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, child and adult protection services.
This program provides assistance to American Indians and Alaska Natives who have no access to Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), do not meet eligibility criteria for TANF, or have exceeded the lifetime limit for TANF services. The services under this section are designed to be secondary in nature. The five types of direct assistance offered include:
General Assistance: Provides financial assistance payments to eligible Indians for essential needs of food, clothing, shelter, and utilities. The goal of General Assistance is to increase self-sufficiency. This is accomplished through specific steps an individual will take to increase independence as outlined in his/her Individual Self-Sufficiency Plan (ISP). To be eligible for General Assistance, all applicants must apply concurrently for financial assistance from other state, tribal, county, local or other Federal agency programs for which they might be eligible.
Child Assistance: Provides financial assistance payments on behalf of an Indian child requiring placement in a foster home, private, or tribal group day care homes, or in residential settings designed to provide special care. In addition, assistance includes services to a child in need of adoption or guardianship.
Non-Medical Institutional or Custodial Care of Adults: Provides monthly financial assistance on behalf of an Indian adult requiring non-medical personal care and supervision due to an advanced age, infirmity, physical condition or mental impairment. This program provides homecare services to assist the vulnerable adults who are able to stay in their own homes and residential care for those otherwise eligible Indians when necessary. This assistance is provided to disabled adults who are not eligible for care from any other county, state, or Federal program.
Burial Assistance: This program provides funds to assist with the burial expenses of deceased indigent Indians whose estates do not have sufficient resources to meet funeral expenses.
Emergency Assistance: This assistance is provided directly to individuals whose homes suffered from personal property damage or their homes were destroyed by fire, flood, or other calamities. It is used for the essential needs of food, shelter, and utilities when other resources are not available.
To ensure program performance and accountability, Direct Service programs are managed by the Financial Assistance and Social Services - Case Management System (FASS-CMS). FASS-CMS is a comprehensive case management system for Social Service case workers. It improves Social Service worker's productivity and decision-making process by providing more complete case information and conforming to the case worker's functionality, while enabling better resource management.
Current Events & News
Forms and Important Reference Documents
Welfare Assistance Funding and Distribution Methodology:
Indian Affairs Manual (IAM), Part 70 Chapter 3 - Financial Assistance and Social Services Reporting. This chapter establishes Indian Affairs policy and procedures for submission of the Financial Assistance and Social Service Report (FASSR), the Request for Additional Funds (RAF), and the required accompanying documentation. It has been updated to reflect current practices and information since the 2014 version.
- Part 70 Chapter 3
- BIA Financial Assistance and Social Services Report (FASSR)
- BIA Request for Additional Funds (RAF)
Financial Assistance and Social Services programs under 25 CFR Part 20:
- 25 CFR Part 20 – Financial Assistance and Social Services
- OMB Form 1076-0017 Application for Financial Assistance and Social Services
- OMB Form 1076-0117 Individual Self Sufficiency Plan (ISP)
Other Important Laws and Reference Documents: (Coming Soon)
- 25 CFR Part 2, Appeals from Administrative Actions
- Public Law 67-85, The Snyder Act
- Public Law 95-608, The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
- Public Law 93-638, Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, as amended (ISDEAA)
- Public Law 101-647, Subchapter V, The Crime Control Act of 1990 - Child Care Worker-Employee Background Checks
- Public Law 101-630, The Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act of 1990
- Public Law 104-193, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
