State residents must meet the Nebraska food stamps eligibility requirements in order to receive this type of assistance to purchase groceries. The food stamps program is formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and enables families that earn a low income to afford food. However, before residents can start the SNAP application process, they must meet the food stamp qualifications in NE.

As a general rule, SNAP applicants must satisfy a number of eligibility factors. Primarily, they must be citizens or eligible non-citizens as well as residents of the state. Moreover, in order to qualify for food stamps in Nebraska, applicants meet the income requirements of the program. This means that they must earn below a certain income for their household size and composition to qualify.

Additionally, prospective beneficiaries must be aware of how to maintain their benefits even after being approved. Otherwise, they may become ineligible for recertification. To learn more about the requirements for SNAP eligibility in Nebraska, read the sections below.

Citizenship and Residency Requirements for SNAP in Nebraska

One of the primary requirements for Nebraska SNAP eligibility includes the assessment of an applicant’s legal status in the U.S. In general, both citizens and lawful non-citizens may be eligible for the program. Specifically, applicants who are not citizens are required to validate their presence through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE). In order to meet food stamp qualifications, a non-citizen applicant must be:

• An asylee granted asylum.
• A victim of human trafficking who was given protection under U.S. law.
• A lawful permanent resident (LPR).
• A recipient of benefits for a disability or blindness.
• A child who is younger than 18 years of age.

Other than lawful U.S. presence, applicants must be residents of Nebraska in order to meet the state’s food stamp eligibility criteria. In order to verify this information, members of a household must submit certain documentation proving that they are residents of the state.

Applicants wondering how to qualify for food stamps must ensure that they meet the requirement for both citizenship and state residency. In the event that one member does not meet the criteria, other household members can choose to omit that person’s information. This means that the family may receive fewer benefits, as a result. However, you must still include their earnings in the household income.

Learn more about the requirements for SNAP by downloading our free guide.

What are the SNAP income guidelines in Nebraska?

Nebraska SNAP income guidelines must be met before an applicant can receive food stamp benefits. Typically, a household must earn a monthly income that is 130 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). However, families that include a senior with a disability may earn 165 percent of the FPL and still qualify.

Maximum monthly income requirements for food stamps are not only determined by the FPL, as another factor is the number of family members in the home. For instance, a household with four members will qualify with a higher income than a household with two members. A family of four can earn up to $3,007 a month while a household of two may qualify if it earns no more than $1,984.

Food stamp income guidelines allow applicants to exclude, or deduct, certain expenses from their incomes. These include:

• Payments made toward child support.
• Disability costs or payments made toward medical care.
• Expenses dedicated for the care of dependents.

Moreover, SNAP applicants are required to satisfy SNAP guidelines regarding their assets and/or financial resources. In general, residents cannot have resources and assets worth more than a certain amount in order to qualify. Typically, applicants cannot possess resources and assets that, when combined, are worth more than $2,750 or $4,250 if the household has a member who is elderly or disabled.

Certain applicants, such as seniors or people with disabilities, are permitted to have more countable resources to meet SNAP income guidelines. Furthermore, be mindful that certain basic assets are not counted toward an applicant’s total countable resources. This includes the household’s primary home and its main vehicle.

Other Important Food Stamps Qualifications in Nebraska

In order to meet NE food stamps qualifications, applicants must meet certain additional requirements besides the income, citizenship and state residency criteria. This includes satisfying work requirements.

All adult applicants who are between 18 and 59 years of age must satisfy general work requirements before they can qualify for food stamps in Nebraska. These general requirements can be satisfied by:

• Partaking in a work program for a minimum of 80 hours per month.
• Working a minimum of 80 hours per month.
• Working and participating in a work program for a combined 80 hours per month or more.

Certain members of a household may be exempt from meeting the SNAP eligibility work requirements. The following circumstances will enable an applicant to be exempt:

• The resident is pregnant.
• The resident is unable to work due to a limitation that is physical or mental.
• The household member is 60 years of age and older.
• The applicant is already employed, working a minimum of 30 hours per week and earning at least the federal minimum wage.

How do you maintain your food stamps in Nebraska?

To continue receiving SNAP benefits, a household must maintain its Nebraska food stamps eligibility. After being accepted into the program, you will be informed regarding the length of time that you are certified for. Once this period is over, you will have to apply for recertification.

As a general rule, once their certification period ends, SNAP participants will have 10 days to submit the necessary documents. Failing to submit the requested information or refusing to attend an interview may result in delays or even an application denial.

Because guidelines to qualify for food stamps may change, you may or may not be eligible for food stamps at the time of recertification. Moreover, if your income has increased or your household has changed its composition, you may or may not remain eligible for SNAP in Nebraska.

If a household no longer meets SNAP eligibility criteria after applying for recertification, it will not receive any more SNAP benefits. To learn more about the requirements for food stamps, download our free guide.

Last Updated: February 24, 2023