Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Lifespan Respite Planned Subsidy

What you get

Up to $125 a month and $1,500 a year for respite for an unpaid primary caregiver. Open now.

Who starts it
You, with a document from your doctor
How it’s sent
Email to dhhs.respite@nebraska.gov, or by post
Your time
About 15 minutes, plus waiting for the document
Last checked
Aug 27, 2026

Before you start, check you fit

  • Other ways to pay are considered first.
  • Cancer alone may not satisfy disability, SSI, Medicaid, developmental, caregiver, or level-of-care requirements; individual authorization and capacity rules apply.

  1. Ask your doctor for the documentStart here. This is the part that takes the longest.

    Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services needs a note confirming the diagnosis from your doctor. Copy this message, or say it in person at the next visit.

    Hi [doctor’s name],

We’d like to apply to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’s Lifespan Respite Planned Subsidy. They offer up to $125 a month and $1,500 a year for respite for an unpaid primary caregiver, and they are taking applications now.

They need a note confirming the diagnosis from you. Their form and instructions are here: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Respite.aspx

Could you do that when you have a chance? I’ll bring the printed form to our next visit, or I can email it. Thank you for everything you do for us.

[your name] · [phone]
    Copying is the only thing this page does with your text. Nothing is saved.

  2. Fill in their formPrint it, or fill it in on screen if the PDF allows.

    Open the application PDF ↗ Checked Aug 27, 2026

    What the form asks for

    DDA-1400 published application questions
    Care Recipient Name; Date of Birth; Gender; Living Arrangements; Mailing AddressDescribe Care Recipient’s special needs such as day-to-day care routines that require extra support: (Answer Required)Primary caregiver information, caregiving time, stress, health, employment, and missed workResources/assets; income; disability-related expenses

    Have ready

    • Completed and signed DDA-1400.
    • Income/resource verification if requested; self-employment requires IRS income verification.

  3. Email your application and the document togetherTo dhhs.respite@nebraska.gov. Or post it to the address on the form.

    • Email dhhs.respite@nebraska.gov (recommended), fax 402-742-8356, or mail to Lifespan Respite Subsidy, PO Box 98933, Lincoln, NE 68509-8933.

    Email: dhhs.respite@nebraska.gov

    Fax: 402-742-8356

    Subject: Lifespan Respite Planned Subsidy application, [child’s name]

Hello,

Attached are our completed application and the document from [doctor’s name] at [hospital]. Please let me know that it arrived and if anything is missing.

Thank you,
[your name] · [phone]

After you send

Call 402-471-9188 or 866-737-7483 for completion help or to confirm receipt. If you have not heard back in two weeks, write and ask whether it arrived.

Full record, as published