Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, "food stamps")
Monthly food benefits that help low-income households buy the food they need. Benefits come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card — EBT has been the sole method of SNAP issuance in all states since June 2004 — which you swipe like a bank card at authorized grocery stores. The benefit amount is based on the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, updated each year to keep pace with food prices, and depends on your household size and how much monthly income is left after certain expenses are deducted. It is a federal program (USDA Food and Nutrition Service), but state public assistance agencies run it through their local offices — you must apply in the state where you currently live, so the application and the local name vary by state (California calls it CalFresh). Benefits generally arrive no later than 30 days after the office receives your application; households with little or no money that need help right away may get benefits within 7 days.
Key difference in this state
First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: SNAP's immigration rules sit at the federal level, and New Hampshire has not added anything stricter. The state DHHS SNAP page lists who may receive it, verbatim: "A US national"; "A qualified Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) or 'green card' holder"; "A Cuban or Haitian entrant (a special immigration status)"; "A person from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, or Palau who is permitted to live and work in the US under the Compact of Free Association (COFA)". What we see when we compare that with federal law (8 U.S.C. §1612) is a longer set of categories: refugees, people granted asylum, people granted withholding of removal, and conditional entrants are qualified aliens in their own right under federal law and do not have to become green-card holders first. So if you were recently granted refugee or asylee status and have not adjusted to a green card, this state page reads as though it does not include you, while federal law does. We are not deciding this for the state: call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (275-3447) and ask for the answer in writing. And the five-year bar for green-card holders has 14 exceptions listed on the state page, including being under 18, having 40 qualifying work quarters, being blind or disabled, having been lawfully residing and 65 or older on August 22, 1996, having a U.S. military connection, being a former refugee or former asylee who now holds a green card, being a green-card holder whose removal was withheld, and being a victim of severe trafficking who is also a green-card holder. Do not skip this program just because you have held a green card for less than five years.
Source:New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · New Hampshire DHHS, Food Stamp Manual (FSM) +1 · checked 2026-08-24
Medicaid
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Key difference in this state
First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: the main body of Medicaid's immigration rules sits at the federal level, and this row does not repeat it - use the single federal guidance on this page; see the “Federal rules” section on this page for the federal framework. Here we write only what New Hampshire itself has written down. For the adult tier, the state's MAM policy manual 230.01 (SR 23-42) says, verbatim: "The Granite Advantage Health Care Program (Granite Advantage) offers medical assistance to low-income NH residents who are US citizens or qualified aliens." And the state DHHS eligibility page lists the covered groups, and that list explicitly includes "refugees" and "non-citizens" - the state's own page says Medicaid is not citizens-only. Two more Granite Advantage rules to know on their own: first, verbatim, "the applicant must be at least age 19 but no older than age 64"; second, verbatim, "if female, she cannot be pregnant at the time of application" - you cannot be pregnant at the moment you apply; and according to the same page, becoming pregnant after you are enrolled does not automatically remove you. And keep the this-door-closes-but-that-one-opens sentence: if you are found over income for Granite Advantage, the manual says, verbatim, "If an individual is determined ineligible for Granite Advantage due to being over income, he or she is referred to the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM)" - you are referred to the federal Marketplace for subsidized insurance; it is not the end of the road. If you are not sure which category your status falls under, call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (275-3447) and ask for the answer in writing.
Source:New Hampshire DHHS, Medical Assistance Manual (MAM) · New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · checked 2026-08-24
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Public health coverage for children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage. It is jointly funded by the federal and state governments (Title XXI of the Social Security Act). Each state designs and runs its own program under federal rules — as a separate CHIP, as a Medicaid-expansion CHIP, or both — so the name, income limits, and details differ by state (state eligibility levels range from about 170% to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level). Besides children, some states' separate CHIP programs also cover pregnant women.
Key difference in this state
First, the name - otherwise you may think this state has no CHIP: New Hampshire runs CHIP as a tier of Medicaid, and its official name is Expanded Children's Medicaid (Expanded CM). The name does not contain the word "CHIP" - searching "CHIP" on the NH state site will not find it. Learn these two names and you have it: this is the state's children's health insurance tier (higher than 196% up to 318% FPL), administered inside the Medicaid system - which is why this site folds it into the state's Medicaid page. The main body of the immigration rules sits at the federal level and is not repeated here - use the single federal guidance on this page. What the state page itself writes, verbatim: "Citizenship: Your child must be a US citizen or an eligible qualified non-citizen." - the requirement is written on the child, not on the parents. And the most important line in this row is the SSN sentence. The state page says, verbatim: "Social Security Number (SSN): Your child's SSN must be provided." - which reads as though no SSN means full stop. What we see when we compare that with the federal regulations is the following (we are not saying the state is wrong; each point carries its citation, and you can take them with you to ask): (1) the person who must furnish an SSN is the person "seeking Medicaid" - verbatim: "the agency must require, as a condition of eligibility, that each individual (including children) seeking Medicaid furnish each of his or her Social Security numbers (SSN)" (42 CFR 435.910(a)); (2) for family members who are not applying (for example, a parent who is not applying), providing an SSN is voluntary - verbatim: "Provision of such SSN is voluntary" (42 CFR 435.907(e)(3)); (3) there are exceptions even for the applicant, including a person who "Is not eligible to receive an SSN" or who refuses one because of "well-established religious objections" (42 CFR 435.910(h)); (4) the agency may not deny or delay while an SSN is pending - verbatim: "The agency must not deny or delay services to an otherwise eligible individual pending issuance or verification of the individual's SSN by SSA" (42 CFR 435.910(f)). And you also hold the state's own precedent: the same DHHS writes on its APTD page, verbatim, "You must furnish a Social Security Number or proof of an application for a Social Security Number." and on its OAA page, verbatim, "The law requires that you furnish a Social Security Number or verification of an application for a Social Security Number if one has never been issued or you cannot provide the number." - both pages give the "or proof of an application" way through, and the children's page does not. So you can take those two pages with you and ask: my child's SSN is still being processed - can we file now? Mixed-status families: the state page writes both the citizenship requirement and the SSN requirement on "your child"; do not let the whole household walk away because a parent has no SSN or no status - call 1-844-ASK-DHHS (275-3447) about your family's specific situation and get the answer in writing.
Source:New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · eCFR (Code of Federal Regulations) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS · checked 2026-08-24
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Nutrition support for pregnancy and early childhood. In USDA's own words, WIC "serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care." Coverage runs from pregnancy until a child turns 5: pregnant women; postpartum women (up to 6 months after the end of a pregnancy); breastfeeding women (up to the infant's first birthday); infants; and children up to their fifth birthday. Every applicant first gets a free, simple health check by WIC staff, and must be individually determined to be at nutrition risk by a health professional — two major types are recognized: medically-based risks such as anemia, underweight, a history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes; and dietary risks such as inappropriate feeding practices or failure to meet the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Food benefits come on an eWIC card, which works just like a debit card and can be used at WIC-approved grocery stores and farmers' markets. Benefits are not limited to food: they also include health screening, nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, immunization screening and referral, and substance abuse referral. It is a federal program (USDA), but in USDA's words, "while funded through grants from the Federal Government, WIC is administered by 89 State agencies," with services at county health departments, hospitals, schools, Indian Health Service facilities, and other clinic locations — you apply through a WIC agency in your area, so the local name and process vary. Moms, dads, foster parents, and anyone else raising kids under 5 can apply for the kids in their care.
Key difference in this state
An honest report first: New Hampshire's WIC eligibility page (the DHHS wic-eligibility page, a 2,229-character body) contains no statement about citizenship or immigration status — it neither requires one nor waives one. ⇒ We do not decide this for the state, and we do not carry another state's wording over. The federal-layer facts on WIC and immigration status, and the public-charge conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — are set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page, with the federal sources attached there, and are not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page. If a clinic raises a status question while you apply, ask what it is based on, and you can check with the state WIC office at 1-800-WIC-4321 (1-800-942-4321).
Source:New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · checked 2026-08-08
- View the official document: WIC Eligibility - NH Department of Health and Human Services. Carries the full 185% Income Poverty Guidelines table (the annual column is recorded here: 1 $29,526 through 8 $103,082, +$10,508 per additional person), with the state's own printed period "effective June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027"; the four served categories verbatim (Pregnant women; Breastfeeding women up to 12 months after the infant's birth; Non-breastfeeding women up to 6 months after the infant's birth; Infants, and children up to their 5th birthday); the three eligibility requirements verbatim (must be income eligible; reside in the service area covered by the local agency; and be nutritionally at risk as determined by a staff nutritionist); and the entry points 1-800-WIC-4321 (1-800-942-4321) and signupWIC.com. The page's 2,229-character body contains no citizenship/immigration wording, and no adjunctive/automatic income eligibility wording (keyword check: automatically / categorically / adjunct / Medicaid / SNAP / TANF / foster / deemed - all 0 hits; the 12,919-character main WIC program page also does not use automatically / categorically / adjunct). (Opens in a new tab)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
A refundable federal tax credit for low- to moderate-income working people and families. In the IRS's words, the EITC "helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund." The key word is refundable — as the IRS puts it, "This is a refundable credit, so you can get back more than you pay in taxes." In plain terms: you can get money back even if you owe no tax at all. You must have earned income (wages, salary, tips, or self-employment income), and you claim it on your federal tax return — there is no separate application form, no office to visit, and no waiting list. The credit is larger if you have qualifying children, but workers without any children can also get a smaller version. For tax year 2025 (the return you file in 2026), the maximum credit is $649 with no qualifying children, $4,328 with one, $7,152 with two, and $8,046 with three or more. The tax year 2025 income cutoffs (adjusted gross income) are $19,104 (single, head of household, married filing separately, or qualifying surviving spouse) or $26,214 (married filing jointly) with no children; $50,434 / $57,554 with one child; $57,310 / $64,430 with two; and $61,555 / $68,675 with three or more. Investment income must be $11,950 or less for tax year 2025. These amounts are adjusted every year — rely on the IRS tables for the year you are actually filing. This is a purely federal program, administered directly by the IRS under one nationwide set of rules; states have no role in the federal EITC. But note: separately from this federal credit, many states and some local governments run their own state EITC, usually set as a percentage of the federal credit, varying in whether it is refundable, and sometimes with different rules — see your state's details.
Key difference in this state
EITC has two layers, and this row starts with the one you can actually receive: the federal EITC exists for New Hampshire residents — a refundable tax credit for low-to-moderate-income workers, which you can claim if you have earned income and which pays out as a refund even if you owe no tax. A key status requirement (an existing federal-layer conclusion; the details live in this program's shared federal section and are not repeated here): to claim the federal EITC you, your spouse, and each qualifying child must have a Social Security number valid for employment; a person who files with only an ITIN cannot claim the federal EITC. Now the state layer: we did not find a New Hampshire state-level EITC — and the subject of that sentence is "we did not find," not "New Hampshire has none." What we can give you is the state's own affirmative sentence, from the NH Department of Revenue Administration, verbatim: "The State of New Hampshire does not have an income tax on an individual's reported W-2 wages." The EITC is a credit against earned income, so there is no tax for a state EITC to attach to — that last step is our inference, not something the state has said: the premise is an official affirmative statement; the conclusion is still an inference. One thing not to mix up: New Hampshire did have an Interest & Dividends Tax, and it is repealed — DRA verbatim: "The I&D Tax is repealed for taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2024." Repealed is not "never existed." For your individual status details, consult the IRS, a tax professional, or an immigration attorney; this is a changing area. Public charge: the federal conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Source:New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) · checked 2026-08-08
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) gives time-limited monthly cash assistance and work supports to low-income families with children, to help them achieve economic security and stability. The federal government sends each state a block grant, and each state designs and runs its own TANF program under its own name (California calls it CalWORKs) with its own benefit amounts and rules. States set the monthly cash amount, add work-participation requirements, and set time limits within the federal 60-month (5-year) lifetime cap on federally funded assistance. Besides the monthly cash grant, TANF also funds services such as childcare, job training, and transportation.
Key difference in this state
The federal layer is not repeated here: TANF's federal immigrant rules (undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded TANF; the five-year bar for most qualified aliens; which categories are exempt; and that OBBBA did not change TANF's immigrant rules) live on the “Federal rules” section on this page. What New Hampshire's own FANF pages say about immigration status: on the two policy-manual pages we verified (the FANF structure page 203, SR 14-04, and 601 Table B, SR 26-03), we found no FANF-specific immigration-status wording — with one exception, and that exception is an exit. Verbatim: "Exception: Certain refugees who do not meet the categorical requirements for FANF may be eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA). See PART 247, REFUGEE ASSISTANCE." ⇒ New Hampshire has a separate refugee cash assistance path (RCA): if you are a refugee and are told you do not meet FANF's categorical requirements, ask about RCA before you walk away — being outside FANF's categories is not the end of the road. For how your own status applies, call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (275-3447) and ask for the answer in writing. Public charge: the federal conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Source:New Hampshire DHHS, Family Assistance Manual (FAM) · New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · checked 2026-08-24
- View the official document: 203 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (FANF) (FAM), SR 14-04 Dated 01/14 - the FANF structure page: three branches (TANF, which consists of the NHEP and FAP sub-programs with the same income and resource requirements while FAP has no work requirements; IDP, Interim Disabled Parent; FWOC, Families With Older Children), the 60-month lifetime limit with the FAP exemption, and the refugee exception routing to Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), PART 247. (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: Table B: FANF Maximum Payment Standard (FAM), SR 26-03 Dated 03/26 - the table whose page title says "MAXIMUM INCOME LIMITS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE" while its column header says "Maximum Payment Standard (Grant) @60% FPG": two names for the same column; this row records both and does not decide for the state. Amounts $798 (1) through $3,922 (12), each additional person add $284. Page footer cites He-W 658.02; RSA 167:77-g. (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (Opens in a new tab)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly federal cash payment from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for people who have very little income and few resources AND who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability (children can qualify too). To get SSI, your countable resources must stay under $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. It is run directly by the federal government under one nationwide standard — the 2026 maximum federal payment is $994/month for an individual and $1,491/month for a couple — and some states add a small state supplement on top.
Key difference in this state
The federal layer is not repeated here: federal SSI's strict non-citizen rules (the qualified-alien category, the further conditions, the five-year bar, that LPRs usually need 40 qualifying work quarters, that refugees/asylees have only a seven-year window, and that OBBBA did not change SSI's non-citizen rules) live on the “Federal rules” section on this page. What New Hampshire's own state-cash pages say: the APTD page, verbatim: "Citizenship Status/Immigration: You must be either a US citizen or a qualified alien." - and the OAA page uses the words "eligible qualified alien". Which categories count as a qualified alien is the federal framework's question - see the “Federal rules” section on this page; for your own case call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (275-3447) and ask for the answer in writing. And the Social Security Number requirement on both state pages has a written exit - the verbatim lines are in this row's application section: proof that you have applied for an SSN counts, so a number that has not arrived yet is not a dead end. Public charge: the federal conclusion - including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry - is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Source:New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) · New Hampshire DHHS, Adult Assistance Manual (AAM) · checked 2026-08-24
- View the official document: Aid to the Permanently & Totally Disabled | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: Old Age Assistance | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: 617 Grant Determination (AAM), SR 22-24 Dated 08/22 - the grant algorithm: net income subtracted from the Standard of Need by living arrangement and group size (Section 601, Table A), the rounding rule ($.49 or less down / $.50 or more up), and payment in 2 equal payments during the month. Its worked example uses an old Standard of Need figure ($855, self-dated 3/2022) - that is an illustration of the algorithm, not the current table; the current table is 601 Table A, SR 26-01. (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: Table A: Income Limits (AAM), SR 26-01 Dated 01/26 - the current financial assistance standard of need (SON) by living arrangement: Independent Living $1,008 (1) / $1,492 (2) / $1,976 (3); Residential Care Facility $1,188; Community Residence Subsidized $1,070 / Unsubsidized $1,130 / Enhanced Family Care $1,188; Nursing Facility N/A with the licensed-and-certified condition. Page footer cites He-W 601.06; He-W 648.04; He-W 658.03; RSA 167:3-c,I-II; RSA 167:7; RSA 167:27-c; 20 CFR 416.405; 20 CFR 416.2095-416.2099; 42 USC 1382g. (Opens in a new tab)
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay their home energy costs — mainly heating (winter) and cooling (summer) bills, plus energy-crisis aid (for example, when you face a shutoff or need reconnection), light home weatherization, and minor heating-equipment repair or replacement. It is a federally funded block grant managed by the Office of Community Services within HHS (HHS/ACF/OCS), and then run by each state, territory, and tribe, which set their own eligibility rules and application process. LIHEAP does not send cash directly to individuals and never charges a fee; you apply through your state's or tribe's energy-assistance agency. The federal income ceiling is 150% of the poverty level, or 60% of state median income if that is higher; many states also grant "categorical eligibility" to households that receive TANF, SSI, SNAP, or needs-tested veterans' benefits.
Key difference in this state
The first thing this row has to make clear decides where you go: New Hampshire's fuel assistance sits under the NH Department of Energy, not under the human-services department where most states put it — do not carry another state's habit over and look for it at DHHS. And the place you actually apply is not the Department of Energy either — verbatim: "To find out if you are eligible for one of these programs, please contact your local Community Action Agency."
Not found, stated honestly: the official eligibility page carries no statement about citizenship or immigration status at all — it neither requires anything nor waives anything. (Search shape: we read the body of energy.nh.gov's assistance-programs-eligibility page in a real browser on August 8, 2026, and found no citizenship or immigration wording.) We will not write a status rule the state has not written — ask your Community Action Agency directly and ask for the answer in writing. The federal LIHEAP status rules and how states apply them live on the “Federal rules” section on this page and are not restated here — restating them would create a duplicate federal guidance.
Public charge: the federal conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Source:New Hampshire Department of Energy (energy.nh.gov) · checked 2026-08-08
Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher
The Housing Choice Voucher — commonly called "Section 8" — is federal rental assistance that helps very-low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the program is run locally by public housing agencies (PHAs), usually state or local government entities. You find your own rental unit that meets program housing-quality standards; after the PHA approves the unit and tenancy, it pays the rent subsidy directly to the landlord. If the rent is at or below the local "payment standard," you generally pay about 30 percent of your adjusted monthly income toward rent, and the subsidy covers the rest. It is the nation's largest rental-assistance program, helping about 2.3 million families. Because funding is limited, many areas keep a waiting list.
Key difference in this state
The status rules for housing run on a different body of law from the SNAP and Medicaid ones. The one status-related line on New Hampshire Housing's eligibility checklist, verbatim: "Meet HUD requirements on immigration or citizenship status." This row therefore claims no state tightening or expansion beyond the federal rule.
The same checklist also says, verbatim: "Provide verification of Social Security Numbers for all household members. These documents may be submitted at the time of application or when vouchers become available." A mixed-status family reading "Social Security Numbers for all household members" most often gives up as a whole household — yet the second sentence already leaves room: the SSN documents can be handed in at application time or when vouchers become available.
The rule that matters most here is federal — see the status-gate section below: it gives the federal wording verbatim and names the one sentence you have to say out loud yourself.
We are not saying New Hampshire's checklist is wrong — it may simply be shorthand; nor do we judge each member of your household. For how status is actually verified, rely on New Hampshire Housing's own answer: ask directly and get it in writing ((603) 472-8623 · rentinfo@nhhfa.org). For your own case consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Public charge: the federal conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Does this program ask about immigration status?
A household may be able to apply if at least one member qualifies — for example a citizen or a green-card holder.
The half-sentence in the federal rule that is easiest to miss: 24 CFR 5.520 says "who requests" — prorated assistance must be provided to a family that asks for it. When you apply, or the moment you are told someone in the household is ineligible, say "I am requesting prorated assistance" and ask for it to be recorded.
On who in a household has to show immigration documents when applying: practice differs between states and between the offices that run the programme, and this page does not make that judgement.
It is worth asking this before you submit an application:
「When applying for this benefit, which household members need to show proof of immigration status?」
The same question in English, to read out at the counter:
“When applying for this benefit, which household members need to show proof of immigration status?”
Who to ask: the agency that runs this programme in your state — see the official link on this page.
Always rely on the latest official information; for questions about immigration status, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
eCFR (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, ecfr.gov) · 24 CFR §5.520 — Proration of assistance (Subpart E, Restrictions on Assistance to Noncitizens), subsection (a): "An eligible mixed family who requests prorated assistance must be provided prorated assistance."
Source:New Hampshire Housing (nhhousing.org, formerly nhhfa.org) · eCFR (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, ecfr.gov) · checked 2026-08-08
- View the official document: Housing Choice Voucher Program — Apply — New Hampshire Housing. Carries the 50%-of-Area-Median-Income eligibility line, the estimated wait of 7 – 9 years ("The actual wait time could be longer or shorter."), the eligibility checklist (HUD Income Limits; verification of Social Security Numbers for all household members, which may be submitted at application or when vouchers become available; HUD requirements on immigration or citizenship status; money owed to New Hampshire Housing or any other housing authority; lifetime sex offender registration exclusion), and the four entry points: the online application portal, 1-800-439-7247 for a paper application, (603) 472-8623, and rentinfo@nhhfa.org. Retrieved via a real browser; note the site moved from nhhfa.org to nhhousing.org (old domain redirects) while the email still uses nhhfa.org. (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: 24 CFR §5.508 — Submission of evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status; subsection (e): if one or more members of a family elect not to contend that they have eligible immigration status, and other members establish their citizenship or eligible immigration status, "the family may be eligible for assistance under §§ 5.516 and 5.518, or § 5.520, despite the fact that no declaration or documentation of eligible status is submitted for one or more" members. (Opens in a new tab)
- View the official document: 24 CFR §5.520 — Proration of assistance (Subpart E, Restrictions on Assistance to Noncitizens), subsection (a): "An eligible mixed family who requests prorated assistance must be provided prorated assistance." (Opens in a new tab)
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Unemployment Insurance is temporary weekly cash paid to workers who lost their job through no fault of their own, to help you get by while you look for the next one. It is funded by taxes paid by employers (federal FUTA and state SUTA) — workers generally do not pay into it. It is a joint federal-state program: each state runs its own unemployment insurance program under shared federal rules, so eligibility, the weekly amount, and how many weeks you can receive vary by state. You apply in the state where you worked. To qualify you generally must be unemployed through no fault of your own, meet a work-and-wages threshold in a "base period," and be currently able to work, available to work right away, and actively looking for work. The first payment usually arrives two to three weeks after you file.
Key difference in this state
First, how this differs from the other benefits on this site: unemployment insurance is something you earned by working. It is funded by employer contributions; it is not means-tested assistance. So the status question here does not run on the "qualified alien plus five-year wait" axis — it runs on work authorization. And state rules differ — rely on the state where you worked, which here is New Hampshire's NHES.
Not found, stated honestly: an explicit statement of non-citizen eligibility anywhere on the NHES pages we obtained. (Search shape: on August 8, 2026 we read nhes.nh.gov's unemployment-eligibility page in a real browser and expanded its collapsible blocks with JavaScript; we found no citizenship or immigration wording — and the body of one block, "What else impacts my eligibility?", did not render, so this "not found" covers only what we actually obtained.) We will not write a status rule the state has not written — ask NHES about your own situation and ask for the answer in writing (Employment Hotline (603) 271-7700).
One thing is certain, and it is the thing most often misread: being asked about status is not the agency checking you for immigration authorities. What unemployment insurance has to establish is whether the job you held was covered, and whether you were authorised to hold it. If you are worried, put the question in writing and get the answer in writing first — do not skip claiming money you may have earned because you are afraid of the question. For your own case consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Public charge: the federal conclusion — including what changes from September 18, 2026, the statutory exemptions, and how it differs abroad and at a port of entry — is set out in the “Federal rules” section on this page and is not repeated here; use the single federal guidance on this page.
Source:New Hampshire Employment Security (nhes.nh.gov) · checked 2026-08-08
This page lists only the programs we've covered so far — it does not mean these are the only benefits in this state.