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State of New Hampshire

TANF State Plan

6 New Hampshire State Plan Effective October 2023 New Hampshire RSA 167:78, XXIII and RSA 167:6,V have been modified to include “court-appointed guardians” (non-related legal guardians) as meeting the definition of a specified relative. A court appointed guardian is a legal guardian who takes care of a person who is unable to take care of themselves and may or may not be a relative. As of 10/1/23, assistance groups with minor dependent children being cared for by a court appointed guardian, regardless of if that guardian is a relative or not, shall have the same eligibility as a relative when specified relative is used in making determinations for TANF financial programs. These guardians can apply and receive financial assistance on behalf of the dependent child(ren) if all other eligibility requirements have been met.

Individuals applying for TANF cash assistance must meet the non-financial criteria by providing proof of identity, New Hampshire residence, U.S. citizenship or eligible qualified alien, and social security number of all members of the assistance group prior to receiving benefits. Additional details are located under the following sections in the Family Assistance Manual: Section 301.07 - Verification of Identity Section 303.01- Residence for Eligibility Section 305.01- Definition of U.S Citizen Section 305.09 - Determining Qualified Alien Section 305.11 - Eligibility for Certain Qualified Aliens Section 305.13 - Qualified Aliens Eligible Without Restriction Section 305.17- Qualified Aliens with Restricted Eligibility Based on Date into the U.S Section 309.01- SSN Eligibility and Applicant Notification Requirement

Specified relatives, whether in the cash AG or not, must cooperate with efforts to obtain support, identify liable relatives, and establish the paternity of a child for whom assistance is requested. Specified relatives are required to cooperate with efforts to obtain child support unless they can provide a good cause reason for not cooperating. Specified relatives included in the cash AG who fail to cooperate with the Bureau of Child Support Services (without good cause) are subject to sanction.

Households applying for or receiving TANF financial assistance must apply for and fully pursue all potential sources of income or benefits available to any member of the assistance group. Section 317.01 - Potential Sources of Income Section 317.07 - Cooperation Requirements for Developing Potential Sources of Income

Individuals who apply for TANF cannot be a fugitive felon or a violator of probation or parole. Section 319 - Fugitive Felons and Violators of Probation or Parole

In addition to categorical and general requirements, an assistance group must meet financial eligibility requirements in order to receive assistance. Financial requirements are broken into two components: • income, and • resources An assistance group meeting the income requirements is income eligible. An assistance group meeting the resource requirements is resource eligible. The assistance group is determined to be financially eligible if it meets both income and resource requirements.

General income information is in the Family Assistance Manual under: Section 503 - Available Income, Section 505 - Whose Income Counts? Section 507 - Treatment of Income Section 509 - Verification