Last updated: July 16, 2026
Bottom line
North Dakota does not have one transportation grant just for single mothers. The best place to ask depends on the trip. Medicaid may cover rides to approved health care. TANF JOBS and NDWORKS may help with transportation tied to an approved work or training plan. Public transit, rural vans, school protections, disability services, veteran rides, Community Action agencies, and 211 may cover other needs.
Start with the agency connected to the trip before spending your own money. The national transportation guide explains the main help paths. The North Dakota help page covers other benefits that may protect your transportation budget.
Help is not guaranteed. Service areas, booking rules, program approval, available drivers, weather, and local funding can affect what is offered.
If you need a ride today
Call 911 for a medical emergency, crash, fire, or immediate danger. Do not wait for a scheduled bus or benefit approval.
For a same-day local referral, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through FirstLink 211. FirstLink serves North Dakota and can search for bus passes, gas cards, volunteer drivers, shelters, food, and crisis services.
For urgent medical transportation, call the number connected to your Medicaid coverage. Traditional North Dakota Medicaid members can call the Customer Support Center at 866-614-6005. Medicaid Expansion members can call BCBSND at 833-777-5779. A same-day ride may not be available, but the program can explain the fastest approved option.
If the ride problem is part of a housing, food, utility, or safety crisis, use the North Dakota emergency guide. If abuse or stalking is involved, contact a local advocate through the state advocacy directory from a safer device when possible.
Contents
Where to start
Medical or dental visit
Call your Medicaid contact or Human Service Zone before the trip and ask for non-emergency medical transportation approval.
Work or training
Ask your TANF JOBS or NDWORKS coordinator whether transportation can be added to your approved plan.
City or rural ride
Use the state transit directory, then call the provider about routes, demand-response trips, fares, and booking time.
School attendance
Contact the school homeless liaison, special education team, transportation office, or family support worker.
Quick reference
| Transportation need | Best first contact | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Covered medical, dental, pharmacy, or equipment trip | Medicaid or BCBSND | Advance approval is usually required. |
| TANF work activity | JOBS coordinator | Support must connect to the approved employment plan. |
| SNAP work or training | NDWORKS | Services depend on enrollment and available support. |
| Local errands, work, school, or groceries | Public transit provider | Rural rides often need advance reservations. |
| Disability prevents regular bus use | Local paratransit office | An eligibility application may be required. |
| One-time gas card or bus pass | 211 or Community Action | Local funds can run out or have narrow rules. |
Medicaid medical rides
North Dakota Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation, often called NEMT, for eligible members who need help reaching covered services. Covered trips can include medical and dental appointments, durable medical equipment, and prescription pickup. The Medicaid member handbook explains the member rules.
Traditional North Dakota Medicaid
Call the Customer Support Center at 866-614-6005 or contact your Human Service Zone. A tribal office may handle approval for members using tribal services. Except for limited hospital situations, the trip normally must be approved before travel on the state’s NEMT authorization form.
The approving office chooses an efficient and medically suitable type of transportation. Options can include public transit, taxi, a private vehicle, transportation company, wheelchair van, stretcher van, train, or air travel when the rules are met.
A parent, spouse, relative, friend, guardian, or other helper may enroll as a Medicaid transportation provider and receive payment for an approved trip. Do not assume that a family driver’s gas will be repaid automatically. Ask about provider enrollment and authorization before the trip.
A child younger than 18 cannot travel alone. Medicaid may cover a parent, guardian, or authorized adult who must accompany the child. An attendant may also be covered when medically necessary.
Medicaid Expansion
BCBSND handles transportation for Medicaid Expansion members. The BCBSND ride page says to call 833-777-5779 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday, at least two days before the service.
Expansion rides must be approved in advance. BCBSND does not reimburse a member directly for personal mileage. Routine eye and dental trips are not covered through this particular transportation benefit, so ask the clinic and Member Services about other options.
Prepare before calling
Have the member ID, appointment date, provider address, provider phone number, pickup address, return plan, mobility needs, and the name of any person who must ride with the member.
The North Dakota health guide can help if the larger problem is Medicaid coverage or finding a provider.
Transportation for work and training
TANF JOBS
North Dakota TANF includes work readiness, training, and job placement. The official TANF program FAQ lists transportation among the supportive services that may be available to JOBS participants.
Ask your coordinator to put the transportation need in your employment plan. Be specific about the cost: a bus pass, gas, mileage, a required license, relocation travel, or another barrier tied to an approved activity. Ask whether approval is needed before you spend money and what receipts must be kept.
The North Dakota TANF guide explains cash aid and JOBS participation.
NDWORKS for SNAP participants
NDWORKS is a voluntary employment and training option for eligible SNAP participants. Support can include transportation, job readiness, licenses, certifications, exams, books, and training supplies. Contact Community Options or your Human Service Zone to ask about enrollment.
Transportation support is not a general gas benefit. It must connect to the approved employment or training plan and available funding. The North Dakota SNAP guide covers food-benefit questions.
Crossroads for young parents
The Crossroads program can help eligible parents up to age 21 with part of their child care and transportation costs while they continue high school, a GED program, or college. Contact Community Options or a Human Service Zone for screening.
The North Dakota child care guide explains the separate Child Care Assistance Program.
City and rural public transit
The North Dakota Department of Transportation says statewide public transportation is available for people who need a ride. Start with the state transit page and its provider map.
In a city, service may be a fixed bus route. In a rural area, it may be a van that travels only on certain days or requires a phone reservation. Ask whether the service is curb-to-curb, door-to-door, or limited to a set stop.
| Area | Provider | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Dilworth | MATBUS | Routes, 2026 fares, youth passes, on-demand service, and paratransit |
| Grand Forks and East Grand Forks | Cities Area Transit | Routes, reduced fares, travel training, and Dial-A-Ride |
| Bismarck and Mandan | Bis-Man Transit | CAT routes, paratransit eligibility, reservations, and service hours |
| Minot | Minot City Transit | Routes, live tracking, fares, and Souris Basin connections |
| Other counties | NDDOT provider map | Service days, booking deadline, child riders, fare, and return trip |
Do not rely on an old fare or schedule. Call before the first trip and ask what happens if an appointment or work shift ends late.
School transportation for children
Temporary or unstable housing
A child may have McKinney-Vento rights when the family stays in a shelter, motel, car, campground, doubled-up home, or another temporary place because regular housing was lost. North Dakota’s homeless education page explains school access and stability.
Ask the school for its homeless liaison. Request school-of-origin transportation in writing if moving schools would disrupt the child. If the district says no, ask for the written dispute process.
Special education transportation
Transportation can be a related service in an Individualized Education Program when a student needs it to benefit from special education. North Dakota’s IEP transportation guide says the team decides whether transportation is needed and how it should work.
Ask the IEP team to discuss pickup location, vehicle type, travel time, adult support, equipment, and safety. The disability support guide covers other school and benefit paths.
Paratransit and disability transportation
Local transit systems may offer ADA paratransit for people whose disability prevents them from using the regular fixed-route bus for some or all trips. Eligibility is based on the practical effect of the disability, not only the diagnosis.
Ask the transit provider for the application, decision timeline, visitor rules, personal-care-attendant rules, reservation hours, and appeal process. Grand Forks, for example, uses an application for Dial-A-Ride, while Bis-Man Transit has a separate paratransit application.
The Aging and Disability Resource Link can search transportation and other disability services by location. Some qualifying home and community programs may include non-medical transportation, but a case manager must confirm eligibility and the service plan.
Transportation for veterans and caregivers
The North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs works with transit providers to offer some eligible veterans transportation to VA-authorized medical appointments. The veteran ride page links to county contacts and highly rural transportation information.
Call the county or tribal Veterans Service Officer before the appointment. Ask whether the ride is free, how far ahead to book, whether a caregiver may ride, and whether the vehicle can meet mobility needs. Service and routes differ by county.
Gas cards, bus passes, and local help
North Dakota does not have a general statewide gas-card program. One-time help may come from a Community Action agency, clinic, shelter, school, church, tribe, workforce provider, or local nonprofit.
Use the official Community Action list to find the agency serving your region. Ask about gas cards, bus passes, work transportation, car-repair referrals, and emergency travel. Funding and rules vary.
The Community Action guide explains what these agencies may offer. The North Dakota community guide lists other local starting points.
Documents and information to gather
| Request | Useful information | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid ride | Member ID, appointment details, provider address, mobility needs | Helps approve the trip and correct vehicle. |
| Work or training help | Program plan, schedule, route, mileage, fare, or repair estimate | Shows the cost is tied to an approved activity. |
| Transit or paratransit | Pickup address, destination, disability information, child rider details | Helps confirm service area and eligibility. |
| School ride | Temporary address, school name, attendance problem, IEP, written request | Helps the school review the correct protection. |
| Local aid | Income proof, benefit notice, job or clinic letter, cost estimate | Local programs may need proof of need. |
| Complaint or appeal | Denial notice, call log, screenshots, receipts, names, and dates | Creates a record of what happened. |
The documents checklist can help you keep copies and deadlines together.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the appointment day. Medical, rural, and paratransit rides often need advance approval or booking.
- Paying first. TANF, SNAP training, and Medicaid programs may require approval before a cost can be paid.
- Calling the wrong Medicaid program. Traditional Medicaid and Medicaid Expansion use different ride contacts.
- Forgetting the return trip. Ask how pickup works after the appointment, class, or shift.
- Assuming rural transit is only medical. Many public providers also serve work, shopping, school, and personal trips.
- Accepting only a verbal denial. Ask for the written reason and review or appeal instructions.
If a ride is denied, late, or unavailable
Medicaid denial
Ask which rule, missing form, provider issue, or coverage decision caused the denial. Traditional Medicaid applicants and members generally have 30 days from the date a notice is mailed to file an appeal. The Medicaid appeal page allows verbal, online, email, fax, or mailed requests.
For Medicaid Expansion, call BCBSND Member Services and ask for the grievance or appeal process. Ask the medical provider whether more information can support the transportation request.
Transit or paratransit problem
Ask the local provider for its complaint and appeal process. Save the application, denial, reservation number, missed-trip details, and the name of each person you contacted.
Benefit-program support problem
If JOBS or NDWORKS transportation is denied, ask for the decision in writing and request the review process listed on the notice or program plan. The benefits problem guide explains how to organize proof and deadlines.
Legal Services of North Dakota may help eligible residents with some benefits, housing, disability, and civil legal problems. The North Dakota legal guide lists more contacts.
Backup options
- Ask the clinic social worker to help verify medical need or move the appointment.
- Ask the transit provider about a cancellation list, flexible pickup point, or another service day.
- Ask 211 and Community Action to search for a gas card, volunteer driver, or bus pass.
- Ask the school, college, employer, or training provider about emergency funds or passes.
- Use the North Dakota housing guide if displacement is causing the transportation problem.
- Use the North Dakota safety guide when transportation is tied to abuse or stalking.
Phone scripts
Requesting a Medicaid ride
“Hi, I have [traditional Medicaid or Medicaid Expansion]. I need transportation to a covered appointment on [date] at [address]. What approval is required, and how soon must I schedule?”
Calling rural transit
“Hi, I need a ride from [address] to [destination] on [date]. Do you serve this area, how far ahead must I book, what is the fare, and how do I schedule the ride home?”
Asking for work support
“Transportation is blocking my approved [JOBS or NDWORKS] activity. Can my plan cover [a bus pass, mileage, gas, or another cost]? What must be approved before I pay?”
Calling 211 or Community Action
“Hi, I am a parent in [county or ZIP code]. I need [a gas card, bus pass, volunteer ride, or other transportation] for [medical care, work, school, or child care]. Which programs are open now?”
Resumen en español
North Dakota no tiene una sola subvención de transporte para madres solteras. Para una cita médica cubierta, llame a Medicaid al 866-614-6005. Si tiene Medicaid Expansion, llame a BCBSND al 833-777-5779 por lo menos dos días antes.
Para trabajo o capacitación, pregunte a su coordinador de TANF JOBS o NDWORKS antes de pagar. Para autobuses rurales, pases, tarjetas de gasolina o conductores voluntarios, llame al 211 o contacte Community Action. Si recibe una negación, pida la razón por escrito y revise la fecha límite de apelación.
Frequently asked questions
Does North Dakota Medicaid pay for medical rides?
It may pay for approved transportation to covered medical, dental, pharmacy, equipment, and other health services. Traditional Medicaid usually requires advance approval through a Human Service Zone or tribal office.
Who do Medicaid Expansion members call?
Call BCBSND at 833-777-5779, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time. Request the service at least two days ahead when possible.
Can a family member receive mileage payment?
Possibly. A parent, relative, friend, or other helper may enroll as a North Dakota Medicaid transportation provider. The trip must be approved before travel, and enrollment and claim rules apply.
Can TANF or SNAP help with transportation?
Yes, in some cases. TANF JOBS supportive services can include transportation. NDWORKS may provide transportation tied to an approved SNAP employment or training plan. Ask before spending money.
Is rural transit only for seniors?
No. North Dakota’s public transit program serves people who need a ride, although certain routes, discounts, and specialized services may have age, disability, or program rules.
What if Medicaid denies my ride?
Ask for the written reason and appeal instructions. Traditional Medicaid appeals generally must be filed within 30 days from the mailed notice. Medicaid Expansion members should use the BCBSND grievance or appeal process.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 16, 2026, next review October 16, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.