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State of New Hampshire

TANF State Plan

11 New Hampshire State Plan Effective October 2023 are potentially eligible for, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits, Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD), or Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB).

Those engaged with NHEP are referred to an ECS. ECS staff are employed by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. ECS staff work with participants to assess their skills and abilities and develop an individualized employment plan. It is through that employment plan that employment-related activities and support services are made available to participants, through either the New Hampshire Employment Program or other community services. All mandatory individuals are required to participate in a work activity to meet participation requirements. Acceptable work activities may include any combination of the following:

• Unsubsidized employment • Work Experience • On-the-job training • Job Search and Job Readiness • Community Service • Vocational Educational Training • Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment • Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (this includes English as a second language services) • Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalency, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate (this includes English as a second language services) For a description of each work activity, in-depth information regarding the New Hampshire Employment Program, and the support services offered, please refer to New Hampshire’s most recent Work Verification Plan, submitted July 2022.

Employment Counselor Specialists provide online options for participants to engage in work activities virtually, such as online trainings, job search and work readiness to keep them engaged without needing to go to a training site.

When individuals are participating in approved employment-related activities, support services are available to help individuals pay for such expenses as transportation, car repairs, child care, and required equipment for the position, uniforms, tuition, books, fees, and supplies. Employment-related services provided as described in Section 808.41-Support Services of the Family Assistance Manual.

Section 407(e)(2) of the SSA indicates that a state may not reduce or terminate assistance under the state program funded under this part or any other state program funded with qualified state program funded with qualified state expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) based on a refusal of an individual to engage in work required in accordance with this section if the individual is a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained 6 years of age, and the individual proves that the individual has a demonstrated inability (as determined by the state) to obtain needed child care. The following definitions are applied to determine whether the parent has a demonstrated inability to obtain needed child care: