Benefit programs in Nebraska (2026)
For families in Nebraska we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
We don't put a dollar figure on most of Nebraska's own programs yet. Those amounts depend on rules we haven't finished checking against official sources. What you get instead is the program, its official source, and who to call. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Nebraska families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 7 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. Nebraska also has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors, the Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 1 (Persons 65 years of age or older). Its confirmed benefit is quoted in the program's own official wording further down this page. Nebraska also runs a federally funded LIHEAP energy-assistance program that helps pay heating bills for qualifying households. Figures checked against official sources, last on 2026-08-05.
Does Nebraska Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Nebraska runs 7 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "NE Comprehensive Developmental Disabilities Services Waiver (4154.R07.00)" and "NE Developmental Disabilities Day Services Waiver for Adults (0394.R04.00)". These pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have no confirmed dollar figure for what they pay. Amounts depend on an assessment, and most waivers have waiting lists. Ask Nebraska Medicaid, or call 844-843-6364.
- NE Comprehensive Developmental Disabilities Services Waiver (4154.R07.00)
- NE Developmental Disabilities Day Services Waiver for Adults (0394.R04.00)
- NE Family Support Waiver (2366.R00.00)
- NE HCBS Waiver for Aged, Adults, and Children with Disabilities (0187.R08.00)
- NE Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver (40199.R05.00)
- WAIVER TERMINATED - NE Autism Waiver (40660.R00.00)
- WAIVER TERMINATED – NE Comprehensive Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver for Adults (0396.R02.00)
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Nebraska?
Nebraska has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors: the Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 1 (Persons 65 years of age or older). Sliding-scale exemption of the homestead's taxable value: 100% down to 10% exempt, with the percentage set by the household-income table. Percentage is applied to the 'exempt amount' = greater of $40,000 or 100% of the county's average assessed value of single-family residential property. Home value limit = greater of $95,000 or 200% of county average; exempt amount is reduced 10% for each $2,500 the home exceeds the limit and eliminated once $20,000 over. State pays the exempted tax directly to the county treasurer. That figure is confirmed against Nebraska's own official page (last checked 2026-08-05). Nebraska runs 7 property-tax relief programs that seniors may qualify for in total. See the full list below, or call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 844-843-6364 and ask which apply to you.
7 programs in Nebraska. Each description below is drawn from its linked source and shown in full: the tag next to each name marks its source tier (GOV/GOV PDF: the program's own official page, ANALYSIS/IND: a secondary source).
Property-tax figures last checked against official sources on 2026-08-05. See how we verify figures.
| Program | Benefit | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 1 (Persons 65 years of age or older) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Sliding-scale exemption of the homestead's taxable value: 100% down to 10% exempt, with the percentage set by the household-income table. Percentage is applied to the 'exempt amount' = greater of $40,000 or 100% of the county's average assessed value of single-family residential property. Home value limit = greater of $95,000 or 200% of county average; exempt amount is reduced 10% for each $2,500 the home exceeds the limit and eliminated once $20,000 over. State pays the exempted tax directly to the county treasurer. | Official source → |
| Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 2 (Veterans totally disabled by a non-service-connected accident or illness) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of the homestead's taxable value per the disabled-veteran/disabled income table, applied to an 'exempt amount' = greater of $50,000 or 120% of the county's average assessed single-family residential value. Same home-value limit and reduction schedule as Category 1 (greater of $95,000 or 200% of county average; reduced 10% per $2,500 over). Requires Form 458B disability certification. Veteran must have honorable/general-under-honorable discharge. | Official source → |
| Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 3 (Qualified individuals with a physical disability) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of taxable value per the disabled income table, applied to exempt amount = greater of $50,000 or 120% of county average single-family residential value; same home-value limit/reduction schedule as Category 1. Requires Form 458B certified by a physician, PA, or APRN. Note: qualifying for Social Security disability does NOT automatically qualify. | Official source → |
| Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 6 (Qualified individuals with a developmental disability) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of taxable value per the disabled income table, applied to exempt amount = greater of $50,000 or 120% of county average single-family residential value; same home-value limit/reduction schedule as Category 1. Requires Form 458B completed by the Deputy Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHHS). Developmental disability defined per Neb. Rev. Stat. sec. 83-1205. | Official source → |
| Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Categories 4V, 4S, 5, 7 (100% service-connected disabled veterans and qualifying surviving spouses) GOV PDF | 100% exemption of the homestead's taxable value (full property tax relief), with no income limit and no home-value cap. State pays the full exempted tax directly to the county treasurer. VA disability certification required with the first application and in years ending in 0 or 5 (Category 4V does not re-file Form 458 unless status changes). | Official source → |
| Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act Credit - Community College property taxes (Form PTC) GOV | Refundable state income-tax credit equal to a percentage (set annually by the Dept. of Revenue) of the community college property taxes paid on the parcel. Claimed on Form PTC filed with the Nebraska income tax return (Form 1040N/1120N/1041N); a return must be filed even if not otherwise required. As of Jan 1, 2024 this credit covers only community college property taxes (the school-district portion moved to the property tax statement - see separate entry). Exact percentage varies by year; taxpayers look up parcel amounts via the DOR Property Tax Look-Up Tool. | Official source → |
| School District Property Tax Relief Credit (SDPTRC) GOV PDF | We could not confirm this program's amounts against its official page, so we do not restate them here. Use the official source link for current figures. | Official source → |
Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 1 (Persons 65 years of age or older) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Sliding-scale exemption of the homestead's taxable value: 100% down to 10% exempt, with the percentage set by the household-income table. Percentage is applied to the 'exempt amount' = greater of $40,000 or 100% of the county's average assessed value of single-family residential property. Home value limit = greater of $95,000 or 200% of county average; exempt amount is reduced 10% for each $2,500 the home exceeds the limit and eliminated once $20,000 over. State pays the exempted tax directly to the county treasurer.
- Official source
- Official source →
Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 2 (Veterans totally disabled by a non-service-connected accident or illness) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of the homestead's taxable value per the disabled-veteran/disabled income table, applied to an 'exempt amount' = greater of $50,000 or 120% of the county's average assessed single-family residential value. Same home-value limit and reduction schedule as Category 1 (greater of $95,000 or 200% of county average; reduced 10% per $2,500 over). Requires Form 458B disability certification. Veteran must have honorable/general-under-honorable discharge.
- Official source
- Official source →
Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 3 (Qualified individuals with a physical disability) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of taxable value per the disabled income table, applied to exempt amount = greater of $50,000 or 120% of county average single-family residential value; same home-value limit/reduction schedule as Category 1. Requires Form 458B certified by a physician, PA, or APRN. Note: qualifying for Social Security disability does NOT automatically qualify.
- Official source
- Official source →
Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Category 6 (Qualified individuals with a developmental disability) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Sliding-scale exemption (100% down to 10%) of taxable value per the disabled income table, applied to exempt amount = greater of $50,000 or 120% of county average single-family residential value; same home-value limit/reduction schedule as Category 1. Requires Form 458B completed by the Deputy Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHHS). Developmental disability defined per Neb. Rev. Stat. sec. 83-1205.
- Official source
- Official source →
Nebraska Homestead Exemption - Categories 4V, 4S, 5, 7 (100% service-connected disabled veterans and qualifying surviving spouses) GOV PDF
- Benefit
100% exemption of the homestead's taxable value (full property tax relief), with no income limit and no home-value cap. State pays the full exempted tax directly to the county treasurer. VA disability certification required with the first application and in years ending in 0 or 5 (Category 4V does not re-file Form 458 unless status changes).
- Official source
- Official source →
Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act Credit - Community College property taxes (Form PTC) GOV
- Benefit
Refundable state income-tax credit equal to a percentage (set annually by the Dept. of Revenue) of the community college property taxes paid on the parcel. Claimed on Form PTC filed with the Nebraska income tax return (Form 1040N/1120N/1041N); a return must be filed even if not otherwise required. As of Jan 1, 2024 this credit covers only community college property taxes (the school-district portion moved to the property tax statement - see separate entry). Exact percentage varies by year; taxpayers look up parcel amounts via the DOR Property Tax Look-Up Tool.
- Official source
- Official source →
School District Property Tax Relief Credit (SDPTRC) GOV PDF
- Benefit
We could not confirm this program's amounts against its official page, so we do not restate them here. Use the official source link for current figures.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Nebraska?
Up to $1,050 toward heating bills. That is the FY 2026 maximum Nebraska's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) publishes. Most households get less. This is the ceiling, not a typical amount. A separate crisis benefit of up to $500 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Nebraska.htm
| Program | Benefit | Published maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Help with heating bills, plus emergency help if service is at risk. Emergency crisis help is available. | In Nebraska the published heating maximum is $1,050. Crisis maximum: $500. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Nebraska: Nebraska fully exempts Social Security benefits. Under LB 754 (2023), for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, federal AGI is reduced by 100% of Social Security benefits to the extent included in federal AGI (accelerating an earlier phase-out under LB 873). Therefore Social Security is fully exempt for tax years 2024, 2025, and 2026. (Note: for the separate Homestead Exemption income test, untaxed Social Security is still counted as household income.)
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: Nebraska taxable income starts from federal AGI. There is NO general age-based or income-based exclusion for private pensions, IRA, or 401(k) distributions - these are fully taxable as ordinary income at Nebraska's individual rates (top rate being reduced to 3.99% by tax year 2027). Specific carve-outs exist: (1) Military retirement benefits are 100% excluded for tax years beginning on/after Jan 1, 2022 (LB 387; no election/form required); (2) Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities from federal employment are excludable for tax years beginning on/after Jan 1, 2024 (LB 754); (3) Social Security is 100% excluded (2024+).
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Nebraska too
These are computed for every family, wherever they live.
VA Aid & Attendance
An extra monthly VA payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help.
Medicare Savings Programs
State help that pays your Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays.
Medicare Extra Help
Lowers what you pay for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
SNAP (food support)
Monthly money for groceries. Older adults often qualify for more than they expect.
Social Security & SSI
Checks whether the person may be missing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.
Federal tax credits
Credits and deductions families miss, including medical expenses and the credit for the elderly or disabled.
Medicare before 65
Medicare eligibility for people under 65 through a disability.
Who do I call in Nebraska for help with elder care?
Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 844-843-6364. They're the free, no-wrong-door starting point for home care, respite and other long-term-care options in Nebraska. If someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited, Adult Protective Services can help at 800-652-1999.
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) / No Wrong Door
Free help understanding your options.
844-843-6364Which of these fits your family?
Being on this list doesn't mean your family qualifies. That depends on income, savings, care needs and service history. The free check works out which ones are worth your time, in about four minutes.
Not legal or medical advice. Benefits vary. Figures are estimates.