Page 23

2026 - 2027 I PY27 NH Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) Procedures Manual 23 disability or chronic health condition. Respite care programs provide reimbursement for service paid by the family member or caregiver to allow them time away from their challenging responsibility of taking care of the disabled or ill individual living in their household.

Given that respite care funds are provided on a reimbursement basis, it is not considered as income for the purposes of determining income eligibility.

Difficulty of care payments: This type of payment is defined as ‘payment to a family or household members of qualified disabled or chronically ill individuals who would be otherwise institutionalized. Payments are generally provided because the disability is so severe that the caretaker is unable to hold a job.’ Given the circumstances in which someone would receive such a payment, it is not considered as income for the purposes of determining income eligibility. This includes payment for room and board, which is not considered income.

Personal care services payments: This type of payment is defined as ‘payment to a family or household members of qualified disabled or chronically ill individuals for the day to day needs (bathing, dressing, eating etc) of the individual.’ Given the circumstances in which someone would receive such a payment, it is not considered as income for the purposes of determining income eligibility.

Child Support Paid

Child Support paid is considered an income expense if the person paying child support has documentation. Documentation examples include payroll deductions, verification from Child Support Hotline, copies of check stubs, etc. Documentation is required as this has an impact on eligibility and benefit amount.

If there is no documentation of the child support paid, it cannot be entered as an expense to reduce total income.

Child Support Received

Child Support received is not considered income. No documentation is needed if the household has other income sources that can cover their basic needs. However, if a household has no or very low income, the documentation of child support received (either on the application or through another method) is important. If a household member needs to complete a No or Low Income Declaration, staff can request verification of child support received as deemed necessary to help verify how the household is meeting their basic needs.