The Division of Family Assistance administers programs and services for eligible NH residents providing financial, medical and food & nutritional assistance, help with child care costs, and emergency help to obtain and keep safe housing.  Family Assistance staff determine initial and continuing eligibility, the amount of benefits and deliver benefits using federal and NH guidelines and policies.  There are seven major types of assistance administered by DFA for NH residents.  The following is a brief description of those assistance types.

Cash Assistance is provided through DFA in two general program areas, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and State Supplemental.  TANF provides assistance to needy families with dependent children and is divided into two programs, the NH Employment Program (NHEP) and the Family Assistance Program (FAP).  State Supplemental is divided into three programs and provides assistance to the disabled, blind and seniors through the Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) Program, the Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB) Program and the Old Age Assistance (OAA) Program.

Food and Nutritional Assistance assists individuals and families through the Food Stamp program.

Medical Coverage assists disabled and elderly adults, blind individuals, children, pregnant women and families through the Medicaid and NH Healthy Kids Programs.  DFA determines eligibility for medical coverage and works cooperatively with the Office of Medicaid Business and Policy, the Bureaus of Elderly and Adult Services and Developmental Services, and the NH Healthy Kids Corporation to ensure that eligible adults and children have access to needed health care services, including preventative dental care for those under age 21.

Medicare Beneficiaries Savings Program assists individuals who qualify for Medicare coverage through the Social Security Administration by paying some of the associated costs of Medicare coverage such as monthly premiums or required deductibles.

Emergency Assistance assists families with dependent children who may qualify for TANF in obtaining and keeping safe and healthy permanent housing. 

Employment and Training Programs and Support Services assists adults receiving cash benefits through the TANF programs or the Food Stamp Benefit Program.  Employment and training services are provided by DFA and other interagency staff co-located at 12 NH Employment Security One Stop Training and Employment Centers throughout NH as a means to empower individuals to achieve self sufficiency. 

Child Care Assistance assists parents engaged in work, training or educational activities leading to employment to afford quality care for their children.  DFA determines eligibility based on rules and policies administered by the Child Development Bureau.  Payments to child care providers are coordinated by DFA in cooperation with the Child Development Bureau.

Benefit Issuance

Cash assistance is issued twice per month via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT).  Cash assistance issued via EFT is deposited directly into an individual's checking or savings account and is accessible in the same manner as any other cash in the account.  Cash assistance issued via EBT is accessed through a debit-style EBT card and individuals can either swipe the EBT card through a point-of-sale machine at participating retailers or use ATM machines to access the cash assistance.   Food Stamp benefits are issued once per month via EBT and individuals swipe the EBT card through a point of sale (POS) machine at participating retailers when purchasing food.