LB 275 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Require the Department of Health and Human Services to screen state wards for social security benefit eligibility

LB 275 requires Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services to screen all children in state custody (state wards) for eligibility for Social Security benefits within 60 days of entering care. If eligible, the department must apply for benefits, manage payments through a trust account, and provide written notices to the child (in age-appropriate language), parents, and guardian ad litem about eligibility, approvals, denials, and payment management. The bill mandates detailed accounting of benefit use and ensures funds are conserved for the child's future needs while complying with federal asset limits. This directly affects children under state care who may qualify for Social Security benefits, ensuring their potential benefits are identified and managed properly.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Legislature Passage
May 2025
Legislature Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Signed Jun 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Final Reading · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Nebraska's social security benefit management for children in state care, primarily by reducing the asset threshold for benefit eligibility from $2,000 to $1,000 and expanding notification requirements to include parents. The changes aim to ensure more children qualify for benefits and that families are better informed about benefit decisions and the department's role as a representative payee.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include parents as stakeholders who must receive written notices about benefit eligibility determinations and appointments, whereas previously only the child and guardian ad litem were specified.
ELIGIBILITY

Reduced the asset threshold for social security benefit eligibility from $2,000 to $1,000, making it easier for more children in state care to qualify for benefits.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement to notify parents of all social security benefit eligibility determinations and appointments within ten calendar days, in addition to notifying the child and guardian ad litem.

Expanded notice requirements when the department serves as representative payee to include parents, specifying the notice must be sent within thirty days of receiving the first benefit payment.

Added provision allowing children aged fourteen or older to request that benefit payments be conserved in a specified manner through juvenile court.

Added right for child beneficiaries, guardians, attorneys, and parents to request all accounting records maintained by the department regarding social security benefit payments.

TIMELINE

Changed screening timeline language from 'within sixty days after the date the child enters its charge' to 'within sixty days after the date the child enters its charge' (minor formatting change).

Floor votes · Legislature Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

340
Passed · 15 other
Total votes 49
Apr 24, 2025
N Nonpartisan49
34 Yea 15
69% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Jun 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor on June 4, 2025
executive
May 30, 2025
Legislature · Passed
President/Speaker signed
legislature
May 30, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Passed on Final Reading 29-19*-1
legislature
Apr 24, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Hunt AM1126 adopted
legislature
Mar 25, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Placed on General File
legislature
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
legislature
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
Date of introduction
legislature
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors