Nebraska · state plan

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) in Nebraska

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) is a regular Nebraska Medicaid benefit that pays for hands-on help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing and eating for people of any age who live at home. You choose your own provider, and a family member who is not legally responsible for you (for example an adult child, sibling or grandchild) can enroll as a Medicaid independent provider and be paid for the hours DHHS approves. The published state rate is $3.75 per 15 minutes, which works out to $15.00 an hour.

Also called: PAS · Nebraska PAS · Medicaid personal assistance Nebraska · personal care Nebraska Medicaid

Who do you care for?

My parent →My spouse →My child →

Quick facts

Pay: $15/hr ($3.75 per 15 min)
Adult children & other relatives: Yes
Spouse: Not right now
Parent of a minor child: Not right now
Waitlist: none

Who qualifies for PAS

You have full Nebraska Medicaid.
Any age: children and adults can both use PAS.
You live in your own home or a family home, not in a hospital, nursing home or other institution.
You have a chronic medical condition or disability, and a DHHS assessment shows you need help with daily tasks to keep living in the community.
You can work and still get PAS, as long as you work at least 40 hours a month and earn at least minimum wage (per DHHS).

Who can be paid as the caregiver

Adult children & other relatives Yes: DHHS says family members can be paid providers if they are not legally responsible for you and they meet provider rules.
Spouse Not right now: DHHS says a spouse cannot be a paid PAS provider.
Parent of a minor child Not right now: DHHS says a parent or guardian of a minor child cannot be a paid PAS provider.
Living together: DHHS does not require the paid relative to live with you or to live apart.

Who employs the caregiver: Either. You choose and direct your own provider. A family member can enroll as a Medicaid independent provider and be paid directly by DHHS, or you can use an enrolled agency. Like all Medicaid personal care, visits must be logged through electronic visit verification (EVV).

Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Nebraska.

How much PAS pays

$15/hr ($3.75 per 15 min). Nebraska Medicaid PAS rate listing 471-000-515, revised July 1, 2026: Basic Personal Assistance (MMIS code 4475) is $3.75 per 15-minute unit, or $15.00 an hour. The same rate applied in July 2024 and July 2025; DHHS notes there was no rate increase appropriation for state fiscal year 2027. DHHS pays the enrolled provider directly. Payroll taxes and take-home pay depend on the provider's own tax situation; this is not tax-free pay.

Hours and budget: A DHHS worker does an in-home assessment with you to decide how much time you need for each task. Nebraska's PAS rules (Title 471 NAC Chapter 15) limit services to 40 hours per seven-day period, and anything above 40 hours a week needs DHHS prior authorization.

Compare with other Nebraska programs on the Nebraska caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.

Is there a waitlist?

PAS is part of the Medicaid state plan, so anyone who is eligible and assessed as needing it can get it. No waitlist is published.

How to apply for PAS

Apply for Nebraska Medicaid online through iServe Nebraska (iserve.nebraska.gov) or at a local DHHS office if you do not already have it.
Ask for Personal Assistance Services. You and your iServe/DHHS worker complete an assessment that sets how much time you need.
Pick your provider. If a relative will be paid, they enroll as a Nebraska Medicaid provider, pass the required checks, and start once DHHS authorizes the hours.
The provider logs visits through EVV and bills DHHS at the published rate.

Nebraska DHHS (main line) · (402) 471-3121 · official site
iServe Nebraska (apply online) · official site

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PAS questions

Can I get paid to take care of my mom in Nebraska?

Yes, if your mom has Nebraska Medicaid and qualifies for PAS. An adult child is not legally responsible for a parent, so you can enroll as her independent provider and be paid for the hours DHHS approves.

How much does Nebraska PAS pay a family caregiver?

The state rate is $3.75 per 15 minutes, which is $15.00 an hour, under the PAS rate listing in effect July 1, 2026. The rate has not changed since July 2024.

Can my husband or wife be paid through PAS?

No. DHHS says a spouse cannot be a paid PAS provider. A spouse may be able to be paid through the Aged and Disabled Waiver's LRI Personal Care service if strict extra-care rules are met.

Can a parent be paid to care for a disabled child under PAS?

No. A parent or guardian of a minor child cannot be a paid PAS provider. Parents should ask about LRI Personal Care on the AD Waiver instead.

How many hours can PAS cover?

Hours come from the DHHS assessment. Nebraska's PAS rules cap services at 40 hours per week unless DHHS gives prior authorization for more.

Is there a waitlist for PAS?

No waitlist is published. PAS is a regular Medicaid benefit, so eligible people get the hours their assessment supports.

Sources: dhhs.ne.gov · dhhs.ne.gov · dhhs.ne.gov · regulations.justia.com · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.

Other Nebraska programs

Guides

Where most Nebraska caregivers are

Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Nebraska — pick yours for the local picture.

Across the line

States that border Nebraska

Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.