Vendor Payments: Payment will be made to the utility company, or any other vendor. Payment will not be made for furniture rental, cable, car payments, car insurance, phone bills (unless it is for the safety and or health of the applicant). Utility bills will not be paid on a monthly basis. You may reapply for utility assistance every 3 months.
Monetary Assistance: Payment will be made to the elder directly if it is for medical appointments or if the elder is in a nursing home and needs personal hygiene items. Out of state travel and in state travel may be necessary for some elders to receive various medical services. Also assistance may be given if an elder has had to travel in state or out of state due to a medical emergency for an immediate family member.
Food Vouchers: Save-A-Lot Vouchers will be given to those who reside in Canadian County. United Gift Certificates will be given out to those who live outside of Canadian County and live near a United Supermarket.
For those Elders who reside outside of these areas, Wal-Mart gift cards will be given, until another vendor can be found to issue gift cards or vendors to. In circumstances where an elder resides outside of the state of Oklahoma and does not live within a 50 mile radius of a Wal-Mart, checks will be issued to a supermarket in their area. Also a Wal-Mart gift card can be issued for groceries if an elder will turn in receipts, once those groceries are purchased. If an elder does not turn in Wal-Mart receipts, food vouchers will be given.
Food Assistance can be applied for once a month. In special circumstances groceries may be assisted with twice a month such as an elder who is diabetic and in need. This is determined on a case by case basis.
Food Assistance is not intended to sustain one’s family. It is intended to supplement the elder’s diet. It would be to the elder’s advantage to apply for commodities or food stamps.
The amount of assistance available is $50.00 per elder. If the elder is diabetic this amount is increased to $75.00.
Wal-Mart Gift Cards: These are intended for gas and groceries assistance (see above)
Gas Assistance—is not intended to travel to the office to fill out an application or to return home after doing so. Gas Assistance is not intended to help the elder get their family members to medical appointments or for their travel, unless they are also elders.
These cards are intended to assist elders in getting to their medical appointments one time per week. It would be to the elder’s advantage to seek assistance for the appointment that is the furthest distance to travel. All receipts must be turned into the Elder Care Office.
*Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis to once a week appointments
If the elder has a verifiable emergency situation, assistance with gas may be given more than once a week.
If the elder has a family member that is also an elder and they have a life threatening situation and/or are in the hospital.
Shell Gift Cards: Intended for gas assistance. All receipts must be turned into the Elder Care Office.
The following chart will determine the amount of assistance and the mileage utilized by the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes:
- 30-50 Miles based on round trip mileage $25.00
- 51-75 Miles $25.00
- 76-100 Miles $50.00
- 101-150 Miles $50.00
- 151-250 Miles $75.00
After 250 Miles: For every 50 increment increase assistance by $25.00
Utility Payments: Only basic utilities will be paid, such as gas, propane, electric and water. For elders place of residence only.
Telephone bills will be considered if the elder needs a phone due to health, safety concerns, or if the elder is homebound.
The elder can apply every three months. Utility bills need to be submitted along with the application.
If the elder is living with others, the elder will need to submit verification in one of three ways:
1. A piece of mail in their name that they have received at that address
2. A statement from a non-relative head of household
3. Verification from enrollment that the elder receives their mail at that address. This verification will need to be submitted along with the application for assistance. These requests for assistance will be paid based on the number of others over the age of 18 residing in the home. For example, if there are 3 adults including the elder, the amount will be divided by 3 One third of the utility bill will be paid for that household.
Once the elder has received their initial assistance and is reapplying after a 3 month period, only current utility balances will be paid or the amount needed to prevent a cutoff of service.
Initial deposits can be paid once a year. The utility bill must be in the elder’s name and the elder is moving from one residence to another.
*Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis to the three month period:
If the elder is applying for utility assistance, before the three month period is up, and is making every effort to pay part of their utility bill this will be considered.
If the elder has supporting documentation of a disability, utility bills will be considered before the three month period. It will also be taken into consideration if the disconnection would be detrimental to the health and/or safety of the elder.
If the elder has a cutoff notice, these will be considered on a case by case basis. In some cases referrals will be made to Social Services.
Shelter Payments: The elder can apply every three months for shelter payments. A lease agreement or statement from the landlord needs to be submitted along with the application.
If the elder is living with others and not in their own home, the elder will need to submit verification in one of three ways:
1. A piece of mail in their name that they have received at that address
2. A statement from a non-relative head of household
3. Verification from enrollment that the elder receives their mail at that address. This verification will need to be submitted along with the application for assistance. These requests for assistance will be paid based on the number of others over the age of 18 residing in the home. For example, if there are 3 adults including the elder, the amount will be divided by 3. One third of the utility bill will be paid for that household.
Once the elder has received their initial assistance and is reapplying after a 3 month period, only current amounts will be paid or the amount needed to prevent an eviction.
Deposit assistance can be paid once a year. If the elder is moving from one residence to another and the lease is in the elder’s name.
Personal Needs: Assistance will be provided if the following expenses are not covered by another source and the maximum allowance per month is $25.00. If the elder has an emergency at a higher amount, it will be considered on a case by case basis. Covered expenses include diabetic needles, personal hygiene items, etc.
Property Taxes: These will be paid for the elder once a year. The elder’s name or name of spouse must be on the tax statement.
Funeral Expenses: these services are provided through another tribal program and can not be duplicated. Please refer to Enrollment for help with funeral expenses. The Elder Care Program normally can not help with gas to and from funerals. *The exception being the deceased is an immediate family member of the elder i.e.: mother, brother, son etc. In these instances a gas card will be given to one elder per family.
Maximum assistance for in state travel is $50.00 per elder and $100.00 per elder for out of state travel.
Vehicle Tag, Title and Registration: This type of assistance can be provided once a year, only if the vehicle is used to transport an elder to medical appointments or being without a vehicle would be detrimental to the health and safety of the elder. The vehicle must be in the elder’s name and proof of insurance is required.
Car Repairs: The maximum amount of assistance is $800.00 per year. An elder whose vehicle is a necessity due to health and safety reasons will have priority for this type of assistance.
Home Appliances: Either a stove or refrigerator will be purchased for the elder’s home. This is based on need. If the appliance can be repaired at less expense, repairs will be paid for by the Elder Care Program. Air conditioners and space heaters are intended for those without central heat and air in their homes.