Payment Assistance Programs

Programs on this page:

Supplemental Heating Program (closed as of 5/31/2023)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Emergency Services Initiative
Childcare Development Fund

Supplemental Heating Program (closed as of 5/31/2023)

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.

Click here for a list of necessary documents to apply.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Heating Application Closed as of 5/31/2023. The Cooling Application opens at 8 a.m. on 6/1/2023. This program is designed to provide a one-time cooling assistance payment to help with the high energy costs during the summer 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 = $27,827-$30,238
2 members in a household = $36,390-$39,542
3 members in a household = $44,952-$48,846
4 members in a household = $53,515-$58,150
5 members in a household = $62,077-$67,454
6 and above members in a household = $70,639-$76,758

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