Indian Social Services Welfare Assistance
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.113
- Agency
-
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 16 $21,975,446 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Block Grant
- Project Grant
- Formula Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 14-2100-0-1-452
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education funds financial assistance for basic needs for eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives residing on or near federally recognized reservations under CFDA 15.113, with the most recent grant award dated February 1, 2024.
The program distributes assistance through five mechanisms: Burial Assistance, Child Assistance, General Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Adult Care Assistance. Funding is provided when such support is not available from state or local public agencies. Assistance may be delivered directly by the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency or regional office or through contracted tribal programs. The program serves American Indian members of federally recognized tribes who reside on or near federally recognized reservations and demonstrate financial need as defined in 25 CFR Part 20. Applicants receive decisions generally within 10 days but no longer than 45 days. The length of assistance is indefinite, depending on continued need and available resources.
Recent grant activity is sparse but sustained. The portfolio spans 16 awards from 1996 to 2024, with an average of roughly one award per year over the past five years (2017–2024). The most recent award was granted in February 2024. Block Grants dominate the assistance-type mix at 63 percent of awards, with Project Grants comprising 25 percent and smaller shares of Cooperative Agreements and Formula Grants.
Combined federal dollars obligated across the portfolio total $22 million. The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Eastern Region leads by federal dollar volume at $15.1 million across 7 awards. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education contributed $6.3 million across 7 awards. Recent awards range from $100 thousand to $493 thousand. Representative recent Block Grants include $493,618.94 obligated in October 2022 and $100 thousand in February 2024. A notable large historical award to the Pueblo of Zuni totaled $2.4 million under a Project Grant mechanism.
No recent grant opportunities are identified in the source.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide financial assistance for basic needs for eligible American Indians who reside on or near reservations, including those American Indians living under Bureau of Indian Affairs service area jurisdictions. IA assistance is provided when such a
- Description
Provides financial assistance for basic needs to eligible American Indians and Alaskan Native who reside on or near reservations. The BIA Welfare Assistance program consists of Burial Assistance, Child Assistance, General Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Adult Care Assistance. Assistance is offered when such support is not available from state or local public agencies.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
An American Indian who is a member of a federally recognized Indian Tribe, who resides on or near a federally recognized Indian reservations, who is in need of financial assistance and who meets the eligibility criteria in 25 CFR Part 20.
- Beneficiary eligibility
American Indians who are members of federally recognized Indian Tribes.
- Uses of assistance
Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS) consist of direct funding and activities related to financial assistance, including general assistance, child assistance, burial assistance, emergency assistance, and adult care assistance; social services, including services to children, the elderly, and families; and child and adult protection services.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
The length of assistance is indefinite, depending on continued need and available resources.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Must be an American Indian residing on or near a reservation as defined in 25 CFR 20 and must be in need as defined in 25 CFR Part 20. All eligible applicants will be funded subject to availability of funds.
- Award procedure
Assistance is provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs agency or regional office or contracted tribal program.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Generally within 10 days depending upon applicants needs and the extent of investigation required. Decisions will take no longer than 45 days.
- Renewals
Contact the headquarters or regional office
- Appeals
An unsuccessful applicant may appeal a Bureau of Indian Affairs official's decision under the procedures contained in 25 CFR Part 20, Subpart D "Hearings and Appeals" and 25 CFR Part 2 "Appeals from Administrative Actions."
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 16 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians | $11,106,709 | 51% |
| 2 | Penobscot Indian Nation | $3,505,829 | 16% |
| 3 | Pueblo Of Zuni | $2,402,961 | 11% |
| 4 | Spirit Lake Tribe | $1,744,781 | 8% |
| 5 | Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation | $1,479,309 | 7% |
| 6 | Coushatta Tribe Of Louisiana | $987,455 | 4% |
| 7 | Ute Mountain Ute Tribe | $582,354 | 3% |
| 8 | Houlton Band Of Maliseet Indians | $88,206 | <1% |
| 9 | Big Pine Paiute Tribe | $66,222 | <1% |
| 10 | Confederated Tribes Of The Goshute Reservation | $11,620 | <1% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $1,328,387 |
| FY2024 | $1,902,026 |
| FY2023 | $1,484,208 |
| FY2022 | $1,363,386 |
| FY2021 | $2,753,473 |
| FY2020 | $2,388,692 |
| FY2019 | $2,598,567 |
| FY2018 | $1,530,785 |
| FY2017 | $678,713 |
| FY2016 | $382,239 |
| FY2015 | $565,596 |
| FY2014 | $1,026,904 |
| FY2013 | $4,774,347 |
Show all 13
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.113?
Assistance Listing 15.113 is Indian Social Services Welfare Assistance, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Education (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Indian Social Services Welfare Assistance?
Its CFDA number is 15.113: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.113 awarded?
16 grant awards under 15.113 have obligated $21,975,446 in federal funds to 10 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.113?
The recipients obligated the most under Indian Social Services Welfare Assistance are Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians ($11,106,709), Penobscot Indian Nation ($3,505,829) and Pueblo Of Zuni ($2,402,961).
How much did 15.113 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.113 obligated $1,328,387 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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