Individual Indian Monies (IIM) accounts are managed by the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST), which was established in 1994 as part of the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act. Prior to the establishment of OST, IIM accounts were managed by the BIA. The IIM Statement of Account contains important information about an individual Indian account holder’s income and expenses from the use or sale of a trust asset such as agricultural or grazing leases, coal production, timber harvesting or oil and gas leases. Funds listed on the account statement can also come from a per capita payment or from proceeds from an estate account following a probate.

What to Expect
All IIM account funds are invested in government securities and earn interest until they are disbursed. IIM account statements are mailed to account holders on a quarterly basis along with a List of Real Property Assets. However, if the account has a very low balance and does not have any activity for an 18 month period, the beneficiary will receive a statement only once a year.

There are three different types of IIM accounts: unrestricted, restricted and estate.

Most adults have unrestricted accounts in which funds are disbursed to the account holder whenever the account balance reaches $15 or more, unless the account holder requests otherwise or has direct deposit. (See IIM Account Preferences and Change of Address.)

An account may be restricted if there is a claim pending against the account, such as for child support; if a current address is not on file (i.e., the beneficiary is on the Whereabouts Unknown list); or if the account holder is a minor. Restricted account funds are disbursed in accordance with a BIA-approved disbursement plan.

Estate accounts are established when OST receives notice than an account holder is deceased. Estate accounts remain open, earning income, until the probate process is completed and assets are distributed.

Have a Question?
The OST’s Trust Beneficiary Call Center is the best place to start if you have a question about your IIM account or account statement. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Call Center staff are trained to respond to nearly all trust account related questions, including information about your account balance, requesting a payment, change of address, setting up direct deposit, and more. The Call Center’s toll-free number is: 1-888-678-6836.

OST field staff include six Regional Trust Administrators (RTAs) and 52 Fiduciary Trust Officers (FTOs). Located across Indian Country, FTOs serve as the primary point of contact for trust beneficiaries and frequently hold outreach meetings for beneficiaries to provide general trust information and to answer questions. Contact the OST Call Center to find the FTO and RTA responsible for overseeing IIM accounts in your area.

Click here to access the document.