Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Nebraska: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Written & Reviewed by

Analic Mata-Murray

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Yolanda Taylor

Yolanda Taylor

Senior Healthcare Editor

Last updated: 7 April 2026

Bottom line: Nebraska does not appear to offer one separate statewide monthly “grandparents raising grandchildren” check for private families. The main real-world paths are Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Nebraska’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash program, relative and kinship foster care through Nebraska DHHS when the child is a state ward, and legal tools such as the Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers or a court guardianship.

If you just took in a child, do not wait for everything to feel settled. Start a benefits application through iServe Nebraska, ask Nebraska DHHS to screen both a child-only ADC case and any kinship foster options that fit your situation, and get written authority from the parent or the court as soon as you can.

Emergency help now

  • If the child is unsafe, has been abandoned, or you suspect abuse or neglect, call the Nebraska abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-652-1999 or call 911.
  • If your family is in crisis tonight, call the Nebraska Family Helpline at 1-888-866-8660, available 24/7.
  • If you have a shut-off notice, no food, or no money for basics, call ACCESSNebraska Economic Assistance at 1-800-383-4278 and ask to be screened right away for ADC, SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP.

Quick help in Nebraska

What this help actually looks like in Nebraska

Start with the legal lane first: in Nebraska, the help you can get depends a lot on how the child came to live with you. A grandparent caring for a child informally has a very different path from a grandparent with a DHHS foster placement or a court guardianship.

Nebraska DHHS said in 2024 that more than 14,000 children in Nebraska are living with a kinship caregiver outside the state foster care system. That means many older adults need help even when there is no foster care case open.

Path in Nebraska Best for What it may unlock Where to start
Informal care plus temporary delegation The parent agrees and you need school or medical authority fast Short-term authority for school and routine care Nebraska Judicial Branch temporary delegation forms
Child-only ADC The child lives with you, but there is no foster placement Monthly cash assistance for the child, plus easier screening for SNAP and Medicaid iServe Nebraska or ACCESSNebraska
Relative or kinship foster care DHHS or the court placed the child with you Foster care payments, Medicaid, caseworker help, training and supports Nebraska DHHS Relative & Kinship Foster Care
Private guardianship You need long-term legal authority and there is no foster case Parent-like decision-making for school, health care, and daily needs Nebraska Judicial Branch guardianship information and the ElderAccess Line

Quick facts for Nebraska grandparents and other kinship caregivers

  • Best immediate takeaway: Apply for benefits first, then sort out the longer legal steps.
  • Major rule: In Nebraska, informal caregiving, guardianship, and foster care are not the same thing.
  • Realistic obstacle: Schools, clinics, and benefit offices may all ask for different papers.
  • Useful state fact: Nebraska says more than 14,000 children live with kinship caregivers outside foster care.
  • Best next step: Ask DHHS to screen both a child-only ADC case and any kinship foster or guardianship route that matches your facts.

Who qualifies in plain language

  • A grandparent, great-grandparent, other relative, or trusted adult who is caring for a child in Nebraska.
  • The child must actually be living with you, not just visiting.
  • For ADC, income and household rules matter.
  • For Medicaid and CHIP, the child’s age and the household’s income rules matter.
  • For foster care payments, the child usually must be placed with you through DHHS or the court, and your home must meet Nebraska’s kinship approval rules.
  • For private guardianship, the county court process matters, not just your family agreement.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

  • Get the child safe first. Keep any texts, hospital papers, police reports, or school notes that show why the child came to you.
  • Get written permission if you can. If the parent will cooperate, use Nebraska’s temporary delegation form right away.
  • Apply for benefits the same week. Use iServe Nebraska or call 1-800-383-4278.
  • Call the school and the doctor’s office. Ask exactly what papers they require for enrollment and treatment.
  • If there is a DHHS case, speak up early. Tell the caseworker you want to be considered as a relative or kinship placement.
  • Ask for help before you burn out. Call Nebraska Children’s Home Society at 1-888-315-7347 or the Nebraska Family Helpline at 1-888-866-8660.

Best Nebraska programs and pathways

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

  • What it is: Nebraska calls its TANF cash program Aid to Dependent Children (ADC). Many grandparents ask for a child-only ADC case when they want help for the child but are not asking to be included in the cash grant.
  • Who can get it or use it: Families caring for a child in Nebraska who meet ADC rules. If your situation is close, ask DHHS to compare a child-only case with a case that includes you as a needy caretaker relative.
  • How it helps: Monthly cash for the child and a starting point for screening SNAP, Medicaid, and sometimes child care or energy assistance.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply through iServe Nebraska, call ACCESSNebraska at 1-800-383-4278, or use the EA-117 paper application.
  • What to gather or know first: Your ID, the child’s name and Social Security number if available, proof the child lives with you, any court or school papers, and your housing and income information. Nebraska says on its TANF page that families where the adult is not the child’s parent are not time-limited when that adult is included in ADC. That is one reason to ask DHHS to screen both case types.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

  • What it is: Yes, but usually only when the child is a state ward or court-involved and placed with you through Nebraska DHHS.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents, relatives, and trusted adults who are approved under Nebraska’s relative and kinship foster care process.
  • How it helps: Foster care payments, Medicaid for the child, case management, and access to foster and kinship supports.
  • How to apply or use it: Tell the assigned caseworker immediately that you want placement. Use the DHHS kinship page if you need the state’s process and contact point.
  • What to gather or know first: Nebraska announced that its separate relative and kinship approval process was approved on April 17, 2024, and the state says approved kinship caregivers receive the same level of financial assistance as non-relative caregivers. Informal caregiving alone does not create a foster payment.

Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers

  • What it is: A Nebraska Judicial Branch power of attorney that lets a parent or legal guardian give another adult authority over a child’s care, school, and medical matters for a limited time.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other caregivers when the parent or legal guardian is willing to sign.
  • How it helps: It can help with school enrollment, medical consent, and other day-to-day decisions while you work on longer-term plans.
  • How to apply or use it: Use the Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers forms. Nebraska says the form is not filed with the court, must be notarized, and lasts up to six months. It can be signed again after that period.
  • What to gather or know first: The parent or guardian must cooperate. This form cannot authorize marriage or adoption. Nebraska provides versions in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

  • What it is: A court guardianship gives the guardian parent-like rights and duties for the child. Nebraska DHHS says guardians are expected to handle the child’s education, support, medical care, and daily living costs.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents who need stronger, longer-term authority than a temporary delegation can give. In state-ward cases, guardianship can also be a permanency option.
  • How it helps: It gives legal decision-making power. In some state-ward cases, financial support may be available, and guardians may be able to become payees for the child’s benefits.
  • How to apply or use it: For a private guardianship, use the Nebraska Judicial Branch guardianship information and get legal help if you can. If the child is a state ward, ask the child’s DHHS worker whether guardianship assistance is available in that case.
  • What to gather or know first: Nebraska courts say proposed guardians usually must provide a credit report, sex offender registry affidavit, criminal history report, and abuse/neglect registry check before appointment, unless waived. Guardians also have annual reporting duties. If court fees are a problem, ask about a fee waiver.

Medicaid and CHIP for grandchildren in your care

  • What it is: Nebraska Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) pay for health care for eligible children.
  • Who can get it or use it: Children who meet Nebraska’s income and non-financial rules. Children age 18 and younger are not subject to a Medicaid resource test in Nebraska.
  • How it helps: Doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental services, behavioral health, and more through Heritage Health.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply at iServe Nebraska, call Medicaid eligibility at 1-855-632-7633, or request a paper application through ACCESSNebraska.
  • What to gather or know first: Nebraska’s Medicaid eligibility page says children newly found eligible now receive 12 months of continuous coverage. Nebraska’s 1 January 2026 income chart is the best place to check current limits.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

Nebraska child care subsidy

  • What it is: Nebraska’s child care subsidy can help if you are working, job-searching, in school or training, or need care while getting medical care.
  • Who can get it or use it: Families that meet Nebraska income and need rules.
  • How it helps: It lowers child care costs, which can be a major issue for older adults still working or caring for a young grandchild.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply through iServe or ask ACCESSNebraska to include child care in your application. The child care subsidy program phone number is 1-402-471-9152.
  • What to gather or know first: Nebraska’s child care page says the expanded pilot continues through 30 September 2026. Effective 1 October 2025, initial eligibility is up to 185% of the federal poverty level, redetermination is up to 200%, and families above 100% FPL pay a monthly family fee equal to 7% of gross income.

LIHEAP and housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

  • What it is: Nebraska’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program.
  • Who can get it or use it: LIHEAP is for eligible low-income households responsible for utilities. NHAP help usually comes through local agencies, not a direct statewide check from DHHS.
  • How it helps: Heating and cooling help, crisis payments, deposits, reconnect fees, furnace or central air repair, weatherization, and local housing stabilization help.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply for LIHEAP through iServe, a DHHS office, or call 1-800-383-4278. If you are already on an Economic Assistance case, DHHS says you may request LIHEAP without a new application.
  • What to gather or know first: Nebraska’s current LIHEAP page lists a two-person annual income limit of $31,725 for 1 October 2025 through 30 September 2026. Cooling help is especially important for grandfamilies because Nebraska allows it for households with a member age 70 or older, a child under 6 who receives ADC, or certain medically verified heat-related needs.

Support groups, respite, and legal help

  • What it is: Nebraska has nonprofit and aging-network help for kinship caregivers.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relative caregivers, especially older adults.
  • How it helps: Emotional support, kinship navigation, post-guardianship help, referrals, legal advice, and some respite connections.
  • How to apply or use it: Call Nebraska Children’s Home Society Raising Your Grandchildren at 1-888-315-7347, Families Forever post-guardianship support at 1-844-463-0009, or the ElderAccess Line at 1-800-527-7249.
  • What to gather or know first: These services are often the fastest way to get unstuck when the problem is paperwork, stress, school issues, or finding the right office.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Most Nebraska families should screen four things together: ADC cash help, SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP. That is usually more useful than chasing a single “grandparent benefit” that does not really exist.

Current child-only cash levels: Nebraska’s ADC payment maximums effective 1 July 2025 are shown below for cases where only the child or children are in the assistance unit.

Eligible people in the ADC unit Monthly payment maximum
1 $396
2 $490
3 $584
Each additional eligible person +$94

Important: a child-only ADC case is not the same as a foster care payment. A private guardianship is not the same as foster care either. If you are caring for a child informally, the most common cash route is ADC. If DHHS placed the child with you, the route may be foster care reimbursement instead.

Practical tip: if you are retired or disabled, do not assume your own age automatically blocks the child from help. Nebraska publishes separate ADC, Medicaid, and child care rules, and the right answer often depends on whether you are in the grant or only the child is.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in Nebraska

Ask this first: “Is my case a private family care arrangement, or is it a DHHS relative/kinship foster placement?” That question changes almost everything.

Nebraska has moved further than many states on kinship foster care. DHHS says the federal government approved Nebraska’s separate relative and kinship approval process in April 2024. That matters because it helps relative caregivers get approved under rules built for kin placements, not just non-relative foster homes.

For private families outside foster care, the strongest practical “kinship navigator” help is usually through Nebraska Children’s Home Society’s kinship and grandparent programs. That help is not the same as a government payment, but it can save weeks of confusion by pointing you to the right form, office, or legal step.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

Use guardianship when you need staying power. A temporary delegation is helpful, but it is still temporary. A guardianship is stronger, especially when a school, hospital, or long-term service provider needs clear legal authority.

Nebraska DHHS says on its guardianship page that legal guardianship gives the guardian the rights and responsibilities of a parent. For private guardianships, the state points families to the Nebraska Supreme Court’s guardianship information and to legal help.

Know the difference: Nebraska DHHS only assists with state-ward guardianships. If the child is not a state ward, you are generally looking at a private minor guardianship in county court. If fees are a barrier, ask the court about a fee waiver application. If you are age 60 or older, call ElderAccess.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

Yes, but only in the right type of case. If the child is in Nebraska’s child welfare system and you are approved as a relative or kinship foster home, you may be paid as a foster caregiver. Nebraska says approved kinship caregivers receive the same level of financial assistance as non-relative caregivers.

No, not automatically. If your grandchild moved in because of a family crisis and there is no DHHS placement, you should not assume foster care money will follow. In that situation, your first state cash option is usually ADC.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Do not guess here. In Nebraska, schools and clinics often need different proof. Call ahead and ask exactly what they want.

If you need to do this Fastest Nebraska paper that may help When you likely need more
Enroll a child in school Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers or a court order If the parent cannot be found, objects, or the school wants stronger authority
Consent to routine medical care Temporary delegation or guardianship papers If the clinic or hospital requires a court order for non-emergency care
Make long-term education and health decisions Guardianship or DHHS case authority Informal caregiving alone often is not enough

The Nebraska Judicial Branch says the temporary delegation form is often used to consent to school enrollment, medical treatment, and academic or athletic programs. It must be notarized and is not filed with the court.

For school: bring your ID, proof the child lives with you, any temporary delegation or court order, the child’s birth certificate if you have it, immunization records, and the last school name. If your family is living doubled-up or in temporary housing after a crisis, ask the school for the district’s McKinney-Vento homeless liaison. Nebraska’s education guidance explains that students in temporary housing can have immediate enrollment rights even when records are missing.

For medical care: emergency rooms handle emergencies first, but routine care offices often want written authority. Call the clinic before the appointment so you do not lose a day on the drive to Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff, or another regional hub only to be turned away.

Court note: if a juvenile case is already open, the court may be a separate juvenile court in Douglas, Lancaster, or Sarpy County. That is different from a private guardianship filed in county court.

Medicaid and health insurance for grandchildren in a grandparent’s care

Apply right away. You do not need to wait for the “perfect” custody paper before asking DHHS to screen the child for coverage.

Nebraska’s 1 January 2026 Medicaid chart shows these monthly limits for a two-person household: $2,400 for children ages 6 to 18, $2,616 for children ages 1 to 5, and $2,923 for newborns to age 1. Nebraska also says on its Medicaid eligibility page that children age 18 and younger are not subject to a resource test and that newly eligible children get 12 months of continuous coverage.

Most children in Nebraska Medicaid or CHIP get services through Heritage Health. Nebraska says Heritage Health members choose among statewide plans and may switch plans during open enrollment from 1 November to 15 December.

If the child has serious disabilities or medical needs: ask DHHS about special pathways such as the Katie Beckett option or Home and Community-Based Services. The Home and Community-Based Services customer service line is 1-877-667-6266.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

Use more than one program. A Nebraska grandfamily may qualify for SNAP, WIC, school meals, and Summer EBT at the same time.

SNAP: Apply through iServe Nebraska or call 1-800-383-4278. Nebraska’s 2026 SNAP rule change means soda and energy drinks are no longer allowed purchases, so checkout totals may look different than they used to.

WIC: If the child is under 5, WIC can be one of the best supports because it also connects families to nutrition, health education, and other services. Nebraska WIC says it serves about 36,000 people per month through more than 90 clinic sites. Call 1-800-942-1171.

Summer EBT: Nebraska’s Summer EBT 2026 page explains who is automatically eligible and when a separate application is needed. DHHS says replacement cards may take at least 15 days, so do not wait until the last minute.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

Call fast if utilities are at risk. Nebraska’s LIHEAP page tells households with a current shut-off notice or danger of shut-off to call 1-800-383-4278.

LIHEAP in Nebraska pays one-time heating assistance during the heating season, one-time cooling assistance during the cooling season, and crisis assistance year-round for problems like deposits and reconnect fees. Nebraska also allows furnace or central air repair or replacement up to $750 through DHHS and larger heating and cooling repair and replacement assistance up to $5,000 through the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment.

If you are facing eviction or homelessness: Nebraska’s Homeless Assistance program mainly funds local agencies, shelters, prevention programs, and rapid rehousing providers. It is not usually a direct statewide check to the family. In real life, the fastest starting points are 2-1-1 and your local housing provider network.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

  • Informal caregiving: the child lives with you, but there is no court order. This is common at the start of a crisis but is the weakest setup for school and medical issues.
  • Kinship care: plain-English term for a child being raised by relatives or trusted adults. In Nebraska, this can mean either a private family arrangement or a DHHS kinship foster placement.
  • Temporary delegation: short-term authority from the parent or legal guardian. Good for fast action, but it is temporary.
  • Guardianship: a court order that gives you stronger legal authority.
  • Relative or kinship foster care: a child welfare placement through Nebraska DHHS. This is the path most likely to bring foster care payments.

What documents grandparents need

  • ☐ Your photo ID
  • ☐ The child’s full name, date of birth, and Social Security number if available
  • ☐ Birth certificate, hospital record, or school paper if you have it
  • ☐ Any court order, police report, hospital discharge paper, or DHHS paperwork
  • ☐ Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers if the parent will sign
  • ☐ Proof the child is living with you
  • ☐ Rent receipt, mortgage statement, or utility bill
  • ☐ Income proof for your household
  • ☐ Health insurance card or Medicaid number if the child already has one
  • ☐ Immunization and school records if available
  • ☐ Names and phone numbers for the parents, caseworker, school, and doctor

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Nebraska Children’s Home Society: Raising Your Grandchildren and kinship navigation support. Call 1-888-315-7347.

Families Forever: Nebraska’s post-guardianship and post-adoption support through NCHS. Call 1-844-463-0009.

Lifespan respite for certain children with disabilities or special needs: Nebraska’s TANF state plan says DHHS offers a respite subsidy pathway for eligible children not receiving respite through another government program. Start with Home and Community-Based Services at 1-877-667-6266.

Crisis and emotional support: Call the Nebraska Family Helpline at 1-888-866-8660.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in Nebraska without wasting time

  • Open one Nebraska benefits application. Use iServe Nebraska for ADC, SNAP, Medicaid, child care, and LIHEAP.
  • If online is hard, switch methods fast. Nebraska allows applications by phone, paper, and in person through ACCESSNebraska. Local offices also have kiosks and phones.
  • Ask the worker the right question. Say: “Please screen this child for a child-only ADC case, Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, and any kinship foster options if applicable.”
  • Add an authorized helper if needed. If your adult child or another helper is managing calls for you, use one of the authorized representative or disclosure forms.
  • Track every contact. Write down the date, time, worker name, and what was promised.
  • Upload or mail papers right away. Nebraska uses a document imaging center, so keep copies of everything you send.
  • Call back when the notice does not come. Do not assume silence means approval.

Reality checks

  • Portal problems happen: if iServe is not working well for you, use the paper form or call. Nebraska is still moving ACCESSNebraska into the iServe system, so some pages look different.
  • Mail problems cause closures: DHHS warns families to keep their address, phone, and email current so benefits do not stop by mistake.
  • Foster money is not automatic: taking in a grandchild out of love does not by itself create a foster payment.
  • Different offices handle different parts: ACCESSNebraska handles benefits, the county court handles private guardianships, schools have their own enrollment rules, and DHHS caseworkers handle foster placements.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting months to get written authority from the parent.
  • Applying only for SNAP and forgetting Medicaid, ADC, and LIHEAP.
  • Assuming “kinship care” always means foster care payment.
  • Not asking whether a child-only case or a caretaker relative case fits better.
  • Driving to a school or clinic without calling first to ask what paperwork they require.
  • Throwing away notices because the wording looks confusing.

Best options by need

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

  • Ask for the written notice. Do not rely on a verbal “no.” The written notice should explain the reason and the review or appeal rights.
  • Use Nebraska’s fair hearing process. DHHS publishes a Request for Fair Hearing form (DA-6). If you miss the paper copy, ask ACCESSNebraska to send one.
  • If the problem is legal, not benefits: call the ElderAccess Line at 1-800-527-7249.
  • If the problem is foster placement or kinship approval: work through the child’s caseworker and the DHHS kinship page.
  • If the school says no: ask what exact paper is missing and whether a temporary delegation, court order, or McKinney-Vento rule applies.
  • If Medicaid is delayed: call Medicaid eligibility at 1-855-632-7633 and keep your call log.

Plan B / backup options

  • 2-1-1: Nebraska’s official helpline can connect you to local food, housing, and crisis services. Dial 2-1-1 or call 1-866-813-1731.
  • Nebraska Family Helpline: For parenting stress, behavior problems, or family crisis, call 1-888-866-8660.
  • Child support services: If you have custody or guardianship, you may want to ask Nebraska Child Support about opening a case. Call Nebraska Child Support at 1-877-631-9973, option 2. Ask first how child support might affect any ADC benefit.
  • Area Agencies on Aging: Older caregivers can use the aging network for legal help and local support connections through the Area Agency on Aging and ElderAccess system.

Local Nebraska resources

Diverse communities

Seniors with disabilities

If you are raising a grandchild and also managing your own disability, ask whether phone help, paper forms, or a local DHHS office would be easier than using the portal. For child disability-related needs, start with Home and Community-Based Services at 1-877-667-6266 and ask about respite or special Medicaid pathways.

Immigrant and refugee seniors

DHHS publishes some benefit applications in Spanish, and Nebraska courts publish temporary delegation forms in multiple languages. If language access is a barrier, tell the office that right away and ask for interpreter help.

Rural seniors with limited access

You do not have to do everything online. Nebraska says benefits can be handled through phone lines, paper forms, local offices, and kiosks. For general local service matching, use 2-1-1.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Nebraska check just for grandparents raising grandchildren?

Not as a broad statewide monthly check for all private families. In Nebraska, the main cash routes are ADC cash assistance, foster care payments if the child is placed with you through DHHS relative and kinship foster care, and guardianship or adoption support in some state-ward cases. Most private grandfamilies start by applying for ADC, SNAP, Medicaid, and LIHEAP together.

How much is child-only TANF in Nebraska?

Nebraska’s ADC payment maximums effective 1 July 2025 are $396 for one eligible person, $490 for two, and $584 for three. Those are payment maximums, not a promise that every family will get that full amount. Ask DHHS to compare a child-only case with a caretaker-relative case so you do not pick the wrong path.

Can I enroll my grandchild in school in Nebraska without custody?

Sometimes, yes. If the parent will cooperate, Nebraska’s Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers is often used for school enrollment. If the child is in temporary housing or doubled-up after a family crisis, ask the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison about immediate enrollment rights.

Can I take my grandchild to the doctor if I do not have guardianship?

For routine care, many Nebraska clinics want written authority, not just your word that you are the grandparent. A temporary delegation may be enough if the parent signs it. If the parent cannot be found or the clinic needs stronger authority, you may need a guardianship or a DHHS case order.

Can grandparents get foster care payments in Nebraska?

Yes, but usually only when the child has been placed with you through the child welfare system. Nebraska says approved kinship caregivers receive the same level of financial assistance as non-relative caregivers under the state’s relative and kinship caregiver plan. Informal family care by itself does not create foster payments.

Will my grandchild qualify for Medicaid or CHIP if they live with me?

Many do. Nebraska’s Medicaid program covers children under age-based income rules, and the state says children age 18 and younger are not subject to a resource test. Once eligible, Nebraska gives children 12 months of continuous coverage. Use the current income chart instead of guessing.

What should I do first if I took in a grandchild today?

Get the child safe, keep any papers that show why the child came to you, and start a Nebraska benefits application right away. If the parent will cooperate, do the temporary delegation form the same week. If you are overwhelmed, call the Nebraska Family Helpline or Nebraska Children’s Home Society.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela u otro familiar mayor y ahora está criando a un niño en Nebraska, empiece con la ayuda real que sí existe. En la mayoría de los casos, eso significa solicitar Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Medicaid o CHIP, SNAP y LIHEAP al mismo tiempo por medio de iServe Nebraska o llamando a ACCESSNebraska al 1-800-383-4278. Nebraska no parece tener un cheque mensual separado solo para abuelos que crían nietos fuera del sistema de foster care.

Si el padre o la madre coopera, use la Temporary Delegation of Parental Powers para escuela y atención médica mientras resuelve pasos más largos. Si el niño ya está en un caso de DHHS, pregunte por relative and kinship foster care, porque esa vía puede abrir pagos de foster care. Para ayuda emocional, grupos de apoyo y orientación de kinship care, llame a Nebraska Children’s Home Society al 1-888-315-7347. Si usted es una persona mayor y necesita ayuda legal con tutela o problemas de beneficios, llame a ElderAccess al 1-800-527-7249.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

  • Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
  • Verification: Last verified April 7, 2026, next review August 2026.
  • Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we respond within 72 hours.
  • Disclaimer: This article is informational only, not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.

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About the Authors

Analic Mata-Murray

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Analic Mata-Murray holds a Communications degree with a focus on Journalism and Advertising from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. With over 11 years of experience as a volunteer translator for The Salvation Army, she has helped Spanish-speaking communities access critical resources and navigate poverty alleviation programs.

As Managing Editor at Grants for Seniors, Analic oversees all content to ensure accuracy and accessibility. Her bilingual expertise allows her to create and review content in both English and Spanish, specializing in community resources, housing assistance, and emergency aid programs.

Yolanda Taylor

Yolanda Taylor, BA Psychology

Senior Healthcare Editor

Yolanda Taylor is a Senior Healthcare Editor with over six years of clinical experience as a medical assistant in diverse healthcare settings, including OB/GYN, family medicine, and specialty clinics. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento.

At Grants for Seniors, Yolanda oversees healthcare-related content, ensuring medical accuracy and accessibility. Her clinical background allows her to translate complex medical terminology into clear guidance for seniors navigating Medicare, Medicaid, and dental care options. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and holds Lay Counselor certification and CPR/BLS certification.