Some Navajo are having trouble applying for the tribe’s hardship assistance program.
Many Navajo who have applied for assistance online have received error messages. People have to prove they are enrolled members by going through the Office of Vital Statistics. But the Navajo Controller said in a statement the tribe recently lost data and hasn’t done a good job of updating its records.
Last month the Navajo president approved a plan to provide $49 million in CARES Act funds for emergency financial assistance during the pandemic. An enrolled member can receive up to $1,500.
The program became available late last month and the deadline to apply is Nov. 30. Officials have not said whether they will extend the deadline to deal with the glitch.
