New federal requirements affect SNAP eligibility in Nebraska

By Philip Catalfamo, WOWT

(October 20, 2025)

A new reality for some families in our community. Changes to SNAP eligibility mean some will lost their benefits entirely.

Ukrainian refugee Oleksandr Ohnivchuk suffers from multiple sclerosis. Benefits like SNAP are important to him but now that assistance is gone. He spoke to First Alert 6 through his translator Ivan Khariv saying:

“All my family is here in Omaha. So, we are not sure what can happen with us, with me, with my family, other communities, tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. So we are scaring, this issue this problem.”

New federal guidelines removed SNAP eligibility for refugees like him and those granted asylum.

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services SNAP eligibility has been limited to those who reside in the United States and are: a citizen, lawfully admitted for permanent residents with no intention of abandoning their residence in a foreign country; Cuban and Haitian entrants: or allowed to live and work in the U.S. under the Compacts of Free Association or COFA.

Eligibility has been removed for refugees, those granted asylum, and any others not mentioned in the sentence above.

Ohnivchuk legally immigrated from Ukraine to Omaha with his wife and kids almost two and a half years ago.

“These people did not choose to be refugees, they did not choose to come here and need some assistance to get their feet underneath them or need some assistance to continue to be healthy and safe in the community,” said Amanda Hall of Orel Alliance. “It was not a conscious thought to come to the US because they have SNAP benefits.”

Amanda Hall is the Executive Director of Orel. Her organization has assisted newly arrived Ukrainian families, like Oleksandr’s as well as established families with their needs like transportation, employment, children’s activities, housing and more.

She fears every family group in this community will be impacted by these changes and says the ripple effect could also span much further.

“We also have to think about the broader implications, if people are not able to buy food, and they have to make a choice between buying groceries or paying rent, what happens to the local businesses? Local landlords?” said Hall.

“There is an apartment complex here in Elkhorn that rents to 60 Ukrainian families, what happens if those families aren’t able to pay their rent? What happens to that business owner?”

Hall tells First Alert 6, Ukrainian families are facing what she calls a “double edged sword of financial cruelty.”

“U.S. Customs and Immigration Services is taking 14 months or longer to process humanitarian parole applications,” explained Hall.

“You can only apply for a renewal of your humanitarian parole application 6 months before your current parole period ends. If they are taking 14 months to process the applications, that leaves you without a work permit for at least 8 months, maybe longer, maybe shorter if you are lucky,” said Hall.

“The fact that humanitarian parole applications are taking so long to process leaving people unable to work legally, humanitarian parole applications the fees have gone up astronomically it is now $1,325 for one individual to apply for parole with an employment permit. On top of that, if you are approved, there is a new fee of $1,000 upon approval. So that is $2,325 per person if you are getting a work permit,” explained Hall.

Amanda Hall tells First Alert 6, Orel Alliance is trying to fundraise despite cuts from the government.

“What is a very really concern of mine and my board of directors is what happens if these people cannot work, cannot eat,” said Hall.

“Are we going to have Ukrainian refugees on the streets of Omaha becoming part of our homeless population? Without a legislative solution to fix the USCIS delays to fix the SNAP and legislative cuts, I do not know what is next.”

Oleksandr tells First Alert 6 he is looking into his options to make up the benefits he has now lost.

“At this time, all members of my family we are using Omaha food banks, different food banks,” said Oleksandr. “And the second way we would like to say, that Omaha non-profit organization Orel Alliance and this organization is very helpful for me and my family.”

Other changes for eligibility include expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults. People between 18 and 64 years old will either have to work, train, or volunteer at least 20 hours per week.

Households receiving a qualifying LIHEAP payment must have an elderly or disabled member to have the standard utility allowance automatically applied to their case.

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services new applicants, and households with active benefits will be reviewed by DHHS at their recertification, when a household member is added, or when other updates are addressed.

With the government still shut down, DHHS is waiting for addition federal guidance on the changes and will provide more updates as they come in.