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State of New Hampshire

TANF State Plan

13 New Hampshire State Plan Effective October 2023 • Authorized Representative — Individuals may choose any adult to assist them in any aspect of the eligibility process. • Case Decisions — Individuals have the right to be notified of the outcome of all eligibility decisions and of any changes which affect the amount of their benefits or their level of eligibility. • Civil Rights — DHHS does not discriminate against individuals because of their age, sex (including pregnancy sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics), race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin or political affiliation or beliefs. • Complaints and Administrative Appeals — Individuals have the right to request a review of their circumstances and/or an administrative appeal when they are dissatisfied with any action or inaction by DHHS which affects their participation in any DHHS program. Individuals have a right to bring someone with them to the appeal, like a friend, relative, or lawyer, or they can come alone. DHHS will not pay for any legal services the individual wants, but there is free and reduced cost legal services available in NH. • Confidentiality — Information concerning individuals is confidential. Use or disclosure of information in DHHS files is limited to persons directly involved in administration or enforcement of DHHS programs, or as otherwise permitted by policy, or federal or state laws. • Notification of Requirements — Individuals have the right to be notified of the eligibility requirements they must comply with, and of the actions, DHHS must take if the individual does not comply.

Individual Responsibilities: • Accurate Information — Individuals are responsible for supplying complete and truthful information to the best of their ability to meet eligibility requirements. • Changes — Individuals are responsible for reporting all changes in circumstances, which affect eligibility or the amount of assistance. • Compliance — Individuals are responsible for complying with the eligibility requirements for the program(s) of assistance they are applying for. • Verification — Individuals are responsible for providing required verifications.

The State of New Hampshire has established certain protocols to provide a consistent response by the Department of Health and Human Services when employees become aware of a potential crime under RSA 631: Assault and Related Offenses, which includes but not limited to assault, domestic violence, reckless conduct criminal threatening, neglect, and financial exploitation as well as offenses under RSA 632-A Sexual Assault and Related Offenses. These offenses include but are not limited to aggravated felonious sexual assault which identifies the engagement of sexual penetration with another person under certain circumstances such as the victim is physically helpless to resist the perpetrator, or the victim is thirteen (13) years of age or older and under sixteen (16) years of age and are related by blood or affinity to the perpetrator.

Certain divisions within DHHS have the opportunity for interactions with children requiring DHHS to share necessary confidential client information with professional community members outside DHHS, in the interest of protecting children. The protocol described below assures that staff, upon knowing either of the following circumstances, shall immediately report such information to DCYF Central Intake: