State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2009

Nebraska

State Supplementation

Mandatory Minimum Supplementation

Administration: State Department of Health and Human Services.

Optional State Supplementation

Administration: State Department of Health and Human Services.

Effective date: January 1, 1974.

Statutory basis for payment: Revised Statutes of Nebraska, section 68-1005.

Funding

Administration: State funds.

Assistance: State funds.

Passalong method: Maintaining total expenditures.

Place of application: Local offices of the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Scope of coverage: Optional state supplement provided to all aged, blind, and disabled recipients who meet state guidelines, including children, except those in public institutions where Medicaid is not paying for the cost of care. Persons living in the household of another receive the same state supplement as those living independently.

Resource limitations: Federal SSI regulations apply.

Income exclusions

Aged and disabled: Federal SSI regulations apply.

Blind: Income exclusions include the first $20 per month of unearned income, not including SSI, and the first $85 plus one-half of the remainder of earned income.

Recoveries, liens, and assignments: None.

Financial responsibility of relatives: Spouse for spouse.

Interim assistance: State participates.

Payment calculation method: A standard applies that is established by the state for the total SSI payment. The federal SSI payment and any countable income are deducted from the state standard. The remainder is the state supplementation.

Payment levels: See Table 1.

Table 1. Optional state supplementation payment levels, January 2009 (in dollars)
Living arrangement Combined federal and state State supplementation
Individual Couple Individual Couple
Living independently 679.00 1,011.00 5.00 0.00
Room and board facility a 674.00 1,348.00 0.00 337.00
Adult family home a 802.00 1,604.00 128.00 593.00
Licensed center for developmentally disabled 674.00 1,348.00 0.00 337.00
Licensed group home for children or child-caring agency (disabled) a 738.00 . . . 64.00 . . .
Assisted living facility 1,112.00 2,224.00 438.00 1,213.00
Medicaid facility 50.00 100.00 20.00 40.00
SOURCES: Social Security Administration, Office of Income Security Programs; state information.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
a. Includes a minimum of $60 for personal needs allowance. Couples are treated as two individuals starting with the month after leaving an independent living arrangement.
DEFINITIONS:
Living independently.
Includes recipients residing in a federal Code A living arrangement.
Room and board facility.
Includes eligible persons who:
  • Live in a household other than their own throughout a month with at least one other person who is not their child, their spouse, or an ineligible person whose income is deemed to them; and
  • Receive food and shelter from within that household.
Adult family home.
A residential living unit that provides full-time residence with minimal supervision and guidance to not more than three individuals aged 19 or older. Individuals residing in these homes are essentially capable of managing their own affairs but need supervision. These homes are certified by the social services unit in the local offices of the Department of Social Services.
Licensed center for developmentally disabled.
These facilities provide accommodations and board and care (e.g., personal assistance in feeding, dressing, and other essential daily living activities) to four or more individuals who are unable to care for themselves or manage their own affairs because of illness, disease, injury, deformity, disability, or physical or mental infirmity. They do not, however, require the daily services of licensed, registered, or practical nurses. These facilities are licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Licensed group home for children or child-caring agency (disabled).
These facilities provide 24-hour accommodations for two or more developmentally disabled minors. The homes are under the direction and control of a mental retardation program and are licensed by the Department of Social Services.
Assisted living facility.
A residential facility unit that provides accommodations and board and care for four or more individuals not related to the owner, operator, manager, or administrator. These individuals may be unable to manage their own affairs because of illness, disease, injury, deformity, or physical or mental infirmity. These individuals do not require the daily services of a licensed nurse; however, staff may assist with the taking of oral or external medication.
Medicaid facility.
Includes recipients residing in a federal Code D living arrangement.

Number of recipients: See Table 2.

Table 2. Number of persons receiving optional state supplementation, January 2009
Living arrangement Total Aged Blind Disabled
All recipients 5,437 1,031 54 4,352
Living independently 3,638 698 38 2,902
Room and board facility 9 2 0 7
Adult family home 103 8 1 94
Licensed center for developmentally disabled 42 5 0 37
Licensed group home for children or child-caring agency (disabled) 1 0 0 1
Assisted living facility 962 186 7 769
Medicaid facility 645 131 8 506
Other 37 1 0 36
SOURCE: State information.
NOTE: Includes certain grandfathered, non-SSI recipients who meet state eligibility criteria.

Total expenditures: The state reported expenditures of $6,255,663 for calendar year 2008 in state-administered payments to SSI recipients.

State Assistance for Special Needs

Administration

State Department of Health and Human Services.

Special Needs Circumstances

Transportation costs: Fifty-eight cents per mile for obtaining medical services if recipient uses his or her own car.

Repair or purchase of furniture and appliances: Repair or purchase of furniture and appliances over $750 total cost may be included (with state office approval) if the unit lacks essential items.

Moving expenses: Costs of moving may be included if the recipient is forced to move for reasons beyond his or her control or if the recipient can obtain lower-cost shelter.

Taxes: Back taxes may be included if the individual would soon lose his or her home and the plan to remain in the home is preferred by the individual and recommended by the case worker.

Home repairs: Payments for home repairs, up to $1,000, if essential for the recipient's health or safety.

Meals and lodging: The cost of meals (up to $12 per day) and lodging, if verified as related to obtaining approved health services, may be granted if the individual is away from home for more than 12 hours.

Maintenance for guide dog: The medical and maintenance costs of a seeing-eye dog may be allowed.

Guardian or conservator: An allowance not to exceed $10 a month may be allowed if the client has a court-appointed guardian or conservator.

Medicaid

Eligibility

Criteria: SSI program guidelines (Title XVI).

Determined by: State.

Medically Needy Program

State provides a program for the aged, blind, and disabled medically needy.

Unpaid Medical Expenses

The Social Security Administration does not obtain this information.