Burial Program

Eligibility

• Tribal Burial (up to $2500)
• Applicants must notify the Tribal Burial Program at time of death.
• The application must be received within 30 days of passing.
• Applicants must provide the following:
  • Copy of the deceased member's Choctaw CDIB and tribal membership card (verified thru our membership department)
  • Copy of the deceased member's Social Security card
  • Finalized, official copy of the death certificate (not pending)
  • Itemized billing statement (invoice) and current W-9 statement from vendor
• This is not an entitlement program, and reimbursements are not allowed. Services will be denied if resources are available or paid in full.
• Supplemental Program (up to $500)
• The deceased must be a U.S. resident who passed away after October 1, 2022.
• Applicants must notify our office no more than 30 days after death.
• Applicants must provide the following:
  • Copy of the deceased member's Choctaw CDIB and tribal membership card (verified thru our membership department)
  • Copy of the deceased member's Social Security card
  • Finalized, official copy of the death certificate (not pending)
  • Itemized billing statement (invoice) and current W-9 statement from vendor
• The vendor(s) will be paid directly.
• This is not an entitlement program, and reimbursements are not allowed. Services will be denied if resources are available or paid in full.
• This benefit can be used as a standalone or in-addition to the tribal burial program but cannot be used with the BIA program.
• BIA Burial
• The deceased must:
  • Have lived within the Choctaw Nation service area at least six months prior to death
  • Be a member of any federally recognized tribe, verifed by an active tribal membership card or letter, CDIB card and social security card
  • Be indigent, with no other resources available (insurance, veteran's benefits, cash over $1,000 saving accounts, IIM account monies, victim assistance program or other state and federal assistance programs, etc.)
• Applicants may be asked to provide any of the following verification documents:
  • Income or pay stubs
  • Bank statements
  • Benefit checks
  • Savings accounts
  • Award letters
  • Address verification
  • Copy of certified death certificate
  • Other documents as needed
• Applications can be filed up to 180 days after death
• This program cannot be used in conjuction with other tribal burial programs.