Indian Relocation Benefits

GAO was requested to reevaluate the residency criteria applied by the Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation Commission to determine which Indians are entitled to receive relocation benefits. Under applicable legislation, heads of households who are temporarily away from the relocation area but whose families remain in the area and are, therefore, required to relocate may be considered residents who are eligible to receive relocation benefits. Regulations issued to implement the legislation may be interpreted too broadly resulting in relocation payments being made to individuals who are not intended to benefit from the legislation. The Commission must interpret its regulations so that only temporarily away heads of households whose families remain in the relocation area are eligible for benefits.