NEW HAMPSHIRE
What assistance can a single mother receive in New Hampshire?
A single mother with two children in New Hampshire with no income may receive up to $1,333 in cash assistance, $785 in food benefits, and $2,177 in utility support, along with child care assistance and Medicaid coverage.
| CASH | $1,333 |
| FOOD | $785 |
| SUMMER EBT | $240 |
| WIC | $52 |
| LIHEAP | $2,177 |
| CHILD CARE | ✓ |
| MEDICAID | ✓ |
| PELL GRANT | $7,395 |
For the 2026—2027 academic year, a single mother in a household of 3 in New Hampshire can earn up to $58,095 and still qualify for the maximum Pell grant of $7,395.
This is an unofficial benefits estimator. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.
New Hampshire Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF)
New Hampshire’s Financial Assistance for Needy Families (FANF) program provides temporary cash benefits to low-income families with dependent children in New Hampshire.
FANF is divided into four main categories based on the family’s circumstances:
- New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP)
- Family Assistance Program (FAP)
- Interim Disabled Parent (IDP) Program
- Families With Older Children (FWOC) Program
All FANF programs share the same cash eligibility requirements, and benefits are limited to a lifetime maximum of 60 months.
How much cash assistance will I get in NH?
New Hampshire passed legislation in 2017 to tie FANF benefit levels to 60% of the federal poverty line and to adjust them automatically each year. 1
According to the latest data, the maximum benefit for a family of three is $1,333 per month, making it the most generous of any state.
| Household Size | Payment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $783 |
| 2 | $1,058 |
| 3 | $1,333 |
| 4 | $1,608 |
| 5 | $1,883 |
| 6 | $2,158 |
| 7 | $2,433 |
| 8 | $2,708 |
Applications for FANF can be submitted online through NH EASY , or by calling the DHHS Customer Service Center to request an application be mailed to you.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Customer Service Center
(844) 275-3447
New Hampshire Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
New Hampshire SNAP provides eligible individuals and households with monthly benefits used to purchase food items at grocery stores, supermarkets or other participating food retailers.
Benefits range from a minimum of $298 per household member to a maximum of $785 for a family of three, depending on household size and income.
| Household Size | SNAP Benefits |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
How do I apply for SNAP in NH?
Applications for SNAP can be done online via NH EASY — New Hampshire’s Electronic Application System where you can apply for assistance, check eligibility, or track your application status.
If you are accepted into the program, your benefits are automatically deposited to your EBT Card each month you are eligible.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Customer Service Center
(844) 275-3447
The New Hampshire Food Bank runs a mobile pantry and helps people apply for SNAP benefits. It can also be reached at (877) 347-7627. Its website has a map of food banks in the state.
New Hampshire SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children who lose access to free or reduced-price school meals when schools are closed for the summer.
Each eligible child will get a one-time $120 for groceries — that’s $40 per month for June, July, and August. Families may receive SUN Bucks alongside SNAP and WIC benefits.
Families who take part in the SNAP or TANF program, or whose children are part of the free and reduced-price lunch program at school will be automatically enrolled.
If you’re not sure if you need to apply or will get SUN Bucks automatically, use this eligibility checker to check if your child is eligible for Summer EBT.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
(603) 271-7373
New Hampshire Medicaid
New Hampshire Medicaid serves low-income individuals and families in New Hampshire who lack adequate resources to pay for medical care, covering services like regular doctor check-ups, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, visits to specialists, and more.
Eligible participants include children under the age of 19, pregnant women, low-income families with children, and people who are aged, blind, or have disabilities.
In New Hampshire, Medicaid benefits are primarily delivered through Medicaid Care Management (MCM), where members choose one of three private health plans:
- AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire
- NH Healthy Families
- WellSense Health Plan
What is the income limit for NH Medicaid?
As New Hampshire is expanding Medicaid coverage, Medicaid now covers almost all non-elderly adults up to 138% of poverty level through a health plan called Granite Advantage Health Care.
Children under age 19 are eligible for CHIP with household incomes no higher than 323% of poverty level. For a family of three, that’s about $7,173 per month.
| NH Medicaid | 323% | 201% | 138% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,212 | $2,621 | $1,800 |
| 2 | $5,693 | $3,543 | $2,432 |
| 3 | $7,173 | $4,464 | $3,065 |
| 4 | $8,654 | $5,385 | $3,697 |
| 5 | $10,134 | $6,306 | $4,330 |
| 6 | $11,615 | $7,228 | $4,962 |
| 7 | $13,095 | $8,149 | $5,595 |
| 8 | $14,575 | $9,070 | $6,227 |
Children under age 19 with severe disabilities who require an institutional level of care at home may apply for the Katie Beckett program.
How do I apply for Medicaid in NH?
To apply for Medicaid, go to NH EASY and complete an application online. Proof of income and household circumstances are required.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Medicaid Service Center
(844) 275-3447
New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship
New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship provides financial assistance to income-eligible families in New Hampshire who need help paying for child care.
As a condition of eligibility, parents must be working, looking for work, or in a training program, and children must be under 13 or under 18 with a disability.
All families must contribute to the cost of child care. Depending on household income, the weekly copay may be as low as $0 or $5 and will not exceed 7% of the family’s income.
What is the income limit for child care assistance in New Hampshire?
A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is at or below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application.
| Household Size | 85% SMI | 85% SMI |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $7,349 | $7,349 |
| 3 | $9,078 | $9,078 |
| 4 | $10,808 | $10,808 |
| 5 | $12,537 | $12,537 |
| 6 | $14,266 | $14,266 |
| 7 | $14,590 | $14,590 |
| 8 | $14,917 | $14,917 |
Households with a gross monthly income less than 100% of the federal poverty level, or about $2,221 per month, will have a $0 copayment.
Families who receive Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) and are in the FANF work program are given priority and will not be placed on the wait list.
How do I apply for child care assistance in New Hampshire?
There are 11 District Offices in NH that help families apply for child care assistance. Call the DHHS Customer Service Center to schedule an appointment or request a paper application be mailed to you.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Customer Service Center
(603) 271-4242
New Hampshire Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
New Hampshire WIC is a federally funded program that provides healthy supplemental foods for eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under age 5 who meet the income guidelines.
To be eligible, you must be a resident of the state of New Hampshire, have a medical or nutritional risk, and have a gross household income less than 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.
What is the income limit for WIC in NH?
WIC serves women, infants, and children in New Hampshire whose income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. That’s about $4,109 per month for a family of three.
| Household Size | ANNUAL LIMIT | MONTLY LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28,953 | $2,413 |
| 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 |
| 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 |
| 4 | $59,478 | $4,956 |
| 5 | $69,653 | $5,804 |
| 6 | $79,828 | $6,652 |
| 7 | $90,003 | $7,500 |
| 8 | $100,178 | $8,348 |
How do I apply for WIC in NH?
WIC Agencies provide services in all New Hampshire counties. You may call the State WIC Agency to be connected to a WIC office closest to where you live.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
State WIC Agency
(800) 942-4321
New Hampshire Rental Assistance Program
The application process for the NH Emergency Rental Assistance Program (NHERAP) was paused on October 21, 2022, and will not be reopened.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NH Rental Assistance Program helps qualified tenants with their rent payments by paying a portion of the monthly rent directly to the landlord.
Priority is given to extremely low-income families with children, those with household earnings less than 30% of an area’s median income.
To apply for rental assistance, complete the application form and return it to New Hampshire Housing at the address listed below.
New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
Assisted Housing Division
PO Box 5087
Manchester, NH 03108
(800) 439-7247 (ext 9266)
New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program (FAP)
New Hampshire’s Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) provides one-time financial assistance to eligible households that are struggling to pay for heating costs during the winter season.
Benefits range from $94 to $2,177, depending on household income and energy costs. Priority is given to households that include elderly or disabled members and households with young children.
What is the income limit for fuel assistance in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, the Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) typically serves households with a gross annual income up to 60% of the state median income or about $6,408 per month for a family of three.
| Household Size | Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,967 |
| 2 | $5,188 |
| 3 | $6,408 |
| 4 | $7,629 |
| 5 | $8,850 |
| 6 | $10,070 |
| 7 | $10,299 |
| 8 | $10,530 |
How do I apply for fuel assistance in NH?
To apply for fuel assistance in NH, please contact your local Community Action Agency (CAA) to set up an appointment or dial 2-1-1 for additional information.
Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2026, or until available funds are depleted.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Fuel Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
(603) 271-3670
New Hampshire Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.
New Hampshire LIHWAP provides emergency assistance to low-income households who are disconnected or are in imminent threat of disconnection. Priority is given to households that include elderly or disabled members and households with young children under age 6.
Under New Hampshire’s LIHWAP, eligible households may receive up to $1,500 within a 12-month period towards the payment of existing arrearages.
How do I get help paying my water bill in NH?
If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills, contact your local Community Action Agency (CAA) to set up an appointment or learn more about the application process.
New Hampshire Unemployment Insurance
New Hampshire Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary financial assistance to workers who are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own.
To be eligible for benefits in New Hampshire, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have lost employment through no fault of your own.
- You must have earned at least $1,400 each in 2 separate quarters during the base period — the first 12 months of the 15 months prior to filing a claim.
- You must be unemployed or partially employed and earning less than your weekly unemployment insurance benefits.
As a condition of eligibility, you are also required to actively seek suitable employment each week that you are collecting benefits. Failure to do so will result in denial of benefits.
How much is NH unemployment benefits?
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, you may receive a weekly payment amount between $32 and $427. The maximum length of New Hampshire unemployment benefits is 26 weeks.
How do I file for unemployment online in NH?
Filing for unemployment compensation can be done either online or by phone at (603) 271-7700, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm EST.
New Hampshire Employment Security
Unemployment Assistance Hotline
(603) 271-7700
New Hampshire Paid Family and Medical Leave
New Hampshire offers a first-in-the-nation voluntary plan that may be purchased, voluntarily, by employers or certain employees, paying at least 60% of employees’ regular wages for up to 6 weeks.
Unlike many other states, participation is not mandatory. Employers can choose to sponsor a group plan, or individual workers can purchase their own coverage if their employer does not provide it.
NH PFML is available to NH workers through MetLife, the state’s PFML insurance partner. Premiums, capped at $5 per week by state law, will be determined during enrollment process.
Is there a waiting period for NH PFML?
Individual plans have a one-time 7-month waiting period before benefits can be claimed. This is to prevent people from signing up for insurance only after they find out they need to take leave immediately.
How to apply for NH PFML?
Individual plans are only available during the state’s 60-day open enrollment period, which is December 1, 2025 through January 29, 2026.
To apply or request a quote, contact a licensed agent, broker, or consultant who is appointed with MetLife to sell the NH PFML insurance plan or call
MetLife Customer Solution Center
(866) 595-7365
New Hampshire Promise Program
Since New Hampshire does not offer a traditional state grant, the New Hampshire Promise Program provides “last dollar” financial support to eligible students attending community colleges across the state.
A last-dollar program means that all available federal and other public aid is applied first, and Promise Program covers any remaining tuition balance.
The program is open to students at all seven of the state’s community colleges who have completed the FAFSA, be Pell Grant eligible, and enroll in at least six credits per semester.
How do I apply for NH Promise Program?
No additional application is required as long as you’ve completed the FAFSA application. The financial aid office at your college will assist you if deemed eligible.
Community College System of New Hampshire
CCSNH Help Desk
(603) 230-3500