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Last updated: 7 May 2026
This guide is for senior veterans in New Hampshire, older surviving spouses, veteran households, caregivers, and helpers. It focuses on veteran-specific help, not every senior program.
Bottom line: For most veteran benefit questions, start with the New Hampshire VSO office and call 603-624-9230. For VA medical care, start with the Manchester VA locations. For no safe place to sleep, call 2-1-1 and the VA homeless line at 1-877-424-3838 the same day.
Contents
- Urgent help first
- Fast start for New Hampshire veteran help
- Claims, pension, and survivor help
- VA health care and rides
- New Hampshire veteran tax relief
- New Hampshire Veterans Home
- Veteran housing and local nonprofits
- Burial and cemetery planning
- Legal help and paperwork
- FAQ
Urgent help first
If someone is in danger now, call 911. If a veteran may harm themselves or someone else, call or text 988 and press 1. For a New Hampshire mental health or substance-use crisis, call NH Rapid Response at 1-833-710-6477.
If an older veteran has no safe place to sleep, dial 2-1-1 New Hampshire. Also call the VA homeless call center at 1-877-424-3838.
If abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation may be happening, call NH Adult Protective Services at 603-271-7014 or 1-800-949-0470 from inside New Hampshire.
Fast start for New Hampshire veteran help
Use this table to choose the right first call. It can save time and reduce repeat calls.
| Need | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| VA claims, pension, Aid and Attendance, survivor benefits | NH Veterans Services Officers | Ask for a benefits review appointment. |
| VA health care or local clinic care | Manchester VA Healthcare System | Ask about enrollment, clinic locations, and community care rules. |
| Veteran property tax credit | Your town or city assessor | Ask which veteran credits your town has adopted. |
| Nursing home care for a veteran | New Hampshire Veterans Home | Ask about eligibility, admissions packet, and current bed review. |
| Homelessness or rent crisis | 2-1-1 and VA homeless line | Ask about SSVF, HUD-VASH, shelter, and veteran housing screening. |
Claims, pension, and survivor help
The best first step for a New Hampshire veteran claim is a free benefits review with a state Veterans Services Officer. The state says its VSOs help New Hampshire veterans and dependents secure benefits and preferences under state or federal law. Call 603-624-9230 to schedule.
A VSO can help with disability compensation, pension, Aid and Attendance, survivors pension, burial benefits, and appeal choices. Bring your DD214, VA letters, medical records, marriage records, spouse death certificate if needed, and direct deposit information.
The Manchester VA benefit office at 275 Chestnut Street can also help with benefit questions, letters, direct deposit, and claim status.
Reality check: VA claims can take time. A denial does not always end the claim. Read the decision letter and ask the VSO which review lane fits.
VA health care and rides in New Hampshire
The main VA medical site in New Hampshire is the Manchester VA Medical Center at 718 Smyth Road. VA lists primary care, mental health, optometry, prosthetics, palliative care, hospice care, and more.
VA Manchester also lists clinics in Conway, Manchester West, Portsmouth, Somersworth, and Tilton. Call before you drive because services vary by clinic.
If the veteran has Medicare, do not assume Medicare and VA will pay the same bill. Ask the VA care team before using non-VA care if you expect VA to cover it.
For rides, the DAV van service may help veterans who have no other transportation. VA lists the Manchester DAV coordinator at 603-624-4366, ext. 6776. DAV vans are for ambulatory riders.
New Hampshire veteran tax relief
New Hampshire veteran property tax credits are local. The state law sets the framework, but your city or town assessor handles the application and local amount.
Under RSA 72:28, the standard veterans tax credit is $50. A town or city may adopt an optional credit from $51 up to $750. The credit is subtracted from the property tax on the veteran’s residential property when the person qualifies.
Some towns also adopt the All Veterans Credit. This can help veterans who did not meet an older wartime-service rule, but only if the municipality adopted it. Ask your assessor directly.
Separate rules cover service-connected total disability, certain VA-adapted homes, and some surviving spouses. Check the disabled veteran credit, adapted-home exemption, and surviving spouse credit.
Most applicants use Form PA-29. The form is due April 15. Ask the assessor what proof is needed.
For broader homeowner tax issues, see our New Hampshire tax help guide. Use this page for the veteran-specific path.
New Hampshire Veterans Home
The New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton may be an option when a veteran needs nursing home care. The Home says combat service is not required. The veteran generally needs an honorable discharge and either one year of New Hampshire residency or New Hampshire as home of record. There is no minimum age to apply.
Contact the Veterans Home contact office at 603-527-4400. Ask for admissions. Also ask what medical records, financial papers, legal papers, and VA forms are needed.
Reality check: The Home must be able to meet the veteran’s care needs. If care is urgent, also call New Hampshire ADRC at 1-866-634-9412. Our New Hampshire benefits guide explains broader aging help.
Veteran housing and local nonprofit help
For a veteran housing crisis, call 2-1-1 and the VA homeless line at 1-877-424-3838. Ask for SSVF, HUD-VASH, shelter, and veteran housing screening.
Harbor Care SSVF serves New Hampshire veteran households that are homeless or facing a housing crisis. Emergency housing starts through 2-1-1.
Veterans Count provides case management and emergency financial help for service members, veterans, and families. Its service contact is 603-315-4354.
Liberty House in Manchester provides substance-free transitional housing and community support for homeless and struggling veterans.
For broader rent and senior housing steps, use our New Hampshire housing guide. For same-day food, heat, or shelter needs, use our New Hampshire emergency help guide.
Burial and cemetery planning
The New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery is in Boscawen at 110 Daniel Webster Highway. Eligibility is based on federal and state cemetery rules. The cemetery says a veteran’s discharge cannot be dishonorable or bad conduct, and that eligible spouses and dependents may also be interred.
The cemetery encourages veterans to pre-apply for burial. Keep the eligibility certificate with the DD214, marriage papers, funeral home contact, and next-of-kin papers.
Reality check: A specific gravesite usually is not reserved ahead of time. The goal of pre-application is to prove eligibility before the family is under pressure.
Legal help, records, and paperwork
Legal problems can block veteran help. Eviction, debt, benefit appeals, family issues, scams, and powers of attorney may need legal support.
Veterans Legal Justice connects New Hampshire veterans, active-duty members, and family members with pro bono legal services. It lists 603-397-0650 as its phone number.
603 Legal Aid helps low-income New Hampshire residents with civil legal issues and referrals. NH Legal Assistance says older adults age 60 and over may also get help through legal aid services. These offices do not handle every case, so call early if there is a court date.
If the veteran lost discharge papers, request military records through the National Archives records page. A VSO can help you know which record matters for a claim, tax credit, cemetery application, or Veterans Home admission.
Documents to gather
| Document | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| DD214 or discharge papers | Needed for most veteran benefits, tax credits, burial, and admissions. |
| VA decision letters | Shows ratings, pension, survivor status, or denial reasons. |
| Photo ID and proof of address | Helps prove New Hampshire residency and local tax status. |
| Property tax bill and deed | Needed for town or city veteran tax credits. |
| Marriage, death, or dependency papers | Needed for surviving spouse and dependent benefits. |
| Medical records and medication list | Helps with claims, care planning, and Veterans Home review. |
Phone scripts you can use
Calling a New Hampshire VSO
“Hello, I am a New Hampshire senior veteran, or I am helping one. I need a benefits review for VA disability, pension, Aid and Attendance, survivor benefits, and state veteran benefits. What should I bring?”
Calling the assessor
“Hello, I am a veteran homeowner in your town. Which veterans tax credits has the town adopted? What is the deadline, and do I need Form PA-29, DD214, or a VA disability letter?”
Calling about housing
“Hello, I am helping an older veteran who may lose housing. We need SSVF screening, HUD-VASH screening, shelter options, and veteran housing referrals. What can we do today?”
Calling the Veterans Home
“Hello, I am asking about admission for a New Hampshire veteran who may need nursing home care. Can you explain the current application, medical forms, financial review, and waiting process?”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying a claim company before trying free VSO or accredited help.
- Missing the April 15 local property tax filing date.
- Assuming every town gives the same veteran tax credit.
- Waiting until eviction day to call 2-1-1 or the VA homeless line.
- Booking non-VA care without asking whether VA will cover it.
- Sending copies of records without keeping your own copy.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask for the reason in writing. Keep the full letter and deadline page. For VA claims, call the VSO before you appeal or file again. For tax credits, ask the assessor about appeals. For housing, ask for another veteran provider or shelter path.
If calls feel hard, ask a trusted family member, caregiver, senior center worker, legal aid intake worker, or veterans nonprofit to sit with you. For non-VA dental options, see our New Hampshire dental guide.
Resumen en español
Si usted es veterano mayor en New Hampshire, empiece con la oficina estatal de servicios para veteranos. Llame al 603-624-9230 y pida una cita con un VSO. Para cuidado médico del VA, llame al sistema VA de Manchester. Si no tiene un lugar seguro para dormir, llame al 2-1-1 y al 1-877-424-3838.
Para ayuda con impuestos de propiedad, llame al asesor de su ciudad o pueblo antes del 15 de abril. Para abuso, negligencia o explotación financiera de un adulto vulnerable, llame a Adult Protective Services al 603-271-7014 o 1-800-949-0470 dentro de New Hampshire.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get help with veteran benefits in New Hampshire?
Call 603-624-9230 and ask for an appointment with a New Hampshire Veterans Services Officer. Ask for a full benefits review, not just help with one form.
Does New Hampshire have a veterans nursing home?
Yes. The New Hampshire Veterans Home is in Tilton. The veteran must meet service, residency or home-of-record, medical, safety, and financial review rules.
How much is the New Hampshire veterans property tax credit?
The standard credit is $50. A town or city may adopt an optional credit from $51 up to $750. Other disabled veteran and surviving spouse credits have separate rules.
Where can a homeless senior veteran start in New Hampshire?
Call 2-1-1 and the VA homeless call center at 1-877-424-3838. Ask about SSVF, HUD-VASH, shelter, and local veteran housing providers.
Can a surviving spouse get veteran help in New Hampshire?
Sometimes. A surviving spouse may need help with survivor benefits, burial planning, or local tax credits. A VSO can check the spouse’s path and documents.
What if I lost my DD214?
Request military records from the National Archives. If you are filing soon, ask a VSO whether another proof of service can help while you wait.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org.
Last updated: 7 May 2026
Next review date: 7 August 2026
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