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(1) BIA Burial Assistance.

(a) Benefit. BIA Burial Assistance may pay up to $2,500 per eligible death, for expenses directly associated with the burial.

(b) Eligibility. To be eligible for BIA burial assistance, the deceased must be all of the following, consistent with 25 CFR 20.300:

(i) A Samish citizen or a nonenrolled infant age two years or younger that is otherwise eligible for enrollment with the Samish Indian Nation;

(ii) A resident within the Samish BIA service area;

(iii) Demonstrably unable to pay for the costs associated with his or her own burial.

(c) Limitation. BIA burial assistance is available only after all other financial means have been exhausted (e.g., veterans’ benefits, life insurance, cash in the deceased’s estate).

(2) BIA Burial Transportation Assistance.

(a) Benefit. For extenuating circumstances, some transportation costs of the eligible decedent will be covered by the Tribe. Transportation costs directly associated with burials are normally not eligible for reimbursement under this section, except that reimbursement may be allowed if a provider adds an additional transportation charge to the burial rate because of extenuating circumstances.

(b) Eligibility. Consistent with 25 CFR 20.326, to provide reimbursement for transportation costs, the applicant must document that:

(i) The charges are reasonable and equitable;

(ii) The decedent was a tribal citizen who was socially, culturally, and economically affiliated with the Tribe; and

(iii) The decedent resided in the Samish BIA service area for the six months immediate prior to death.

(c) Limitation. If the transportation cost is extraordinary, the Tribe may postpone a decision on reimbursement until the end of the budget year in order to ensure that available funds are equitably disbursed among other applicants during that year. [Res. 2020-04-003, 2020.]