• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Friday, February 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
MVSKOKE Media
Subscribe Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
  • Featured
  • Archives
    • Newspaper Archives
    • Radio
    • Vision
  • Creative
    • Advertising
    • Policies
  • Contact
  • Market
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
  • Featured
  • Archives
    • Newspaper Archives
    • Radio
    • Vision
  • Creative
    • Advertising
    • Policies
  • Contact
  • Market
No Result
View All Result
MVSKOKE Media
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Muscogee (Creek) citizens speak out on NetSpend

ARPA Direct Assistance Outreach events seek to assist citizens

by Morgan Taylor
November 8, 2021
in Home Feature, News
7
Muscogee (Creek) citizens speak out on NetSpend

Okemah Community Member Simian Lee receiving assistance from Secretary of the Nation Terra Branson-Thomas. (Pauline Randall/Project Specialist)

Morgan Taylor/Reporter

OKEMAH, Oklahoma – Inside the Okemah Elderly Nutrition Center, the American Rescue Plan Act Direct Assistance Support Team helped Muscogee (Creek) citizens with application for the Direct Assistance program, Vaccine Incentive and NetSpend cards during a Community Outreach event on Nov. 4.

According to a Muscogee (Creek) citizen and Okemah Community member, Nancy Watson, there are many members in her community struggling with the process.

Watson claimed a meeting was held discussing the NetSpend cards prior to the application. Okfuskee District Representatives Travis Scott and Speaker Randall Hicks were in attendance listening to citizens’ concerns.

After the explaining how funds would be distributed on NetSpend cards, Watson said citizens’ response to the certain type of distribution was not one of satisfaction.

For Watson, the biggest concern is taking care of “her elders.”

“I am an elder,” Watson said. “So, the ones that are older than me, I try to help them.”

Watson took the time to read over the NetSpend guidelines and discovered things that worried her.

“It’s too difficult,” Watson said. “There’s too many fees associated with NetSpend and we aren’t getting our full amount.”

Muscogee (Creek) citizen and Okemah Community member Simian Lee agreed with Watson’s statement.

Lee claimed he had help in submitting his application on the first day and still had not heard anything from the tribe or NetSpend.

“That’s why I came here today,” Lee said. “I want to know where my money is.”

Watson and Lee were called to be helped by representatives on their particular issues and both were resolved quickly. Each of them had felt better with the process upon leaving, but still wish the Nation had decided to issue checks for Direct Assistance payments.

Even with the direct help of the APRA Support Team, those with complicated applications have run into barriers which could be turned in for further review.

Dustin Truce is a non-elder community member but did not have the same experience with the event as the elderly members. Truce did not have an issue with his application, but with his card.

Truce claimed he had received his card three days prior to the event and it had maintained a zero balance.

After talking with a representative, Truce said he still was not able to resolve the problem with the balance on the NetSpend card.

NetSpend had required Truce to provide identity documentation, which he claimed he did and got approval from the card company. However, the card still did not receive funding.

Truce said after talking with NetSpend, they sent him an email stating MCN had denied his application.

“I showed them (ARPA Rep.) the email from NetSpend where they claimed it was on them (MCN),” he said.

Truce stated he was not happy with his results of the event and is not sure what to do.

National Council Legislative Communications Specialist Richard Anderson has been attending these outreach events and gathering written statements from citizens regarding issues with the application or NetSpend process.

Anderson claimed the statements were gathered and given to Speaker Randall Hicks which are then turned into Principal Chief David Hill for further review.

Dozens of elderly citizens or other community members who attended the Okemah event were able to receive assistance with generally little to no trouble.

There are no further outreach events scheduled at this time beyond the event scheduled at the Glenpool Indian Community Center on Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

For more information regarding ARPA funds and programs, call the hotline at: 918-549-2885.

ADVERTISEMENT
Morgan Taylor

Morgan Taylor

Morgan is the Multimedia Producer for Mvskoke Media. Being deeply rooted in the Muscogee Nation, Morgan aims to tell stories of the people and for the people. Her areas of interest are Health, Education, Welfare, and Entertainment happening across the Mvskoke Reservation. Contact Morgan for media inquiries at 918-732-7644.

Next Post
Lighthorse Police Commission Act adopted

Lighthorse Commissioner confirmed by Council

Comments 7

  1. Robert kerley says:
    1 year ago

    Yes I went through the same and they finally sent me a check but didn’t get the money for my child that was on my application so I am having to wait now for her check they missed her on my application

  2. LeeStokes says:
    1 year ago

    When updating the next version of the camphouse portal, add their email to it where they can change it to another email. Many people either have no email or find one they can use or have created one since applying. There needs to be a way to modify email.

  3. Margaret LongHorn says:
    1 year ago

    You will experience a wait time of approximately two and a half hours before your call is answered never mind on email it is not answered either. Not a very professional way of customer support for the tribal members. Tribal members experience frustration with the customer response team.

    • Rhonda Milam says:
      1 year ago

      My Auntie, Uncle and Niece were asked for a copy of SS card and drivers license to be emailed to them! Why?

  4. Muscogee Citizen says:
    1 year ago

    I am concerned that NETSPEND asks for my Social Security Number as a required unique identifier. I would very much like to know who shared my Social Security Number with NETSPEND. Can anyone provide that information? I am not sure how the Muscogee Creek Nation attained my permission to share my Social Security Number with an outside source.

  5. Beth says:
    1 year ago

    NetSpend is a disaster.

  6. Alicia Barnett says:
    1 year ago

    Why post a contact number for help or questions regarding the ARPA direct assistance program if nobody is going to answer the phone? I’ve called multiple times & also sent e-mails but have yet to speak to anyone! It’s not very professional at all & the people NEED those funds asap!!! I was only paid for 1 person in my home but my application had 3 tribal members listed. Also, why would the money be put on Netspend cards if Netspend has numerous complaints & had been sued by the FTC in 2016 for fraudulent claims & lying to customers & illegally holding customers money?! I hope that there will be repercussions for how unprofessional this program has been & muscogee creek nation has done nothing to help the tribal citizens!

ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

  • There are no upcoming events.

Recommended

Celebrating “Rock your Mocs”

Celebrating “Rock your Mocs”

1 year ago
Oklahoma Governor lets hunting and fishing compacts expire

Oklahoma Governor lets hunting and fishing compacts expire

1 year ago
MVSKOKE Media

© 2020 MVSKOKE Media.

MVSKOKE Media

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Find Us On

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
  • Featured
  • Archives
    • Newspaper Archives
    • Radio
    • Vision
  • Creative
    • Advertising
    • Policies
  • Contact
  • Market

© 2020 MVSKOKE Media.