Payment Assistance Programs

White decorative border
Department Menu

BIA ARPA Water Program

This program is designed to assist tribal households with preventing water services from being shut-off or disconnected because of non-payment or overdue balances. The program will assist in making a partial payment sufficient to prevent shutoff or disconnection. This is a one-time award program.

The Funds shall not be used to pay an entire overdue balance, but instead, they will be used to make a partial payment sufficient to prevent shutoff or disconnection such that the account owner is provided a reasonable opportunity to address the situation and enter into a payment plan with the utility provider to maintain water service.

Click here for the application.

Supplemental Heating Program

This program provides a credit of $250 per eligible household to help with high energy costs. Social Services is able to offer the Supplemental Heating Program assistance to income-eligible Pokagon Band households anywhere in the United States. The Supplemental Heating Program is not limited to the ten-county service area.

Household Size Income Limit Guidelines 
1 member in a household = $38,000 
2 members in a household = $45,000 
3 members in a household = $52,000 
4 members in a household = $61,861 
5 members in a household = $71,758 
6 and above members in a household = $81,656 

For questions, please call the department at (269) 782-4300 or (800) 517-0777.

The Department of Social Services will begin taking application on December 4, 2023.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

This program is designed to provide a one-time heating assistance payment to help with the high energy costs during the winter months. The program is designed to assist citizens living within our service area; LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Starke, Marshall and Kosciusko Counties in Indiana; and Cass, Berrien, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties in Michigan.

Household Size Income Limit Guidelines 
1 member in a household = $29,755-$32,167 
2 members in a household = $38,911-$42,065
3 members in a household = $48,067-$51,963
4 members in a household = $57,223-$61,861
5 members in a household = $66,378-$71,758 
6 and above members in a household = $75,534-$81,656 

Emergency Services Initiative

This program is designed to assist low-income households that are normally able to meet their needs but may need assistance when unexpected emergencies arise. This program provides a credit of $400 per eligible household. This program also targets those individuals who continue to fall into crises because of their low-income status. By stabilizing the emergencies, the initiative seeks to prevent a short-term situation for the members-in-need from snowballing into a long-term crisis.

Household Size Income Limit Guidelines (200% of poverty) 
1 member in a household = $27,180
2 members in a household = $36,620
3 members in a household = $46,060
4 members in a household = $55,500 
5 members in a household = $64,940 
6 members in a household = $74,380
7 members in a household = $83,820
8 members in a household = $93,260

Childcare Development Fund

The goal of the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) program is to preserve the family unit and to promote its economic independence and self-sufficiency with safe, affordable, accessible, quality childcare for qualified Pokagon Band families.

Gross Monthly Income Limits
2 members in a household = $3,233
3 members in a household = $4,669
4 members in a household = $5,557
5 members in a household = $6,447
6 members in a household = $7,336
7 members in a household = $7,505
8 members in a household = $7,670