The Jobs, Opportunities, Benefits, and Services Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (JOBS/TTANF) program provides a variety of benefits and services to families with federally recognized tribal members.

The goal of the program is to provide opportunities that will allow families to attain and maintain self-sufficiency.  

Benefits and services are to provide temporary support in meeting basic needs and training leading to employment, and are in accordance with the four-purpose area, as established by Public Law 104-193: 

Services: 

The Jobs, Opportunities, Benefits, and Services Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (JOBS/TTANF) program provides a variety of benefits and services, which include: 

  • Cash Assistance – A monthly cash payment based on family size and income designed to assist and supplement the families in their basic needs

  • Adult Employment and Vocational Programs (AEVP) – Designed to assist adults in the household obtain and keep employment

  • Incentives for Adults – Payments designed to incentivize progress towards self-sufficiency

  • Supportive Services – Payments for specific needs not being met through other services

  • Non-recurring short-term benefits (NRST) – Payments for specific needs during a crisis with unique circumstances that are not being met through other services

  • Incentives for Youth – Payments designed to incentivize youth to do well in school

  • Children and Youth Services – activities for youth

  • Suspension Services – Services provided when an active case no longer qualifies for a cash assistance payment

  • Transitional Services – Services provided when an active case exceeds the limit on suspension services and remains employed and on a path to self-sufficiency

  • Diversion Assistance – Payments for specific needs that address barriers to accepting or maintaining employment and divert the family from a TTANF case 

Eligibility: 

All of the following are general factors of eligibility, if applicable, that must be met and documented for eligibility: 

  1. Verification of at least one family member in the assistance unit who is a citizen of a Federally Recognized Tribe, unless the only eligible member is a child under the age of one with documentation of eligibility for tribal enrollment.

  2. The household must have one dependent child who is at or under 18 years old and/or has not attained 19 years of age and is a full-time student in an accredited school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training).

  3. Must have legal custody of dependents. If joint custody exists with no possibility of child support, the family is ineligible for assistance.

  4. Must be a U.S. Citizen or have an eligible alien status.

  5. Must reside in the Cherokee Nation Tribal TANF Service Area.

  6. Unless the participant meets exemption or exclusion criteria, all participants must cooperate with either a State Child Support Enforcement Division or a Tribal Child Support Enforcement Division.

  7. Must meet 150% Federal Poverty Guidelines

Additional factors may exist to determine eligibility. For any questions regarding eligibility or to apply for the program, please contact your local Career Services office or email: tanf@cherokee.org.

Required Documents:

  1. After verifying eligibility with our staff, a documents-needed list specific to your family and circumstances will be provided. Below are some of the documents that may be needed:

  2. Tribal Membership/Enrollment Card/Verification of Tribal Affiliation for all persons in the assistance unit

  3. Verification of Residence – utility bill, rental agreement, or notarized collateral statement

  4. Social Security Card for all people in the assistance unit

  5. Birth Certificates for all people in the assistance unit

  6. Verification of Income and Resources (for all household members; includes, but not limited to, employment, food stamps, social security, veteran’s benefits, per capita payments, automobile, checking account, savings account, stocks, or bonds; if applicable, etc.)

  7. Current bank statements, checking and/or savings accounts (if applicable)

  8. Marriage license, divorce decree, or statement of separation (if applicable)

  9. Verification of Registration with the Oklahoma Security Employment Commission (if applicable)

  10. Verification of legal guardianship, adoption, or custody documentation: for each child (if applicable) 

  11. Selective Service Registration Verification (Males, 18 and older) 

  12. DD214 – Veterans (if applicable) 

  13. Proof of Disability, Medical Documentation/Medical Status Form (if applicable) 

  14. High School Diploma, GED/HSE Certificate, Degree, Vocational certification, or current school verification (if applicable) 

  15. School attendance/enrollment verification – All school-age children in the assistance unit. 

  16. Verification of Public Assistance, if applicable. (Food Stamps, Donated Foods, WIC, etc.) 

  17. Verification of Cherokee Nation Housing Authority Residency (if applicable) 

  18. Verification of Cooperation with Child Support (if applicable) 

  19. Immunization Records – All children in the assistance unit, 6 years of age and under. 

  20. Valid Photo Identification Card – Driver’s License. State Issued ID, Tribal Photo ID, Military ID, etc. 

Steps to Accessing Services: 

Contact CNCS TTANF staff by email (tanf@cherokee.org), phone (918-453-5555), or in person and request services 

  1. Complete an eligibility questionnaire with Career Services TTANF staff to verify eligibility

  2. Complete documents needed list and review documents needed with the CNCS TTANF staff

  3. Provide all needed documents to CNCS TTANF staff 

  4. Complete an application with CNCS TTANF staff 

  5. Application reviewed for eligibility 

Locations: 

  • Stilwell Office –– (918) 696-3124 –– 406 A. W. Locust St. Stilwell, OK 74960 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Tahlequah Office –– (918) 453-5213 –– 17138 S. Muskogee Ave. Tahlequah OK 74464 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Jay Office –– (918) 253-3243 –– 1178 W. Cherokee St. Jay, OK 74346 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Pryor Office –– (918) 825-7988 –– 6789 Highway 69 South Pryor, OK 74361 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Muskogee Office –– (918) 682-2077 –– 1305 S. Country Club Rd. Muskogee, OK 74403 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Catoosa Office –– (918) 342-7450 –– 701 W. Rollins St. Catoosa, OK 74015 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Sallisaw Office –– (918) 776-0416 –– 100 E. Choctaw Ave. Sallisaw, OK 74955 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Tulsa Office –– (918) 574-2749 –– 10837 E. Marshall St. Tulsa, OK 74116 
    M-F 8 am-5 pm

  • Wagoner Office –– (918) 207-3842 –– 109 N. Casaver Ave. Wagoner, OK 74467 
    1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, 9 am-4 pm or by appointment

  • Dewey Office –– (918) 506-7959 –– 700 E. Durham Rd. Dewey, OK 74029 
    1st and 3rd Thursday each month, 9 am-4 pm or by appointment

  • Vinita Office –– (918) 323-4453 –– 27469 S. 4410 Rd. Vinita, OK 74301 
    2nd and 4th Thursday each month, 9 am-4 pm or by appointment 

For any inquiries regarding the program, please contact your local Career Services office or email tanf@cherokee.org.

FAQs

The Jobs, Opportunities, Benefits, and Services Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (JOBS/TTANF) program is a federal block grant intended to provide opportunities that will allow families to attain and maintain self-sufficiency.

Contact your local Career Services office or email tanf@cherokee.org. A list of application process steps can be found here.

Low-income households with children enrolled in school that are 18 or younger. More specific eligibility criteria can be found here.

  1. End dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, to increase participant’s employability and promote self-sufficiency. 

  1. Provide assistance (or other forms of support) to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives. 

  1. Educate to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. 

  1. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. 

Updated August 23, 2026