LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is no longer at risk of losing $17 million in federal funding because of delays in processing public benefit applications.

The state Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that its processing rate improved to more than 95 percent for the period of October 2015 to March 2016.

Department CEO Courtney Phillips says applications in July were approved in an average of nine days, and one-third of the clients received same-day approval.

The department now allows clients to apply for assistance via telephone. Clients can also sign up to receive email notifications to check their online account for messages.

Nebraska now ranks 23rd nationally in its timely processing of applications. In August 2014, the state ranked last in the country.