific information as possible - a link to the item or an estimate about the item and cost (a photo of the item and item number; an estimate from a vendor; a purchase order; or some way to specify the exact amount required to provide assistance).
Upload a jpg or png of the front of your tribal citizenship card, it MUST include your enrollment/registration #.
Examples of Categories Authorized for Assistance:
Shelter: emergency rental or utility assistance; emergency transitional living assistance; emergency home repairs or appliance replacement impacting the applicant’s life, health, or safety.
In addition to eligibility criteria, provide documentation for all requested assistance (invoice, bill, name of vendor).
It is important to know that payment will go directly to the vendor.
Burials: If the deceased had a pre-paid burial plan that has paid or will pay the entire cost of the funeral and burial, the deceased is not eligible for this burial assistance grant.
CNALMA burial or cremation grants are available up to a maximum grant of $1,000 as funds are available.
Documentation to be submitted with your request for burial assistance.
A Cherokee tribal citizen card or a letter from the Cherokee Tribal
Operations enrollment department indicating the deceased is a Cherokee
citizen. A Tribal Membership card (a white CDIB card will not be accepted
as proof of tribal membership).
Statement of itemized expenses from the funeral home.
Proof of at-large residency. Residential verification that the deceased has
lived outside the Cherokee Nation jurisdiction for the past six months.
Examples of Categories Not Authorized for Assistance:
Long term, continuing or frequent recurring assistance
Legal fees
Personal credit card debt
Taxes
Gambling debts
Business ventures
Marriage/Divorce costs
Vacations
Non-emergency furnishings or cars
Disciplinary costs
Any costs related to second home or rental property
Personal unspecified loans
Other Resources to help you find assistance: www.findhelp.org
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