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

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom line: New Hampshire does not show one monthly cash grant for every grandparent raising a grandchild outside foster care. Most families use a mix of child-only cash help, SNAP, Medicaid, child care help, kinship navigation, local support, and legal steps. Start with NH EASY and ask for a relative caregiver case review before you decide that you do not qualify.

Emergency help now

• If the child is in danger, call 911.
• If you suspect abuse or neglect, use the state page for report child abuse or call DCYF Central Intake at 603-271-6562 or 1-800-894-5533 if you are in New Hampshire.
• If you need food, cash help, Medicaid, or child care help, call DHHS Customer Service at 1-844-275-3447.
• If you are an older caregiver and do not know where to start, call ServiceLink at 1-866-634-9412 for aging, disability, caregiver, and Medicare-related direction.
• If the problem is rent, utilities, food, a bed, diapers, fuel, or a local charity, call 211 NH by dialing 211 or 1-866-444-4211.

Quick help for New Hampshire grandparents

For a broader state benefits path, see the Grants for Seniors page on New Hampshire senior help for the wider picture. If the online portal is the hard part, the GFS NH EASY guide can help you avoid common upload and notice problems.

Contents

• Best first steps
• Choose your legal lane
• Cash help and FAP
• Kinship navigation help
• Guardianship and authority
• Foster care payments
• Health, food, child care
• Housing and local help
• Documents to gather
• Denied or delayed
• Local resources
• FAQs

Best first steps after the child moves in

Do not wait for perfect papers. A grandchild may move in before you have a birth certificate, school record, or court order. That is common. Start the benefits process anyway, then send proof as you get it.

• Write down the date the child moved in and why the parents are not caring for the child now.
• Keep the child safe first. Get medicine, clothes, food, a bed, and school supplies.
• Apply for cash, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help in one place.
• Call a kinship navigator the same week.
• Ask the school what it will accept for enrollment while legal papers are still pending.
• Ask the doctor what consent form or court paper is needed for routine care.
• If DCYF is involved, ask in writing whether the child is in state custody and whether you can become licensed.

Phone script for DHHS: “I am a grandparent caring for my grandchild full time in New Hampshire. The parent is not caring for the child right now. Please screen us for child-only FAP, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care help. Please tell me what proof you need first and what can be sent later.”

Choose your legal lane early

New Hampshire help changes based on how the child came to live with you. Use this table before you apply, go to court, or talk with DCYF.

If you are not sure which lane you are in, ask the kinship navigator and any caseworker to explain it in plain words. A good first question is: “Is this informal care, guardianship, or a DCYF placement?”

Cash help and child-only FAP

New Hampshire’s child-only cash help path is usually the FAP manual path. FAP stands for Family Assistance Program. It is part of the state’s Families with Needy Children system, often called TANF in daily speech.

FAP can help when a child is being cared for by a specified relative other than a parent. A state grandparent caregiver sheet says the caregiver’s income does not count for FAP in that type of case. Only the child’s income, such as child support, counts. This can matter for grandparents who receive Social Security, a pension, or disability income.

What FAP may help with

• A cash benefit for the child.
• Medicaid screening for the child.
• A clearer benefits record showing the child lives with you.

Who may qualify

• The child lives with you in New Hampshire.
• You are a grandparent or another allowed relative caregiver.
• The parent is not caring for the child in the home.
• The child meets age and other program rules.
• The child’s own income is within the rules.

New Hampshire also has a general TANF page that explains the state’s main cash programs. Ask DHHS to screen the exact case. Do not guess from the regular adult TANF rules.

Reality check: The public pages most families find first do not give a simple child-only FAP payment chart. Ask for the amount in writing after DHHS reviews the child’s case. Also ask how child support will be handled before you spend the money.

Kinship navigation help

The New Hampshire Kinship Navigation program is one of the best first calls. It is free, voluntary, and confidential. It helps grandparents, relatives, and close family friends raising children who are not their own.

A navigator can help with benefits, school supplies, food help, gas to appointments, parent education, legal referrals, and follow-up support. Many services run through a local Family Resource Center, so the exact help may vary by region.

Phone script for kinship help: “My grandchild lives with me full time. I need help with benefits, school, and legal authority. Can a kinship navigator call me back and help me make a short plan?”

What to ask the navigator

• Which Family Resource Center covers my town?
• Can you help me apply or upload proof?
• Are there local support groups or PASTA groups near me?
• What should I do if the school or doctor says no?
• Can you refer me to legal help?

If you are an older caregiver, also check GFS resources on aging agencies in your region. These offices may help with caregiver support, Medicare questions, transportation direction, and local senior services.

Guardianship and authority for school and medical care

Informal care may solve the emergency, but it may not give you clear legal authority. New Hampshire court pages explain minor guardianship for children under 18. Guardianship of the person is usually handled in Family Division. If the case also involves the child’s estate, Probate Division may be involved.

The court’s guardianship e-filing page says guardianship cases are generally filed electronically. If you cannot afford filing costs, the court has a fee waiver process. Fees and filing rules can change, so check the court page before you file.

When guardianship may help

• The school will not accept your caregiver letter.
• A doctor will not allow you to consent to routine care.
• You need to apply for benefits or records for the child.
• The child will stay with you longer than a short emergency.
• The parent cannot safely or reliably sign papers.

Phone script for the school: “My grandchild lives with me now. I need to enroll the child and keep school stable. Please tell me what proof of residency, age, and caregiver authority you accept today, and whether a McKinney-Vento liaison should be involved.”

For enrollment problems, the state-posted school rights sheet explains that children have public school access regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Schools may still ask for proof of age and residency, but they should not block a child only because one paper is missing.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

Yes, but not in every case. Foster care reimbursement is usually tied to a DCYF placement and licensing. A grandchild moving in by family agreement is not the same as a foster placement.

The state relative caregiver guide says licensed foster relative providers can receive bi-monthly reimbursement for each child placed with them, based on the child’s age. The same guide says licensing may also open more support services.

Phone script for DCYF: “Is the child in DCYF custody, and am I the placement? Can I become a licensed relative foster home? Please give me the current reimbursement schedule, licensing steps, and any deadline that affects payment.”

Reality check for DCYF cases

• Ask before the case closes or the placement changes.
• Get the payment path in writing.
• Ask whether child care, counseling, transportation, or clothing help is available.
• Keep all placement letters, court papers, and safety plans.
• Do not assume a verbal promise means payment has started.

Health coverage, food help, and child care

A grandchild may qualify for help even when the grandparent does not. Apply and let DHHS decide.

If the child has a disability or special health care needs, New Hampshire Family Voices may help you understand health, school, and care systems. GFS also has a New Hampshire disability help guide for older caregivers managing their own disability needs.

Reality check: Renewals matter. Open every DHHS letter. If the state asks for proof, answer before the deadline. Many coverage problems start with missed mail, not with the first application.

Housing, utilities, and local help

If rent, utilities, or fuel are the emergency, ask DHHS about Emergency Assistance before the problem grows. The state says this program may help families get or keep housing, but it is not an open-ended grant for every household. It is tied to FANF rules and emergency rules.

New Hampshire Housing says renters with immediate needs should also use local welfare and 211. Its renter resources page notes that New Hampshire Housing does not have emergency money for rent or one-time costs like deposits.

For more senior-focused housing paths, see GFS housing help for senior renters and homeowners. If you need crisis options, the GFS emergency help guide may help you sort rent, utilities, food, and local charity options.

Local help to ask about

• Town or city welfare.
• Fuel assistance or utility shutoff help.
• Food pantries and school food programs.
• Beds, diapers, clothing, and school supplies.
• Transportation to court, school, or medical visits.
• Church or charity help; GFS lists New Hampshire charity help options.

Documents and information to gather

Send what you have. Then send missing papers later. Keep photos or copies of everything.

• Your photo 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 lives with you, such as school mail, a doctor note, a lease addendum, or a caseworker letter.
• Any court order, safety plan, police report, or DCYF paper.
• Child support, Social Security, or other income paid for the child.
• Your rent, mortgage, utility, fuel, and shutoff records.
• Health insurance card, Medicaid card, prescriptions, and doctor names.
• School records, IEP, 504 plan, and immunization records.
• Names and contact information for parents, if safe to share.

If you need help at home while caring for the child, GFS has New Hampshire paid caregiver options for adult-care situations. That guide is mainly for adult care, not grandchild TANF, but it can help when an older adult in the home also needs care.

How to start without wasting time

• Open one benefits case. Ask for FAP, SNAP, Medicaid, and child care screening together.
• Use phone help if the portal is hard. Tell DHHS you need a relative caregiver review.
• Call kinship navigation after the benefits application, not weeks later.
• Ask the school and doctor what they need in writing.
• If DCYF is involved, ask about licensing before the case closes.
• Save notices in one folder. Take pictures of uploaded documents.
• If the first answer sounds wrong, ask for a supervisor or written notice.

Reality checks and common mistakes

• FAP may help, but it may not cover the real cost of raising a child.
• Informal care is fast, but it may not solve legal authority.
• Portal uploads can be missed. Call and confirm that proof is attached to the correct case.
• Local welfare varies by town. One town may handle a housing emergency differently from another.
• Do not wait for guardianship before applying for benefits.
• Do not call it regular TANF only. Say “child-only relative caregiver case.”
• Do not ignore child support questions. Cash help can affect how support is handled.
• Do not send original papers without keeping copies.

What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

If DHHS denies or cuts benefits, read the notice first. Find the deadline. Ask why the case was denied and what proof would change the decision. If you disagree, follow the appeal steps on the notice.

If the school refuses enrollment, ask for the reason in writing. Ask for the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison if the child lacks a stable home. If you need legal help, start with New Hampshire Legal Assistance or NH Legal Aid before deadlines pass.

If DCYF is involved and you cannot get clear answers, write down dates, names, and promises. Ask for the supervisor. If you still need direction, the Child Advocate office is one place to review child welfare concerns.

Phone script for delays: “I am calling about my grandchild’s case. Please tell me the exact missing item, the program affected, the deadline, and the best way to send proof. Please also note that I called today.”

Backup options if the main path stalls

• Use the New Hampshire Food Bank food map if SNAP is delayed.
• Ask 211 about fuel funds, diapers, beds, clothing, school supplies, and local welfare.
• If a parent died, retired, or receives disability, ask about Social Security benefits for the child.
• If the child has serious health or school needs, call New Hampshire Family Voices.
• If you are a veteran or surviving spouse, contact the state veterans council and see GFS veteran senior help for local veteran paths.

Local resources

Resumen en español

Si usted es abuelo, abuela, o un familiar mayor que está criando a un niño en New Hampshire, empiece con una solicitud de beneficios y pida ayuda de kinship. Puede pedir que revisen ayuda en efectivo para el niño, SNAP, Medicaid y ayuda para cuidado infantil. No espere a tener todos los papeles perfectos.

Si el niño está en peligro, llame al 911. Si necesita reportar abuso o negligencia, llame a DCYF al 603-271-6562 o 1-800-894-5533 dentro de New Hampshire. Para beneficios, llame a DHHS al 1-844-275-3447. Para apoyo para adultos mayores y cuidadores, llame a ServiceLink al 1-866-634-9412. Para comida, vivienda, servicios públicos o ayuda local, marque 211.

New Hampshire no muestra un solo pago especial para todos los abuelos que crían nietos fuera de foster care. Algunas familias pueden usar FAP para el niño. Otras familias pueden recibir pagos de foster care si DCYF colocó al niño con un familiar licenciado. Si necesita autoridad para la escuela o el médico, revise guardianship de menores.

Frequently asked questions

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

Not as one simple statewide grant for every informal grandfamily. Most families start with child-only FAP, SNAP, Medicaid, child care help, kinship navigation, and local support. Foster care reimbursement is different and usually requires a DCYF placement and licensing.

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

Often, yes. New Hampshire’s grandparent caregiver materials say the caregiver’s income does not count for FAP in this type of relative caregiver case. The child’s own income can still matter, so let DHHS screen the case.

Do I need guardianship to enroll my grandchild in school?

Maybe. Some schools accept temporary proof, but informal caregivers can run into problems with enrollment, records, and medical consent. Ask the school what it accepts now, and look at guardianship if the child will stay with you.

When can a grandparent get foster care payments?

Usually when DCYF placed the child with the grandparent and the home is licensed or approved for the right payment path. Ask the caseworker for the current reimbursement rules in writing.

What if I cannot use NH EASY online?

Call DHHS Customer Service at 1-844-275-3447. Ask for phone help, paper options, language help, or an authorized representative if you need someone to help manage the case.

Where should an older caregiver call first?

If the issue is benefits, call DHHS. If the issue is kinship support, call a kinship navigator. If the issue is senior caregiver stress, respite, Medicare, or disability access, call ServiceLink.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, local, 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 27 May 2026, next review 27 August 2026.

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

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.

Last updated: 27 May 2026. Next review: 27 August 2026.