The Chickasaw Nation’s $2,000 grant, known as the Economic Assistance for Citizens and Households (EACH) program, is no longer accepting applications. It was a one-time pandemic relief payment launched in September 2021 for tribal citizens who met income limits and could show a COVID-related hardship. If you need financial help now, the tribe runs several other grant programs you can apply for through its Citizen Support Center.
What the $2,000 EACH Payment Was
Governor Bill Anoatubby announced EACH in 2021 to put $2,000 checks into the hands of Chickasaw citizens hurt by the pandemic. Funding came from federal pandemic relief dollars allocated to tribal governments, and the Chickasaw Nation administered the program on its own authority. The distribution cycle appears to be complete, and no public evidence suggests EACH is still open as of 2026.
One point worth clearing up: EACH was not a universal payment to every Chickasaw citizen. The program name itself signals targeted relief. Applicants had to meet an income ceiling and demonstrate a pandemic-related hardship.
Who Qualified
The income thresholds mirrored the federal stimulus check structure:
- Single or married filing separately: less than $75,000 in annual income
- Head of household: less than $112,000 in annual income
- Married filing jointly or surviving spouse: less than $150,000 in annual income
On top of the income test, applicants had to show at least one qualifying hardship: loss or reduction of income or employment, a change in household or family circumstances, a change in market circumstances, or medical needs tied to the pandemic.
Applicants also had to be enrolled Chickasaw citizens. Enrollment requires a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, followed by a citizenship card issued by the Chickasaw Nation.1Chickasaw Nation. Tribal Government Services (CDIB/Citizenship)
If You Received the $2,000, It Isn’t Taxable
Tribal COVID relief payments used for personal, living, family, or funeral expenses are not taxable income. The IRS has said so directly: these payments are excluded from gross income and do not need to be reported on your tax return.2Internal Revenue Service. FAQs for Payments by Indian Tribal Governments and Alaska Native Corporations to Individuals Under COVID Relief Legislation
The legal basis is Section 139E of the Internal Revenue Code, the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion. Payments through a tribal government program are excluded from gross income as long as the program doesn’t favor members of the governing body, is open to any tribal member who meets the guidelines, promotes general welfare, and isn’t lavish or compensation for services.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 139E – Indian General Welfare Benefits EACH fits those requirements, and tribes are not required to issue a 1099-MISC for these payments.2Internal Revenue Service. FAQs for Payments by Indian Tribal Governments and Alaska Native Corporations to Individuals Under COVID Relief Legislation If you took the payment and didn’t report it, you didn’t make a mistake.
Effect on SSI, Medicaid, and SNAP
If you receive Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, SNAP, or other means-tested federal benefits, a lump-sum tribal payment can raise questions about whether it counts as income or a resource. Federal law includes several exclusions for income tied to tribal membership, and the Social Security Administration recognizes categories of income excluded under laws outside the Social Security Act for Native American tribal members. The safest approach is to spend the funds promptly on qualifying expenses and keep receipts, rather than letting the money sit in a bank account where it could be counted as a resource in a later eligibility review.
Chickasaw Grants That Are Still Open
With EACH closed, these ongoing Chickasaw Nation grant programs are where to look. They are not tied to pandemic relief, and most require a Chickasaw citizenship card plus proof of income and program-specific documentation.
- Home Improvement Grant: up to $7,500 paid to the citizen or contractor for home repairs, subject to income eligibility.4Chickasaw Nation. Home Improvement Grant
- Handicapped Accessibility Grant: up to $7,500 for making a home accessible, available to citizens living outside the Chickasaw Nation boundaries who meet income and disability verification requirements.5Chickasaw Nation. Handicapped Accessibility Grant
- Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance: a one-time grant of up to $5,000 toward the purchase or refinance of a primary residence.
- Burial Assistance Program: up to $5,000 toward burial expenses for eligible First Americans, paid directly to the funeral home.6Chickasaw Nation. Burial Assistance Program
Unlike EACH within its income tiers, these housing-related grants have income eligibility rules that make them narrower in reach.
Who to Call
The Chickasaw Nation’s Citizen Support Center is the right starting point for questions on any tribal program, help with an application, or confirmation that no new relief program has been announced since EACH closed.7Chickasaw Nation. Services
- Toll-free: 1 (833) 551-0980
- Local: (580) 757-9082
- Email: CitizenSupport@Chickasaw.net
If your CDIB or citizenship card has expired or you’ve never obtained one, the Tribal Government Services office handles enrollment.1Chickasaw Nation. Tribal Government Services (CDIB/Citizenship) Enrollment is the prerequisite for every benefit the tribe offers, so get your documents in order before any specific grant is on your radar.