Payment Assistance Programs

White decorative border
Department Menu

Programs on this page:

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 = $59,000 
5 members in a household = $66,000 
6 and above members in a household = $73,000 

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.

Click Here for the LIHEAP Application

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