Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in New Hampshire: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Last updated: 7 April 2026

Bottom line: New Hampshire does not appear to offer one stand-alone monthly cash grant for every grandparent raising a grandchild outside foster care. In real life, most older caregivers in New Hampshire piece help together through NH EASY and the Bureau of Family Assistance, the statewide Kinship Navigation Program, SNAP, Children’s Medicaid, and, if the child was placed by the state, licensed relative foster care reimbursement through the Division for Children, Youth and Families.

If a grandchild just moved in, do not wait for perfect paperwork. Start the benefits application, call a kinship navigator, and decide quickly whether you need court authority for school and medical decisions.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in immediate danger, call 911. If you suspect abuse or neglect, New Hampshire’s kinship guide says to call DCYF Central Intake at 1-800-894-5533 (in-state only) or 603-271-6562 through the Kinship Caregiver Guide.
• If you need food, cash help, or health coverage right away, start an application through NH EASY or call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-275-3447 or 603-271-9700.
• If you are an older caregiver in crisis and need local help fast, call ServiceLink at 1-866-634-9412 or 211 New Hampshire by dialing 211 or 1-866-444-4211.

Quick help box:

• Fastest benefits path: Use NH EASY to apply for cash help, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help in one place.
• Fastest kinship support: Use the Family Resource Center locator or email the DHHS Kinship Navigation Program.
• Fastest senior-caregiver support: Call ServiceLink at 1-866-634-9412.
• Need legal authority: Review the New Hampshire courts’ minor guardianship e-filing instructions.
• DCYF already involved: Ask the caseworker right away whether you can become a licensed relative foster home before the case changes or closes.

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

Start the paperwork the same day the child moves in if you can. New Hampshire is much easier to deal with when you can show who the child is, where the child is living, and why the parents are not caring for the child right now.

• Keep the child safe first: Make sure you have medicines, school clothes, a place to sleep, and any urgent medical information.
• Get whatever papers you can: Birth certificate, Social Security number, school records, health insurance card, Medicaid card, and any court or DCYF papers.
• Apply through NH EASY: One application can screen for cash help, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help through the state’s relative caregiver guide.
• Call a kinship navigator: The statewide program can help with benefits, school issues, legal referrals, transportation, and support groups through New Hampshire’s Kinship Navigation Program.
• Tell the school and doctor’s office: Ask what they need from you now, and what they will require if the child stays longer.
• Choose your lane: Informal caregiving, court guardianship, and DCYF foster placement open very different kinds of help in New Hampshire.

What this help actually looks like in New Hampshire

Start with the Bureau of Family Assistance, not with guesswork. New Hampshire handles most day-to-day benefit help for kinship families through the Department of Health and Human Services, especially the Bureau of Family Assistance, the Division for Children, Youth and Families, and local Family Resource Centers. The state’s apply-for-assistance system is built around one front door, which is helpful for older adults who do not want to fill out separate forms for every program.

Just as important, be realistic about what New Hampshire does not have. On the public pages reviewed as of 7 April 2026, New Hampshire does not show a separate statewide cash stipend for all informal grandfamilies. The real choices are usually child-only TANF through the Family Assistance Program, foster care reimbursement if DCYF placed the child and you are licensed, and regular child benefits like Medicaid, SNAP, school meals, WIC, and child care help.

Need	Best New Hampshire starting point	Main contact	Why it matters
Cash, food, health coverage	NH EASY	DHHS Customer Service Center 1-844-275-3447	One application can screen for multiple programs.
Kinship support and problem-solving	Family Resource Center network	DHHS Kinship Navigation	Useful for local help, referrals, and follow-up.
Senior caregiver support and respite	ServiceLink	1-866-634-9412	Built for older adults, caregivers, and disability access.
Housing emergency	Emergency Assistance or local welfare	211 NH	Town and city welfare rules vary, so local direction matters.
Legal authority over the child	Minor guardianship in Circuit Court	NH Judicial Branch	Helps with school, medical, and many agency issues.

Quick facts:

• Best immediate takeaway: In New Hampshire, the fastest first move is usually NH EASY plus a call to a kinship navigator.
• Major rule: If you are caring for the child informally, you may not have automatic power to enroll the child in school or consent to routine medical care under the state kinship guide.
• Realistic obstacle: Exact child-only FAP and foster care payment amounts are not posted in a simple public chart on the main pages most families find first.
• Useful fact: The Kinship Navigation Program page says DHHS has managed the statewide program since 1 July 2025.
• Best next step: Decide whether your case is informal care, court guardianship, or DCYF foster care placement, because benefits change with that choice.

Who qualifies

Think in plain English: you may qualify for help if the child lives with you and the parents are not doing the day-to-day parenting. New Hampshire programs then sort the case by legal status, income rules, and the child’s needs.

• You are a grandparent, other relative, or sometimes a close family friend caring for a child full-time.
• The child’s parents are absent, deceased, disabled, unsafe, or otherwise unable to care for the child.
• You live in New Hampshire, and the child is living with you in-state.
• You can show some proof of the living arrangement, even if it is not perfect yet.
• If you want child-only TANF, the case is usually screened through New Hampshire’s Family Assistance Program.
• If DCYF placed the child with you, ask about licensed relative foster care.
• If the child is older, note that New Hampshire’s BFA program guide says some TANF-type help can continue for certain 19- and 20-year-old full-time high school or high-school-equivalency students.

Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving

Do not skip this difference. In New Hampshire, the words people use every day do not always match the legal setup that controls benefits.

Setup	What it usually means in New Hampshire	Main advantage	Main drawback
Informal caregiving	The child lives with you, but there is no court order and no DCYF foster placement.	Fastest way to keep the child safe and stable.	You may have trouble with school, medical consent, and some paperwork.
Court guardianship	You get authority through the New Hampshire Circuit Court probate process.	You can make many school and medical decisions more easily.	You must file in court, pass background checks, and may owe filing fees.
DCYF foster placement with relatives	The child is in state custody and placed with you by DCYF.	May open foster care reimbursement and more formal support.	The state stays involved, and you must follow foster care rules.
Adoption	You become the child’s legal parent through court.	Strongest permanent legal authority.	It is permanent and changes the legal relationship with the parents.

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Ask New Hampshire to screen every program at once. The state’s relative caregiver guide says a Family Services Specialist can determine eligibility for cash assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help with one application. That is the best starting point for low-income grandparents, retirees, and adult children helping a senior parent.

A newer kinship report from Generations United estimates that about 10,000 New Hampshire children live in kinship care and that about 30% of the state’s foster children are placed with kin in the 2024 State of the Grandfamilies and Kinship Care report. That helps explain why the state relies on several systems instead of one special grandparent-only program.

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

Tell DHHS you want the case screened as a child-only relative caregiver case. In New Hampshire, that usually means the Family Assistance Program, or FAP, which is one part of the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, system.

Family Assistance Program (FAP)

• What it is: New Hampshire’s BFA programs guide says FAP is for relatives or court-appointed guardians who need help caring for children. The same guide says those relatives or guardians cannot get cash benefits for themselves through FAP.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and certain other caregivers when the child is living with them and the parents are not providing care. New Hampshire’s grandparent caregiver resource sheet says the caregiver’s income does not count for FAP; only the child’s income, such as child support, is counted.
• How it helps: It can provide a monthly cash grant and can also connect the child to Medicaid screening through the same application path in the state’s own grandparent resource sheet. The New Hampshire TANF State Plan says FAP has no mandatory work requirement, which matters for retirees and disabled older caregivers.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through NH EASY, call 1-844-275-3447 or 603-271-9700, go to the correct DHHS District Office for your town, or mail papers to the Centralized Scanning Unit at PO Box 181, Concord, NH 03301 using the process explained on the DHHS SNAP information sheet. The state TANF plan says New Hampshire accepts electronic and telephonic signatures, so many seniors do not need to print and sign a paper form.
• What to gather or know first: Child’s name, date of birth, Social Security number if available, proof the child lives with you, any child support or Social Security paid for the child, and any court or DCYF papers. Ask early how child support will be handled, because TANF cases can affect support collection.

Important: DHHS publishes general FANF income screens in its current Bureau of Family Assistance Program Fact Sheet, but it does not publish a simple public child-only FAP payment chart on the main pages most families use. In practice, the amount depends on the child’s situation and countable child income, so ask BFA to run the numbers on your exact case.

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in this state

Call the kinship program even if DCYF is not involved. This is one of the biggest things many New Hampshire families miss. The public pages reviewed do not show a separate statewide kinship stipend for every informal kinship family, but they do show a strong statewide navigation system.

Kinship Navigation Program

• What it is: The statewide Kinship Navigation Program page says services are free, voluntary, and confidential.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents, relatives, and some close family friends who are raising a child full-time. The Kinship Caregiver Guide says the child must live with you full-time, and the parents must not be living in the same home.
• How it helps: The program links families to food help, transportation help, school supplies, extra financial assistance, legal referrals, parent education, and follow-up support through local Family Resource Centers according to the program overview.
• How to apply or use it: Use the Family Support New Hampshire locator to find your local Family Resource Center, or email the DHHS Kinship Navigation Program. The program page says DHHS has managed the program since 1 July 2025.
• What to gather or know first: A short explanation of who the child is, when the child moved in, what the biggest problems are right now, and whether school, medical, transportation, or legal help is the urgent need.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

File for minor guardianship if you need real authority. In New Hampshire, guardianship is mainly a legal fix, not a stand-alone monthly check. It can still be one of the most important moves you make, because the state kinship guide says informal caregivers may lack the legal ability to enroll a child in school or consent to medical treatment.

Minor guardianship through the New Hampshire Circuit Court

• What it is: A court order giving you legal authority over the child’s person, or over the child’s person and estate if money or property is involved.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other adults who need legal authority because the parents are not able to care for the child.
• How it helps: It makes school enrollment, medical consent, benefit paperwork, and daily decision-making much easier. It also gives agencies clear proof that you can act for the child.
• How to apply or use it: The New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s minor guardianship instructions say e-filing is mandatory unless you get an exception. The court’s current fee schedule lists $130 plus certified mail costs for a petition for guardianship of the minor person, and $200 plus certified mail costs if the petition involves the estate or both person and estate. The same fee schedule says families who cannot afford the fee can ask to pay less or file for free through e-filing.
• What to gather or know first: The court instructions say you will need a petition, a criminal record release form for each proposed guardian and for each adult living in the home, and a DHHS record release form for each of those people. The court may also request the child’s birth certificate and, if a parent has died, a death certificate.

Practical tip: If the child may receive a settlement, inheritance, or other money, ask whether you need guardianship over the estate as well as the person. That can change the fee and paperwork.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

Yes, but only in the right kind of case. A grandparent does not get foster care money just because a child moved in. In New Hampshire, foster care reimbursement is tied to a DCYF placement and usually to becoming a licensed relative foster home.

Licensed relative foster care through DCYF

• What it is: A DCYF placement with a relative caregiver who is approved and, in many cases, licensed as a foster provider.
• Who can get it or use it: Relatives caring for a child in state custody. The state’s grandparent caregiver sheet says a grandparent or other relative identified as a suitable caretaker can become licensed by DCYF to provide foster care.
• How it helps: The state’s relative caregiver guide says licensed relative foster providers receive a bi-monthly foster care reimbursement for each child placed with them based on age. The guide also says DCYF may arrange services such as counseling, child care, and other supports, and that health coverage is available through a parent’s insurance or Medicaid/managed care.
• How to apply or use it: Ask the DCYF caseworker immediately whether you can become a licensed relative foster home and what steps are required. The state’s own resource sheet says licensing is not required in every relative placement, but it is strongly advised because it may bring extra cash assistance and supports.
• What to gather or know first: Placement papers, any safety plan, IDs for adults in the home, and a list of repairs or safety issues in the house. Ask for the current reimbursement schedule in writing.

Important: The public pages reviewed say the foster care stipend varies by the child’s age and specialized care needs, but they do not show an easy-to-find current public statewide rate sheet as of 7 April 2026. Ask DCYF for the current amount before you agree to any major case change.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

Call the school and the doctor’s office before you show up. In New Hampshire, local practice matters. School districts set their own document lists, and medical offices often have their own consent rules.

School enrollment: The school enrollment rights fact sheet posted by New Hampshire says schools may ask for proof that the child lives in the district and proof of age, but they may not use the lack of a birth certificate alone to block enrollment. If you do not have guardianship yet, ask the district what it will accept right now, such as proof of residency, a caregiver letter, or other temporary documents. If the child is doubled up or lacks stable housing, ask for the district’s McKinney-Vento homeless liaison.

Medical consent: If your arrangement is informal, many providers will ask for a parent’s written permission or a court order for routine care. If the child is going to stay more than a short time, guardianship is often the cleaner answer. If a parent is safe to contact, ask for signed consent and health information right away, but do not assume every office will accept it.

Special education and therapy: Keep copies of any Individualized Education Program, or IEP, Section 504 plan, therapy notes, and prescriptions. Programs like Waypoint’s kinship support and New Hampshire Family Voices can help families work through school and care issues.

Medicaid and health insurance for grandchildren in a grandparent’s care

Apply right away even if you are still sorting out legal status. The child may qualify even when the grandparent does not. The safest move is to let DHHS screen the case through NH EASY.

Children’s Medicaid and managed care in New Hampshire

• What it is: Health coverage for eligible children, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and dental services for children through New Hampshire Medicaid.
• Who can get it or use it: The state’s DHHS Medicaid briefing materials say children under age 19 can qualify up to 196% of the federal poverty level. The same briefing materials say children with Title IV-E foster care, adoption assistance, or guardianship care have special Medicaid protections.
• How it helps: It can cover regular medical care, behavioral health care, prescriptions, and care coordination. This matters a lot for children coming into kinship care with trauma, missed checkups, or therapy needs.
• How to apply or use it: Apply through NH EASY or through the DHHS Customer Service Center. New Hampshire’s Medicaid managed care worksheet lists three plans in the state’s Medicaid Care Management program: AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire, NH Healthy Families, and WellSense Health Plan.
• What to gather or know first: Child’s name, date of birth, Social Security number if available, any current insurance cards, prescriptions, doctor names, therapy providers, and school-based service information. Check provider networks before choosing a plan if the child already sees a specialist.

Renewals matter: Watch every DHHS notice carefully and respond fast if the state asks for proof. Coverage problems often happen after a missed renewal, not because the child was never eligible.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

Use the same New Hampshire application to screen for food help. For many older adults on fixed incomes, food help is just as important as cash assistance.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• What it is: Monthly food benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, card.
• Who can get it or use it: Low-income households that meet SNAP rules. The DHHS SNAP information sheet explains that eligibility depends on income, resources, and expenses.
• How it helps: It can free up money for school clothes, gas, and utilities. The same SNAP sheet says elderly or disabled people may get deductions for medical expenses, which can matter for grandparents living on Social Security.
• How to apply or use it: Apply in NH EASY, by mail, by phone, or in person. The state says you will have an interview, and you may use an authorized representative for that interview if needed. The same sheet says the agency has 30 days to determine SNAP eligibility.
• What to gather or know first: Pay stubs, Social Security award letters, bank statements, lease or rent proof, and utility bills. Keep copies.

WIC, school meals, and child care scholarship

• What it is: The Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, or WIC, helps pregnant people, new mothers, infants, and children under 5. The NH Child Care Scholarship helps pay child care providers directly.
• Who can get it or use it: WIC is for younger children and qualifying caregivers. NH Connections says child care scholarship can help with children under age 13, or under age 18 if the child has a disability.
• How it helps: WIC helps with food and nutrition. Child care help can make it possible for an older caregiver to work part-time, attend court, go to medical visits, or simply keep the household stable.
• How to apply or use it: WIC has its own state program page. Child care scholarship applications go through NH EASY and the NH Connections scholarship page.
• What to gather or know first: Child’s age, provider information, work or training schedule if relevant, and current income. NH Connections says scholarship cases are redetermined every 12 months, so set a reminder.

Other child benefits: If a parent has died or receives Social Security disability or retirement, ask the Social Security Administration whether the child can receive benefits. If a parent should be paying support, ask DHHS or legal aid how that fits with your FAP or guardianship plan.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

Act early if rent or utilities are slipping. Housing help in New Hampshire is split between state programs, local welfare offices, housing agencies, and nonprofit help. That local variation matters a lot.

Emergency Assistance through DHHS

• What it is: The Emergency Assistance information sheet says the program helps families get or keep safe housing.
• Who can get it or use it: Families who meet New Hampshire’s Financial Assistance to Needy Families rules and emergency rules. This is not a general open-ended housing grant for every household.
• How it helps: DHHS says it can help with rent or utility security deposits, first month’s rent, heating fuel deliveries, or past-due rent, mortgage, or utility bills.
• How to apply or use it: Ask DHHS for Emergency Assistance when you apply through NH EASY or call the Customer Service Center.
• What to gather or know first: The EA sheet says help is limited to a 12-month period starting with the first approved EA payment, and most EA payments can only be approved once in that period.

Town welfare and New Hampshire Housing

• What it is: New Hampshire also relies on local city or town welfare offices and on New Hampshire Housing.
• Who can get it or use it: This varies by town, city, property, and program. Local welfare is especially important if you do not fit Emergency Assistance rules.
• How it helps: It may help with rent, utilities, or emergency basics. New Hampshire Housing can help families look for affordable housing options and subsidized housing resources.
• How to apply or use it: Use 211 NH to find your town or city welfare office. Contact New Hampshire Housing or call 1-800-640-7239 for housing-related direction listed on the state’s grandparent caregiver resource sheet.
• What to gather or know first: Eviction notice, shutoff notice, lease, proof of income, and proof the child is living with you. Waitlists can be long, so apply early.

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

Older adults should not try to carry this alone. New Hampshire has real caregiver support, but it is spread across aging services and kinship services.

ServiceLink and NHCarePath

• What it is: The state’s NHCarePath and ServiceLink network connect older adults and adults with disabilities to long-term supports and caregiver help.
• Who can get it or use it: Older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers.
• How it helps: New Hampshire’s State Plan on Aging says there is at least one ServiceLink location in each of the state’s ten counties, for a total of 13 offices. The state’s grandparent caregiver sheet specifically says ServiceLink can help with respite care for grandparents taking care of grandchildren.
• How to apply or use it: Call 1-866-634-9412 or use the ServiceLink office finder.
• What to gather or know first: You do not need a full application to start. Begin with your biggest problem: respite, caregiver stress, Medicare questions, transportation, or disability help.

PASTA and local kinship groups

• What it is: PASTA, or Parenting a Second Time Around, is a free support group for grandparents and other kinship caregivers.
• Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other family caregivers raising children again.
• How it helps: The PASTA program covers child development, discipline, caregiver self-care, legal issues, and advocacy according to the program page.
• How to apply or use it: Check the PASTA page or current Waypoint kinship support listings for groups in places like Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the Upper Valley. Some groups are virtual.
• What to gather or know first: Usually just your contact information. Some local groups require registration.

What documents grandparents need

Do not hold up your application because one paper is missing. Submit what you have, then follow up fast with the rest. Still, this checklist saves time.

• ☐ Your ID and proof of New Hampshire address
• ☐ Child’s birth certificate if you have it
• ☐ Child’s Social Security number if available
• ☐ Proof the child is living with you, such as school mail, a doctor’s note, a statement from DCYF, or other records
• ☐ Any court orders, safety plans, or DCYF placement papers
• ☐ Income records for the child, including child support or Social Security
• ☐ Your rent, mortgage, and utility bills
• ☐ Health insurance or Medicaid cards
• ☐ School records, IEP, 504 plan, and immunization records
• ☐ Medication list, doctors’ names, therapist names, and pharmacy information
• ☐ For guardianship: criminal record release forms and DHHS record release forms for each proposed guardian and each adult in the home, as required by the court instructions

How grandparents can apply for benefits in this state

Use the right door for the right problem. New Hampshire splits this work among benefits offices, courts, Family Resource Centers, and aging-services offices.

Issue	New Hampshire office or portal	Phone or finder	Local variation to watch
Cash, SNAP, Medicaid, child care help	NH EASY / Bureau of Family Assistance	1-844-275-3447 or 603-271-9700	Your town determines your correct District Office catchment.
Kinship support and local referrals	Family Resource Centers	Locator on Family Support NH	Programs and support groups vary by region.
Minor guardianship	NH Circuit Court probate process	NH Judicial Branch website	You file by county and court location.
Senior caregiver support and respite	ServiceLink	1-866-634-9412	At least one ServiceLink office in each county.
Housing crisis or local welfare	211 NH and local town or city welfare	211 or 1-866-444-4211	Rules vary town by town in New Hampshire.

Accessibility note: New Hampshire allows phone-based applications, and the state’s Medicaid application materials say free language help is available. TTY users can use Relay NH at 1-800-735-2964 or 711. If a senior cannot manage the process, ask about using an authorized representative.

How to apply or use without wasting time

• Open the right case: Tell DHHS you are a grandparent or relative caregiver and ask for screening for child-only FAP, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help.
• Use NH EASY first if you can: It lets you apply, upload proofs, view notices, and report changes through the state portal.
• Switch to phone if the portal is a problem: Many seniors do better by calling 1-844-275-3447 instead of fighting passwords and uploads.
• Call a kinship navigator right after you apply: The navigator can help you fill gaps, chase local resources, and explain school or legal steps.
• Fix legal authority early: If the child is staying more than a short emergency period, look at guardianship or ask DCYF about foster placement status.
• Choose the right district office: New Hampshire’s catchment list shows that the office depends on your town.
• Save every notice: Put mailed notices, yellow renewal letters, and uploaded proofs in one folder.
• Ask for the exact missing item if delayed: Do not accept “we need more proof” as a full answer. Ask what document, which program, and what deadline applies.

Reality checks

• Child-only TANF is often smaller than families expect. It helps, but it usually will not cover the full cost of raising a child.

• Informal care is emotionally fast but legally weak. School and medical problems often start weeks after the child moves in, not on day one.

• Portal delays are real. If you upload proofs and hear nothing, call and confirm they were attached to the right case.

• Housing help is not uniform statewide. Emergency Assistance is state-run, but local welfare and housing options vary sharply by town, property, and waitlist.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for a court order before applying for benefits
• Not telling DHHS that this is a relative caregiver or child-only situation
• Assuming grandparent status alone gives school or medical authority
• Forgetting to ask whether DCYF placement means foster care reimbursement is possible
• Ignoring renewal letters or online notices
• Mixing up DHHS and local town welfare, which are not the same thing in New Hampshire
• Sending original documents without keeping copies or photos

Best options by need

• I need cash help now: Ask DHHS to screen for child-only FAP.
• I need food help now: Apply for SNAP and ask about WIC if the child is under 5.
• I need legal authority: Start minor guardianship unless the child is already in a DCYF case.
• I need support as an older caregiver: Call ServiceLink and a kinship navigator.
• I need help with school, transportation, or local referrals: Use your Family Resource Center.
• The child is already in state custody: Ask about licensed relative foster care reimbursement.
• I am behind on rent or utilities: Ask DHHS about Emergency Assistance and use 211 NH for local welfare.

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

• If DHHS denies or cuts benefits: Read the notice, find the deadline, call your Family Services Specialist or the Customer Service Center, and ask exactly why the case was denied. If you disagree, use the appeal instructions on the notice and ask for an administrative review or hearing right away.
• If the school will not enroll the child: Ask for the school’s document list in writing, ask what proof of residency and caregiver authority they accept, and raise McKinney-Vento rights if the child lacks stable housing.
• If a doctor’s office says you cannot consent: Ask whether a parent-signed consent will work short-term and what court document they require for routine care. Then decide whether guardianship is needed.
• If DCYF is involved and payment is unclear: Ask the worker and supervisor whether the child is in state custody, whether the home is licensed, and what reimbursement path applies. If problems continue, use the Office of the Child Advocate website for more direction.
• If you need legal help: Contact New Hampshire Legal Assistance, NH Legal Aid, or, for disability-related issues, Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire.

Plan B / backup options

• Use the New Hampshire Food Bank food map if SNAP is delayed.
• Ask 211 NH for local churches, fuel funds, diapers, beds, school supplies, and emergency grants.
• If a parent has died or is disabled, check for Social Security child benefits.
• If the child has serious health or school needs, contact New Hampshire Family Voices.
• If you are a veteran or spouse of a veteran, contact the New Hampshire State Veterans Council at 1-800-622-9230.
• If you cannot manage the paperwork, ask DHHS about an authorized representative and ask a trusted adult child to help track notices.

Local resources

• NH EASY and DHHS Customer Service Center: Apply for cash help, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care through NH EASY. Phone: 1-844-275-3447 or 603-271-9700.
• Kinship Navigation Program: Statewide kinship help through local Family Resource Centers via the program page and the Family Support New Hampshire locator.
• ServiceLink / NHCarePath: Help for older adults, disability access, caregiver support, and respite through ServiceLink or NHCarePath. Phone: 1-866-634-9412.
• 211 New Hampshire: Community resources, local welfare direction, and crisis referrals through 211 NH. Dial 211 or 1-866-444-4211. TTY: 603-634-3388.
• New Hampshire Legal Assistance: Low-cost or free legal help through NHLA. Phone: 1-800-562-3174.
• NH Legal Aid: Self-help and legal information through NH Legal Aid.
• New Hampshire Family Voices: Help for families of children with special health care or education needs through NH Family Voices.
• New Hampshire Housing: Affordable housing direction through New Hampshire Housing. Phone: 1-800-640-7239.

Diverse communities

Seniors with disabilities

Use aging and disability programs together. Start with ServiceLink for caregiver support and options counseling. If rights at school, in health care, or in public benefits are part of the problem, contact Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire. If the child has complex medical or education needs, New Hampshire Family Voices can also help.

Veteran seniors

Ask about veteran-connected help even if the child is not the veteran. The state’s grandparent caregiver resource sheet points families to the New Hampshire State Veterans Council at 1-800-622-9230 for benefit direction.

Immigrant and refugee seniors

Do not assume the child cannot go to school. The school enrollment rights fact sheet posted by New Hampshire explains that public school enrollment cannot be blocked based on citizenship or immigration questions. Benefit eligibility can be more complicated, so ask DHHS to screen the case and use legal help if immigration status affects the application. The state’s application materials also say free language help is available.

Rural seniors with limited access

Use phone and local office options. New Hampshire’s systems can be hard if you live far from a city, but the state still allows phone-based applications, and it publishes District Office catchment areas. Many kinship supports also run through local Family Resource Centers and some virtual support groups, including Waypoint’s current kinship offerings.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a separate New Hampshire cash grant just for grandparents raising grandchildren?

Not on the public state pages reviewed as of 7 April 2026. In practice, New Hampshire grandparents usually look first at the Family Assistance Program for child-only TANF, Kinship Navigation for support and referrals, and foster care reimbursement only if DCYF placed the child and the relative home is licensed.

Can I get child-only TANF if I receive Social Security or a pension?

Often, yes. New Hampshire’s grandparent caregiver sheet says the caregiver’s income does not count for FAP; only the child’s income, such as child support, counts. That said, do not self-deny. Let DHHS screen the case because details still matter.

Do I need guardianship to enroll my grandchild in school or consent to medical care?

Sometimes yes, and often it is the cleanest solution. The state kinship guide says informal caregivers may not have legal authority to enroll the child in school or consent to medical treatment. Some schools and providers will accept temporary papers, but local practice varies, so call first and ask exactly what they require.

When can a grandparent get foster care payments in New Hampshire?

Usually only when the child is in DCYF custody and placed with you in a formal relative foster placement. The state’s relative caregiver guide says licensed relative foster providers receive bi-monthly reimbursement, while the grandparent resource sheet says licensing is strongly advised.

How do I apply if I cannot use a computer or printer?

Use the phone. New Hampshire lets families apply through NH EASY, but the state TANF plan also says telephonic signatures are accepted. You can call 1-844-275-3447 or 603-271-9700, or go to the correct District Office for your town.

What if I need housing help right now?

Ask DHHS about Emergency Assistance right away, especially if you have a shutoff or eviction notice. If you do not fit EA rules, call 211 NH for your town or city welfare office and check New Hampshire Housing for longer-term housing options.

Can kinship navigation help if DCYF is not involved?

Yes. The Kinship Navigation Program page says the service is for kinship caregivers statewide, not just foster families. If the child lives with you full-time, a navigator may still help with benefits, school issues, legal referrals, support groups, and local services.

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela, o familiar mayor que está criando a un niño en New Hampshire, empiece con una solicitud en NH EASY. Ese portal puede revisar ayuda en efectivo, SNAP, Medicaid y ayuda para cuidado infantil. También es importante llamar al programa estatal de Kinship Navigation, porque puede conectar a su familia con recursos locales, apoyo emocional y referencias legales.

En New Hampshire, no parece existir un solo pago estatal separado para todos los abuelos que crían nietos fuera del sistema de foster care. Muchas familias usan el Family Assistance Program como TANF para el niño, y algunas familias pueden recibir pagos de foster care si DCYF colocó al menor con un familiar licenciado. Si usted necesita autoridad para la escuela o para decisiones médicas, revise la información de guardianship de menores en la corte.

Si necesita ayuda por teléfono, puede llamar a DHHS al 1-844-275-3447 o 603-271-9700. Para apoyo para adultos mayores y cuidadores, use ServiceLink al 1-866-634-9412. Para recursos comunitarios, vivienda o ayuda local, use 211 New Hampshire. Si el niño tiene necesidades médicas o educativas especiales, New Hampshire Family Voices puede ser útil. Si necesita ayuda legal, revise NH Legal Aid o New Hampshire Legal Assistance.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified 7 April 2026, next review August 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only, not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, deadlines, and availability can change. Confirm current details directly with the official program, court, school district, health plan, or agency before acting.