Many towns provides short-term assistance for basic living needs to qualified residents through a voucher system. Assistance is available with rent, food, utilities and medication. You must complete an application to be considered for assistance. Please do not wait until your are in an emergency situation to apply. See the links to the left for local resources.
The information below is provided by 603 Legal Aid. Visit the 603 Legal Aid website for more information.
What is town/city welfare?
New Hampshire law says that every town and city in the state must have a welfare program to help people who are poor and who need help. Read the law New Hampshire RSA 165.
What kind of help can a town give?
Towns and cities must give financial help for basic needs like shelter, rent, mortgage payments, heat, lights, gas, water, food, necessary clothing, transportation and prescriptions.
Welfare must also help with “maintenance” items such as paper products, household supplies, diapers, etc.
Welfare may pay for basic telephone service if you need it for health and safety reasons.
Welfare should pay a security deposit if you need it to get housing.
Welfare should pay for medical costs if there is no other way you can get medical services that are absolutely necessary. Welfare should pay for treatments that your doctor says you cannot wait to have.
Welfare should help with mortgage and other payments necessary to stop a foreclosure if you live in your own house and you qualify for help.
The town may decide that a certain expense, such as a car payment, is not necessary. This may happen when a reasonable cheaper choice is available, like taking a bus. Even if the welfare officer disagrees with how you have spent your money, you should get help now with instructions to change your situation. For example, you may be asked to apply for public or subsidized housing if your rent is high.
How do I qualify financially for town or city welfare?
Even if you work, your take-home pay may not be enough to pay for your basic needs. So you may be able to get help from welfare even if you have a job.
To figure if you can get help, the welfare official should add up your family’s income. They will also add up your liquid assets. Liquid assets are the value of certain things you own and the money you have in the bank.Food stamps and fuel assistance are not counted as income. Child support is only counted if you are getting it. The welfare official compares the total of your family’s income and liquid assets to the “allowed expenses” for a household your size to see if you qualify for help.
The town should help with necessary expenses that your income does not cover. The town may decide that a certain expense, such as a car payment, is not necessary. This may happen when a reasonable cheaper choice is available, like taking a bus.
Where do I apply for welfare?
If you need financial help, contact your town or city hall and ask for the welfare official. If the welfare official is not available, ask for the town or city manager. Or, find your local office by going to the NH Municipal Association website and choose “Municipal Director” from the Resource menu on the left of the screen.
It is against the law for a town to tell you to “go back to where you came from” or to “go apply to a different town.”
Someone should always be available during normal business hours to take your application.
How do I apply for welfare?
The town should give you an application to fill out which asks about your income and expenses. You have a right to fill out a written application for help even if the welfare official tells you that you are not eligible.
What information will I need when I apply?
When you apply, bring a list of all monthly expenses even if the town says it does not pay for certain things. The welfare official will want to see pay stubs, bills, rent slips, shut-off and eviction notices, etc. Take these papers to your interview.
You must give complete and true information on your application.
The town may ask for information about some of your relatives — parents, children, stepchildren or spouse. New Hampshire law allows the town to contact or take legal action against these relatives to make them pay the town back for the amount of help it gives you. The town may only do this if your relative can afford to help give you support.
How and when will the town decide?
The welfare official must use written rules in making a decision on your application. You have a right to see these rules.
The welfare official adds up your family’s income and liquid assets, like the amount of money you have in a bank account. They compare that amount to the “allowed expenses” for a household your size to see if the town can help you.
The town should help with necessary expenses that your income does not cover. The town may decide that a certain expense, such as a car payment, is not necessary. This may happen when a reasonable cheaper choice is available, like taking a bus.
The town should give you a timely appointment and timely decision. This means the decision should come in time to help with a demand for rent, an eviction, the shut off of your electricity, or other deadline you have.
The town should give you a written decision on your application within 3 to 5 days of your application.