Nebraska DHHS Economic Assistance for Relative Caregivers

When you start raising a grandchild or a relative's child in Nebraska, every agency seems to have a different name, a different phone number, and a different application. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — DHHS — is the single state agency behind nearly all of them, and knowing how it is organized saves you from calling the wrong office or filling out the wrong form.

How DHHS Is Structured for Relative Caregivers

DHHS is not one office. It is divided into specialized units, and each one controls a different set of benefits:

• Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) handles Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) cash grants, the Child Care Subsidy program, and Emergency Assistance.
• Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care (MLTC) manages Nebraska Medicaid, CHIP (marketed as Kids Connect), and Heritage Health managed care enrollment.
• Division of Public Health oversees the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program.

Only DHHS caseworkers and eligibility specialists within these divisions have the legal authority to approve or deny an application. Community organizations like Lutheran Family Services or Legal Aid of Nebraska can help you prepare paperwork, but they cannot approve benefits or change a grant amount on their behalf.

What You Can Apply For

As a non-parent relative caregiver, you can apply for several programs through a single portal:

ADC child-only cash grant — monthly cash for the child's basic needs. Your income as the caregiver is completely excluded when you apply as a non-needy relative payee. The grant is evaluated solely on the child's own income (such as survivor benefits or child support). As of July 1, 2026, a one-child grant pays up to $623 per month.

Nebraska Medicaid / Kids Connect — health coverage for the child. When you apply on behalf of the child only, your retirement or wages are not counted. Eligibility runs on the child's income against federal poverty thresholds (162% FPL for infants, 133% FPL for older children, with CHIP extending to about 194% FPL).

SNAP food assistance — unlike ADC, SNAP counts the entire household's income if you purchase and prepare meals together. The gross income limit is 130% of the federal poverty level, with asset limits of $4,500 for households with an elderly or disabled member.

Child Care Subsidy — also counts your income, unlike the child-only ADC grant. You must be working, in training, or in school to qualify.

Where to Apply

All four programs accept applications through the iServe Nebraska Portal at iserve.nebraska.gov. One unified application covers ADC, SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care Subsidy, and LIHEAP energy assistance.

If you prefer not to apply online, you have other options:

• Phone: Economic Assistance Customer Service at 1-800-383-4278
• Fax: (402) 742-2351
• Mail: DHHS Economic Assistance, P.O. Box 2992, Omaha, NE 68103-2992
• In person: Local DHHS offices with self-service kiosks

DHHS must issue a decision within 30 to 45 calendar days from your filing date. If your household faces severe financial crisis, emergency expedited assistance can be authorized within 7 days.

What to Bring

Have these documents ready before you start the application:

• Child's birth certificate and Social Security number
• Proof of Nebraska residency (lease, utility bill, or school enrollment)
• Any court order, power of attorney, or written caregiving agreement
• Records of the child's income (child support, Social Security benefits)

Submitting an application with just your name, address, and signature secures the official filing date — you can provide supporting documents afterward.

Getting Organized Before You Call

The number of programs, the different income rules, and the six-month redetermination reviews add up quickly. Our Nebraska Financial Help Guide consolidates every DHHS program's rules, document requirements, and tracking worksheets into one printable package so you can walk into any agency appointment prepared.

See more Nebraska guides →