Social Security disability

Disability benefits in Nebraska

Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Nebraska: who decides your claim, state money added to SSI, Medicaid, hearings and free help.

You have 60 days to appeal each decision, plus 5 days for mail.

How to appeal a denial Appeal deadline calculator

Who decides your claim in Nebraska?

Disability Determination Services (DDS)

This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim. The Social Security field office checks the other rules, like age, work and income, and then sends your case to DDS. DDS gets your medical records and decides if you are disabled or blind under the law.

Part of: Nebraska Department of Education
Website: https://www.education.ne.gov/dds/

DDS first asks your own health care providers for evidence. If that evidence is not available or not enough, DDS will set up a consultative examination (CE). Your own treating provider is the preferred source for the CE, but DDS may use an independent source.

Find a Social Security office

Does Nebraska add money to SSI?

Assistance to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD)

Nebraska's AABD program can add money to SSI for people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled. The state sets a monthly 'standard of need' for each living situation. Your AABD payment is based on your need and your income, including SSI. The standards for care homes include $75 a month for your personal needs.

Paid by: the state

Who	Effective
Licensed assisted living facility: standard of need $1,447	January 1, 2026
Licensed mental health center: standard of need $1,447	January 1, 2026
Certified adult family home: standard of need $1,137	January 1, 2026
Board and room, including group homes and licensed boarding homes: standard of need $1,009	January 1, 2026
Living independently: standard of need $764 for one person, plus a shelter allowance of up to $281	January 1, 2026
Nursing home or other long-term care facility: standard of need $75	January 1, 2026

How to apply: Apply to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through ACCESSNebraska, not Social Security.
Contact: Nebraska DHHS - ACCESSNebraska (Economic Assistance)
1-800-383-4278 (Lincoln 402-323-3900, Omaha 402-595-1258)
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/accessnebraska.aspx

Medicaid in Nebraska

In Nebraska, getting SSI does not sign you up for Medicaid by itself. Nebraska uses SSI rules but makes its own Medicaid decision, so you must apply to the state through ACCESSNebraska.

Program: Nebraska Medicaid
Medicaid agency: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - ACCESSNebraska
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/accessnebraska.aspx
1-855-632-7633 (Lincoln 402-473-7000, Omaha 402-595-1178)

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities (MIWD)

MIWD lets people with disabilities who work get Medicaid even if their income is too high for other Medicaid. For the Basic Coverage Group, your income must be between 101% and 250% of the federal poverty level, and your resources must be $4,000 or less ($6,000 for a couple). You must be at least 16 and under 65, have earned income (including self-employment), and meet Social Security's disability rules. A Medical Improvement Group covers people who lost Basic coverage because their disability improved. The rules changed on October 1, 2021, with lower premium caps.

https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/MIWD.aspx

State disability and paid leave in Nebraska

Nebraska has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.

Hearing offices and federal court in Nebraska

1 hearing office serves Nebraska. Hearing office locator (Social Security)

Omaha, NE Hearing Office

Hearing office

Address: Exec Center, Suite 500, 1000 N 90th Street, Omaha, NE 68114
Phone: (888) 881-4633
Fax: (833) 561-0427

Federal district court

If you appeal to federal court, you file in the district court that covers your county.

U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska

Court help for people without a lawyer

Counties covered (1)

All counties in Nebraska (the whole state is one district)

Free help in Nebraska

Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)

Disability Rights Nebraska

Phone: 402-413-2016 (toll-free 800-422-6691)
Website: https://www.disabilityrightsnebraska.org/

Legal aid

Legal Aid of Nebraska · 1-877-250-2016 (statewide AccessLine); 1-800-527-7249 (ElderAccessLine, age 60+)
https://legalaidofnebraska.org/

Benefits counseling and work (WIPA)

Easterseals Nebraska - Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) · 402-462-3031 ext. 119 (toll-free 800-471-6425 ext. 119; TTY 711)
https://ne.easterseals.com/get-support/areas-of-support/benefits-planning-work-incentives-counseling/nebraska-work-incentives

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Nebraska VR (Vocational Rehabilitation), Nebraska Department of Education

Phone: 402-471-3644 (toll-free 877-637-3422)
Website: https://vr.nebraska.gov/

ABLE savings account

Enable Savings Plan

Website: https://www.enablesavings.com/

More free help across the country →

Good to know in Nebraska

Nebraska's extra money for SSI recipients (AABD) is run by the state, not Social Security. The 2026 standard of need for a licensed assisted living facility is $1,447 a month. (Nebraska DHHS AABD guidance, effective January 1, 2026)
Nebraska also has a State Disability Program (SDP). It gives money and medical coverage to some people the state finds disabled who were denied SSI because their disability is expected to last less than 12 months. (Nebraska DHHS)
In Nebraska, the state disability office (DDS) is part of the Department of Education. (Source)

Recent changes

January 1, 2026: new AABD/SDP standards of need (DHHS guidance document). September 1, 2025: AABD burial trust limit $6,696.

More RobinClaim guides for Nebraska → · All states

Sources

Last checked: November 2026