Dear friends and neighbors,

Expanding access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) and food assistance for Nebraska families has been a personal priority of mine since I joined the Legislature. I’m glad that through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, Congress has granted states additional flexibility within SNAP, and that Nebraska has taken advantage of these opportunities for families facing food insecurity.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has a website to track the options each state has taken up and which waivers have been applied for and approved. Nebraska’s options and waivers can be found here.

My colleague, Senator Sara Howard, compiled the following summary of what options Nebraska is pursuing:

Enhanced SNAP Allotments

The CARES Act provides enhanced SNAP allotments to SNAP recipients. Nebraska’s Department and Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received approval from FNS to provide enhanced allotments for families who were eligible for SNAP in March and April. The enhanced allotments would bring all SNAP households up to the maximum allotment for that family size. For example, if a family is receiving $300 a month, but the maximum allotment for that family size is $409 a month, that family will receive an additional $109 for the months of March and April.

The March enhanced allotment was issued to the EBT cards of SNAP families on April 11, 2020. The enhancement for April will be issued on the EBT cards of SNAP families on May 7, 2020.

It is important to note that all SNAP benefit dollars are federal dollars returning to the state.

Waiver of Work Requirements

The Coronavirus Response Act temporarily waives the work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) in order for them to receive SNAP for more than three months. DHHS has interpreted this waiver to mean that ABAWDs who cannot meet their work requirements will not lose their SNAP benefits unless such person is offered employment and refuses to accept it. If a person were to refuse to accept a job, then that person would be limited to 3 months of SNAP.

For other SNAP recipients, a loss of job due to COVID-19 will not result in a work requirements sanction. You can find DHHS’s Frequently Asked Questions on SNAP here.

Online Shopping

Nebraska is one of seven states to join an innovative pilot program to allow SNAP recipients to use their SNAP benefits and EBT cards to purchase food online. At the moment, Amazon and Walmart are the only two participating retailers but states can work with retailers locally to add them to the pilot.

Extended Recertification Periods

Nebraska also took up the option under the Coronavirus Response Act to extend certification periods for families who would have been scheduled to re-certify for SNAP during the months of March, April, and May. This means these families will not have to go through the recertification process at this time and their SNAP eligibility will automatically be extended for six months. This will allow DHHS to focus on processing applications for new families needing SNAP.

Extension of Reporting Requirements

This option provides DHHS with additional time to report to FNS with Quality Control case data. At this time, it is harder to receive timely verification from employers and to conduct their quality reviews. States are being given an additional 45 days to complete these Quality Control review

Nebraska is NOT pursuing the option to expand eligibility for children on reduced price lunch.

The Coronavirus Response Act also creates temporary SNAP eligibility for children who qualify for free and reduced lunch and whose schools have been closed. This is referred to as “Pandemic EBT.” In Nebraska, this option would mainly benefit children who receive reduced priced lunches as those families are generally over the SNAP income threshold in Nebraska.

In conversations with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department has said they do not believe they have the capacity to deal with the operational challenges of extending eligibility to these children. It is an option they may reconsider in the future.

Again, thank you so much to the office of Senator Sara Howard for compiling this resource. As always, please let me know if I can be of any more assistance. Email is the best way to get in touch with me, at mhunt@leg.ne.gov.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

Over the past week, I have received hundreds of inquiries from Nebraskans all across the state about struggles with obtaining unemployment benefits. I know that many of you are experiencing trouble with the website, delays in benefits, and struggling to connect with help, and I can tell you that’s consistent with what I am hearing from other Nebraskans. I want to share some guidance that will hopefully help you navigate the process and give you some peace of mind.

• The Nebraska Department of Labor asks individuals to contact them by phone (855-995-8863) or email (NDOL.UnemploymentHelp@nebraska.gov) about any question, because they need personally sensitive information in order to look into details about your claim. This unfortunately isn’t something my office can do on behalf of any individual. If you have already applied for unemployment, there will be a claim they can look into for you.
• Under the CARES Act passed by Congress, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (PUA) is applied to individuals who would not generally qualify for unemployment assistance, including independent contractors, hair stylists, aestheticians, etc. If your application is denied at the state level, it will still be reviewed to figure out if you are eligible for federal PUA. This process is likely to take longer because the application has to go through the process of being denied before qualifying for PUA. Under the PUA, applicants are eligible to receive:
  • Up to 39 weeks of benefits starting with weeks of unemployment beginning February 2, 2020 through December 26, 2020, depending on when you became directly impacted by the pandemic.
  • An additional $600 to each weekly benefit amount you may be eligible to receive, as part of the separate CARES Act Pandemic Additional Compensation program. Only the weeks of a claim between March 29 and July 25 are eligible for the extra $600 payment.
• Reminder: You must file a claim every week in order to remain eligible for these federal benefits! You can do that easily through the online interface at http://neworks.nebraska.gov.
• Finally, it’s important that you reach out to your State Senator (if it’s not me). They have the staff and capacity to process constituent requests and many keep records of each case, and will follow up to make sure your problem was resolved. Your Senator is your best advocate.

If it’s taking a while to hear back from the Department of Labor, keep trying. I understand from personal experience that this can be a very frustrating and overwhelming process. The Department staff is also overwhelmed, and they do understand that you and many others need this assistance immediately. When the pandemic began, the Department of Labor only had a few dozen adjudicators to process claims. Now the DoL is in the process of training over 200 new workers to help with the backlog. It’s not ideal, it’s going to take patience, but if you keep filing your claims and reach out to them with specific questions about your claim, you will be taken care of.

Over 83,000 Nebraskans have filed for unemployment in the past month. Every worker who has experienced a layoff or furlough is going through this same frustration, and I know the workers at the Department of Labor are doing the best to help every single person affected. As always, please let me know if I can be of any more assistance. Email is the best way to get in touch with me, at mhunt@leg.ne.gov.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

Across many platforms, from Facebook to Twitter to my e-mail to conversations with my own family members, I have heard many questions and confusion about voting by mail in Nebraska. I gathered the most common questions I receive below to offer some clarity.

As more information becomes available, and if anything changes, I will be sure to share that.

Please plan to vote by mail this year! If you have any questions that are not addressed here, please contact my office at mhunt@leg.ne.gov. E-mail is the best way to get in touch.

Many thanks,
Meg

Q: How do I vote by mail?

Dear friends and neighbors,

For years, ever since grocery stores started offering online ordering, I have been advocating for online ordering to be made available for people who pay for groceries with SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) or WIC (special food assistance for women, infants, and children). With the spread of COVID-19, we see how much more important this is today.

People experiencing food insecurity, who rely on SNAP, have to crowd in grocery stores because they can’t use their benefits to get groceries delivered like others do. What I know from speaking to these Nebraskans is that many people who rely on these benefits are essential workers, working at grocery stores or restaurants or in delivery themselves, so they are not able to shop strategically at less congested times.

If everyone had access to food delivery, everyone would be safer, including grocery workers. Reducing congestion in grocery stores is vital to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

I am very excited that The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has started an online ordering for SNAP pilot program as of April 1, with Amazon and Walmart participating. Walmart has started with two stores in Norfolk and South Sioux City, and will soon expand statewide. Amazon is delivering statewide now.

For Nebraskans to use their SNAP EBT card on Amazon, visit Amazon.com/SNAP-EBT and follow the instructions on the screen. If you are not already an Amazon customer, you will need to create an account and add your SNAP EBT card plus zip code to make sure that you are eligible. It’s a very quick and easy process.

I am not sure about the timeline right now, but DHHS says they will expand online ordering to other Nebraska grocery stores, such as Hy-Vee, “as resources allow.” I will keep you updated when I know more about that.

In 2016, the federal government launched the first pilot program to allow food insecure people to use SNAP to buy groceries online. The program has been running in Alabama, Iowa, New York, Washington, Oregon, and finally we have started this pilot program in Nebraska which I hope will bring relief to many of our neighbors.

The USDA should expand online ordering for SNAP nationwide to stop crowding and support low income people who need food delivery now. I encourage you to contact your Congressional representatives and urge federal action to allow all Americans who rely on SNAP to order groceries online. It is one low-cost, easy way we can use technology to help people now.

You can always contact us at mhunt@leg.ne.gov if you have any questions or concerns. E-mail is the best way to get in touch.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

My colleague Senator Wendy DeBoer has been in contact with the Food Bank for the Heartland to determine what their needs are during this pandemic crisis. The President for Food Bank of the Heartland lives in her neighborhood and expressed concerns about how the distribution lines might be interrupted for the food banks (in more rural areas especially) as this virus moves across our state.

He also mentioned that money is more helpful than food donations at this time for two reasons. First, the Food Bank can buy at cheaper prices than consumers, and second, because it cuts down on transportation and distribution logistics. Based on the challenges he expressed, Senator DeBoer and many others, me included, are concerned that we may get to a place where folks in Nebraska do not have enough to eat.

Below, I am sharing information put together between the Food Bank of the Heartland and Senator DeBoer’s staff. The short version is: The Food Bank needs monetary donations. You can click on the button below to give directly today.

You can always contact us at mhunt@leg.ne.gov if you have any questions or concerns. E-mail is the best way to get in touch.

Many thanks,
Meg

Donate to the Food Bank for the Heartland

What is Food Bank for the Heartland?

Food Bank for the Heartland is on the front line of addressing food insecurity issues during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Food Bank distributes food to 77 Nebraska counties and 16 neighboring Iowa counties through partnerships with a network of food pantries, meal providers, emergency shelters, and schools. The Food Bank of the Heartland – Lincoln serves 16 counties in southeast Nebraska. The Food Bank works with over 600 partners to distribute food and will be hosting mobile drive up food pantries at local food banks throughout the state during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Food Bank for the Heartland distributed 23 million meals in 2019. For every one meal that the food bank provides, SNAP provides 12 meals. As a result, the food bank works in partnership with programs like SNAP to adequately serve those facing food insecurity.

Normally, the Food Bank receives 70% its food supply through donations from retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers, and purchases the other 30%.

How does COVID-19 present challenges to the Food Bank?

The COVID-19 outbreak presents new challenges for Food Bank for the Heartland. First, the Food Bank anticipates an increased need for food throughout the state. As schools close, many students who received free and reduced lunches at school may now turn to organizations like the Food Bank. Statewide, 45% of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Many individuals are also facing unemployment as a result of COVID-19 or are hourly employees who have experienced a significant loss of income due to closures. These individuals may also turn to the Food Bank for food throughout the outbreak.

In addition to increased demand, COVID-19 has also resulted in decreased supplies for the food bank. While 70% of the food is usually donated with the remaining 30% purchased by the food bank, these numbers have flipped in recent weeks. Shoppers stocking up on food from retailers has put increased demands on the supply chain. This has resulted in less overstock and therefore fewer donations to the Food Bank. The increased demand for food has also led to delays in getting food purchased by the food bank to its facility. The Food Bank has already made a $200,000 emergency purchase of food and anticipates that similar purchases may be needed in the coming weeks.

Finally, COVID-19 may create distribution challenges. While the Food Bank is only holding drive up pantries, some local staging areas have closed their doors. Many food pantries across Nebraska are run by seniors who are not safely able to volunteer during the outbreak. As more of these pantries close, the food bank will lose vital distribution points across the state. The food bank has also reduced its volunteer numbers in half to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

The most effective way to assist Food Bank for the Heartland and provide food security for those in need during the outbreak is through monetary donations. While food donations through community drives are appreciated, they can only provide a fraction of the food needed. Food Bank for the Heartland can purchase food at a lower per unit cost by purchasing in bulk or at cost.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Nancy Cyr, who is the Director of Research for the Nebraska Legislative Research Office compiled a list of resources available to help small businesses weather these tough economic times. They distributed the following graphic, which outlines resources available through the federal stimulus as well as from the state. You can click on the image to download a .pdf. Please distribute this if you think it will help anyone else you know.

You can always contact us at mhunt@leg.ne.gov if you have any questions or concerns. E-mail is the best way to get in touch.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

In the past weeks, I have received many emails, voicemails, and messages from public employees who have specific questions about their ability to take time off. I participated in a phone call with NAPE/ASCFME, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, where Executive Director Jason Hubly explained the rights of state employees under the federal emergency paid sick leave and emergency family leave law that goes into effect April 2.

Click here to read the NAPE/AFSCME fact sheet about these leave benefits and how to access them.

You can also register for the next webinar on this topic which is April 1 by clicking the button below. I hope this is of some assistance to public employees in Nebraska, and if there are any other questions, please reach out to me. Thank you for what you do.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

Members of the Nebraska State Bar Association are eager to help individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic for qualifying users to post civil legal questions at no cost.

Through this platform, lawyers can help you by providing information and basic legal advice without any expectation of long-term representation. You can ask civil legal questions which will be answered by Nebraska attorneys for free.

This is a resource designed for low-income Nebraskans, but it is also appropriate for people who are facing hardships due to COVID-19 and cannot afford an attorney.

Please share this resource as you see fit.

Many thanks,
Meg

Click to visit Nebraska Free Legal Answers

Dear friends and neighbors,

On March 3rd, when there were only 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US, I called for the Legislature to take up paid sick leave, medicaid expansion, and urged us to get together and talk about what we can do in the Legislature to prepare for this public health crisis, because it was knocking on our door.

Today, 20 days later, we have over 32,000 confirmed cases and that number will continue to grow as we expand testing and tracking in the US.

Click to watch: March 3, 2020: Senator Hunt on COVID-19

Today your Nebraska Legislature is coming to order for one purpose: To pass emergency support funding for researchers, healthcare workers, public health departments, and first responders at the front lines fighting against the spread of COVID-19. The question we are voting on is to appropriate over $83 million dollars for researchers, healthcare workers, hospitals, public health departments, and technology to fight against the spread of this pandemic in Nebraska.

This is the first of what I hope will be many votes to bring relief to everyone in our state. We already know that many Nebraskans are slipping through the cracks, unable to access institutional support like Unemployment Insurance or Medicaid. Our plans must include them too.

Until we figure out how to convene remotely, I will be present to pass these emergency measures because I cannot ask Nebraskans who are first responders and healthcare providers to continue to work with dwindling PPE supplies if I am unwilling to simply go take a vote.

I am asking you to do your part by stopping the spread, doing all you can staying home, avoid crowds, and monitor your health. I also ask you to contact your elected officials and the Governor, and ask them to continue expanding aid for Nebraskans who feel stranded today. We need to help workers and small businesses now. Besides the health impacts of the Coronavirus, we know that the economic devastation will not only be lasting, but it will affect the health of Nebraskans as well. I believe a shelter-in-place order is needed in Nebraska, and that we need to be using all state resources at our disposal to support Nebraskans as we stop the spread.

Finally, request your vote by mail ballot if you haven’t done that yet. We are in this fight together, and I am here for you. Please reach out to my office at mhunt@leg.ne.gov if we can be of any assistance.

Many thanks,
Meg

Dear friends and neighbors,

On March 20th, a letter signed by 29 organizations was delivered to Mayor Jean Stothert, the Omaha City Council, the Douglas County Board, the Douglas County Sheriff, and Judge Lohaus in Douglas County calling on our community leaders to take immediate action to prevent evictions during this crisis.

Since all are being asked to remain in our homes to protect community health, it is critical that our leaders take action to ensure members of our community have homes in which to remain. As more workers are unable to safely go to work and with many low-income workers lacking access to any paid sick leave, this pandemic will directly impede the ability of our community’s residents to work and provide for their families. With disruptions in regular sources of income resulting from this crisis, this public health emergency will quickly become an economic one. In addition, evictions and resulting homelessness will be counterproductive to public health efforts to contain the virus and will dramatically impact the risks and spread of COVID-19.

With an average of 4,823 eviction actions filed annually in Douglas County – or approximately 92 per week – and 40 eviction hearings scheduled in Douglas County Courtroom 20 this Friday, March 20 alone, we must take immediate policy action to get ahead of the economic fallout and prevent homelessness during this critical time.

I join the undersigned organizations in urging our community to take decisive action to protect the safety and stability of our citizens by enacting an eviction moratorium. I am committed to working with all state and local leaders on this effort during this extraordinary time of crisis for our community and our state.

Neighbors, please assist in this effort by contacting your city leaders, as well as the governor, and asking them to place a moratorium on evictions.

Many thanks,
Meg

Click to read the letter from the following 29 community organizations: 

• Coalition for a Strong Nebraska
• College Possible
• COVID-19 Community Response Task Force
• Family Housing Advisory Services
• Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
• Heartland Workers Center
• I Be Black Girl
• League of Women Voters Greater Omaha
• Legal Aid of Nebraska Metro Area
• Continuum of Care for the Homeless
• Nebraska Appleseed
• Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
• Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
• Nebraska Housing Developers Association
• New Leaders Council Omaha
• North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance
• Omaha Together One Community
• Planned Parenthood North Central States
• Policy, Research & Innovation
• Restoring Dignity
• Rise
• South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance
• Spark CDI
• Survivors Rising
• Together
• University of Nebraska- College of Law, Civil Clinical Law Program, Tenants’ Rights Project
• Voices for Children in Nebraska
• Women’s Fund of Omaha
• Young Black & Influential