Nebraska financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Nebraska
If household costs are hard to manage, Nebraska has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county, regional, Tribal, or local application route when a program is handled closer to home.
Money Fit serves Nebraska residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
Nebraska is moving benefit applications from ACCESSNebraska into the newer iServe Nebraska portal. Housing and homelessness services are more local, and food, legal, energy, and crisis resources may also route through regional providers.
Apply for state benefits
iServe Nebraska is the current self-service portal for Medicaid and economic-assistance programs including SNAP, Aid to Dependent Children, LIHEAP, child care subsidy, and other benefits.
Find nearby help statewide
Nebraska 211 provides searchable referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, legal needs, family services, employment, and other community resources.
Housing or homelessness help
Nebraska uses three Continuums of Care. Coordinated Entry access depends on whether you are in Omaha and Council Bluffs, Lincoln, or the rest of Nebraska.
Nebraska's benefit system is in transition. DHHS says ACCESSNebraska is being transformed into iServe Nebraska. Existing and new applicants may see different screens during the transition, but iServe is the current portal for applying, renewing, reporting changes, and viewing benefits.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Nebraska's regional food-bank networks and 211 can help locate pantries, mobile distributions, and meal programs.
Nebraska SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible Nebraska households. Apply online through iServe Nebraska or contact Economic Assistance for help with an application.
Economic Assistance: 800-383-4278
Nebraska WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Nebraska has more than 90 clinic sites operated by local WIC agencies.
Nebraska WIC: 800-942-1171
Food Bank for the Heartland
Food Bank for the Heartland serves 77 Nebraska counties and offers an interactive pantry and food-resource map. Its SNAP Outreach team can also help Nebraska residents understand and apply for SNAP.
Food and SNAP hotline: 855-444-5556, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Food Bank of Lincoln
Food Bank of Lincoln serves a 16-county southeast Nebraska area through food distributions, partner agencies, school programs, senior food programs, and SNAP outreach.
Food Bank of Lincoln: 402-466-8170
Nebraska implemented new federal SNAP requirements beginning with applications and recertifications in October 2025. Current rules expanded work requirements for some adults, changed several exemptions, and changed when receipt of LIHEAP automatically supports the Standard Utility Allowance. Follow current DHHS notices rather than older work-rule summaries.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Nebraska housing assistance is handled through local public housing authorities, regional Coordinated Entry systems, NIFA resources, DHHS energy assistance, and community providers. Waiting lists and available funding can change.
Nebraska LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps eligible households with heating and cooling costs. Nebraska's heating season runs from October 1 through March 31. Apply or request assistance through iServe, a DHHS office, or Economic Assistance.
Economic Assistance: 800-383-4278
Weatherization and heating-system assistance
Nebraska's Department of Water, Energy, and Environment administers weatherization and heating or cooling repair and replacement assistance. Eligibility and available work differ from regular LIHEAP utility payments.
DWEE: 402-471-2186
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority renter resources
NIFA provides affordable-rental information and links Nebraska residents to a ZIP-code search for housing, food, healthcare, transportation, financial assistance, and other local services.
NIFA: 800-204-6432
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local public housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods differ by agency, so contact the housing authority serving the area directly.
HUD Nebraska field office: 402-492-3100
Nebraska Coordinated Entry
Nebraska uses regional Coordinated Entry access points to assess housing needs and connect people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with available shelter, rapid re-housing, prevention, and supportive-housing resources.
Legal Aid of Nebraska
Legal Aid of Nebraska serves all 93 counties and may help qualifying residents with eviction, foreclosure, subsidized housing, public benefits, debt, family safety, and other civil legal matters. There are no general walk-in services, so call the AccessLine or apply online.
Statewide AccessLine: 877-250-2016
Current phone hours: Monday/Wednesday 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Tuesday/Thursday 1-3 p.m. Central
The statewide Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance program is closed. NIFA says the federally funded pandemic-era program has distributed all funds. Residents should use current local rental, housing-stability, Coordinated Entry, NIFA, 211, or legal-aid resources instead of older ERA application links.
LIHEAP funding timing is a current issue. Nebraska DHHS says automatic heating payments will be issued when federal funds are received. Households with a heating shutoff notice, or at risk of receiving one, should call Economic Assistance at 800-383-4278 rather than waiting for an automatic payment.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Nebraska Medicaid covers eligible children, adults, parents and caretakers, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Heritage Health is Nebraska's Medicaid managed-care program.
Nebraska Medicaid
Residents can apply for Nebraska Medicaid online through iServe, by phone, by paper application, or through a local DHHS office. The appropriate eligibility route depends on age, disability, pregnancy, household circumstances, and Medicare status.
Medicaid Assistance: 855-632-7633
Heritage Health Adult
Heritage Health Adult provides Medicaid expansion coverage to qualifying adults ages 19 through 64 with income within current program limits. Most Nebraska Medicaid and CHIP members receive services through Heritage Health managed-care plans.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Nebraska Medicaid expansion work requirements began May 1, 2026. Some Heritage Health Adult applicants and members must meet qualifying work, school, work-program, volunteer, or income requirements unless an exemption or temporary hardship applies. DHHS currently lists county-based hardship exemptions in 14 counties. Renewal timing affects when existing members must first document compliance.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Nebraska's child care subsidy and Aid to Dependent Children programs are administered by DHHS and use iServe for applications and case management.
Nebraska Child Care Subsidy
The Child Care Subsidy Program helps eligible families pay for child care while parents or caretakers work, participate in Employment First, attend school or training, or meet another approved activity. Apply through iServe and complete the required phone interview.
Child Care Subsidy Program: 402-471-9152
Aid to Dependent Children
Nebraska calls its TANF cash-assistance program Aid to Dependent Children. ADC provides temporary cash help to eligible families with children, while Employment First provides employment, education, and training support for adults who are able to work.
Economic Assistance: 800-383-4278
Nebraska Family Helpline
The Nebraska Family Helpline provides free support and referrals to parents and families 24 hours a day. The helpline is operated for Nebraska DHHS by Boys Town and can help families connect with behavioral-health and community resources.
24-hour helpline: 888-866-8660
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
Nebraska unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment through no fault of their own may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. Nebraska uses NEworks for new claims, weekly claims, and claim management.
Nebraska Claims Center: 402-458-2500, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central
Nebraska American Job Centers
Nebraska Department of Labor Job Centers provide job-search help, reemployment services, workforce training information, career resources, and access to NEworks. Locations serve communities across the state.
Legal Aid of Nebraska
Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents across all 93 counties. Services may involve housing, debt and collections, public benefits, employment, family safety, and other civil legal matters.
Statewide AccessLine: 877-250-2016
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Nebraska's Aging and Disability Resource Center connects older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and advocates with long-term services and community resources. Adult Protective Services handles reports involving vulnerable adults.
Nebraska Aging and Disability Resource Center
The ADRC serves Nebraskans age 60 and older, people with disabilities of all ages, caregivers, family members, and advocates. Local ADRCs provide information, referrals, options counseling, benefits help, and connections to long-term care and community services.
ADRC: 844-843-6364
Legal Aid ElderAccessLine
Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a dedicated hotline for Nebraskans age 60 and older in all 93 counties. Eligible callers may receive information, advice, referrals, or civil legal assistance.
ElderAccessLine: 800-527-7249
Nebraska Adult Protective Services
APS investigates suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation involving vulnerable adults who meet Nebraska's program definition. Reports can be made by phone or online.
Abuse and neglect hotline: 800-652-1999
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Nebraska 988 Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use. Nebraska's 988 system can connect people with local crisis resources when needed.
Call or text: 988
Nebraska Coalition service-provider network
The Nebraska Coalition does not operate a direct statewide crisis hotline, but its network of local programs provides free and confidential help, including emergency shelter, transportation, legal assistance, medical advocacy, and 24-hour helplines.
Nebraska 211
Nebraska 211 provides searchable community referrals for housing, food, healthcare, utility assistance, transportation, family support, legal needs, employment, and crisis resources across Nebraska and Iowa.
Call: 211
NEMA and federal disaster assistance
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency maintains disaster-assistance resources and links to FEMA programs. Federal Individual Assistance becomes available only after a qualifying declaration for designated locations and eligible losses.
NEMA: 402-471-7421
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Nebraska residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
