August 15, 2026.
Quick online process could reduce printing, postage, and staff costs as Tribe encourages Elders to enroll before October 1 deadline.
The Sault Tribe is encouraging eligible Elders to use its new online enrollment system for the 2026 Elder Dividend, a move that could save the Tribe an estimated $19,000 to $36,000 in printing, postage and administrative labor if virtually all eligible elders use the online system.
The online enrollment portal is available through October 1, 2026.
Members who will be 60 years of age or older by December 31, 2026, are eligible to enroll.
The Sault Tribe reported that there are 9,045 Tribal Elders eligible for the elder payment in 2026.
It is expected that On-Line Registration Forms will be verified to prevent fraud and anyone that attempts to fraudulently fill out a form will be subject to criminal penalties.
Based on the assumption that no fraudulent payments are issued; Online enrollment could save thousands.
The potential savings come from eliminating much of the cost associated with printing and mailing thousands of paper enrollment forms and then processing those forms when they are returned.
USPS currently lists regular commercial USPS Marketing Mail automation rates for letters weighing 3.5 ounces or less at 16 cents per piece for 5-Digit automation, 17.8 cents for 3-Digit/SCF automation and 18.1 cents for mixed automation. Higher rates apply to some other mailing methods.
Using a range of approximately 16 to 22.5 cents per piece as a postage benchmark, mailing forms to 9,045 elders would represent approximately $1,450 to $2,040 in postage.
Additional costs include printing the forms, envelopes and other materials, preparing the mailing and staff time required to process returned forms and enter information.
Using reasonable estimated costs of:
- 25 to 50 cents per member for printing
- 15 to 30 cents per member for envelopes and mail preparation
- 16 to 22.5 cents per member for postage
- $1.50 to $3 per member in staff processing time
puts the potential cost of a paper-based enrollment process at approximately $19,000 to $36,000 for 9,045 elders.
That means the Tribe could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars annually if nearly all eligible elders complete their enrollment online.
The estimate is not an official Sault Tribe savings figure. Actual savings would depend on the Tribe's printing costs, mailing contract, mail preparation procedures, employee wages and benefits, and the amount of staff time required to process each paper form.
Online enrollment is quick and easy.
For eligible elders, the online process requires only a few steps.
Members should:
- Click on the “Elder Form” link.
- Complete the online form and select “Submit.”
- Save the confirmation/reference number received after the form is successfully submitted.
Enroll through the Sault Tribe Tribal Enrollment page
Once the confirmation number is received, the enrollment process is complete and the member will be registered to receive an Elder Dividend check in January 2027.
Members who complete the online form will not receive a paper form in the mail.
Don't wait until October 1.
The Tribe is encouraging eligible Elders not to wait until the deadline.
The online process can be completed in just a few minutes, and members receive a confirmation number immediately after successfully submitting the form.
The online portal will only be available through October 1, 2026.
Members who do not complete the online enrollment during that period will be mailed a paper form and will then need to complete and return it by mail.
For Elders who are comfortable using the online system, completing the form electronically not only provides a quick way to register for the dividend but could also help the Tribe reduce thousands of dollars in recurring administrative expenses.
Keep your address current.
Members who move after submitting their Elder Form but before their check is mailed in January 2027 should contact the Enrollment Department to update their mailing address.
Keeping mailing information current will help ensure the Elder Dividend check is delivered without delay.
For questions or assistance with the online portal, contact the Enrollment Department at 906-632-8552 or email Stacey Synett at ssynett@saulttribe.net.
The Bottom Line: Sault Tribe Elders have until October 1, 2026, to complete online enrollment. The process is quick, easy, and could help the Tribe Elder Fund reduce the cost of printing, mailing and processing thousands of paper forms.