New Hampshire FANF / TANF (Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
Financial Assistance to Needy Families, or FANF, is New Hampshire's monthly cash help for low-income families that have children. It is the state's name for TANF. Most adults take part in the New Hampshire Employment Program, NHEP, which helps you move toward a job. You can apply online through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov or at your local DHHS District Office, and you can call 1-844-275-3447 for help.
The cash grant is set at 60 percent of the poverty guideline. The most a family can get is $798 a month for one person, $1,082 for two, $1,366 for three, and $1,650 for four. Each added person raises the grant by $284. The exact amount depends on your income and your family size.
To qualify, a child in the home must lack support or care from a parent. That can be because a parent has died, is away from the home, or has a disability or is unable to care for the child. Your family also has to pass an income and resource test.
There is a clock, so plan for it. Adults can get FANF cash for a lifetime total of 60 months. The count started in New Hampshire in October 1996, so any help you got before then does not count against the 60 months. Because the limit is on the adult, cases where a relative cares for the children but does not get FANF for themselves have no time limit on the children's help.
FANF is more than cash. When a parent qualifies for FANF, the parent gets Medicaid and the children get Children's Medicaid, so the whole family stays covered. You apply for these together through NH EASY, which saves a second trip.
Because the cash grant is modest and the clock runs, it helps to stack other programs. SNAP can add food money each month, WIC helps young children and pregnant women, and Fuel Assistance covers winter heat. If a housing or utility crisis hits, ask about Emergency Assistance, and dial 2-1-1 to find local funds near you.
Phone 1-844-275-3447
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with dependent children who lack parental support or care due to a parent's death, continued absence, or disability, and who meet an income and resource test
- Most adults take part in the NHEP work program, and there is a 60-month lifetime limit on FANF cash assistance for adults
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply online at NH EASY (nheasy.nh.gov) or at your local DHHS District Office.
- 2
Show that a child in the home lacks parental support due to a parent's death, absence, or disability.
- 3
Bring proof of your income and resources for the income test.
- 4
Meet with a worker and take part in the NHEP work program if it applies to you.
- 5
Apply for SNAP and Medicaid at the same time to cover food and health care.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the family
- Proof of income and where you live
- Proof that a child in the home lacks parental support. Your District Office confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much does FANF pay?
Up to $798 a month for one person, $1,366 for three, and $1,650 for four, plus $284 for each added person. The grant is set at 60 percent of the poverty guideline.
How long can adults get FANF?
There is a 60-month lifetime limit on FANF cash for adults. The count started in New Hampshire in October 1996, so help received before then does not count.
Does the time limit hurt the children?
No. When a relative cares for the children but does not get FANF for themselves, there is no time limit on the children's assistance.
What else comes with FANF?
Parents on FANF get Medicaid and the children get Children's Medicaid. You can apply for these and for SNAP at the same time through NH EASY.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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