New Hampshire food stamps requirements are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). You should understand the requirements for food stamps in NH prior to applying for food assistance benefits, which can be a lengthy process. To qualify for food stamps, you must meet several requirements related to income, citizenship and state residency. To learn more about how to qualify for food stamps assistance in NH, review the below sections.
Learn About New Hampshire Income Requirements for SNAP Benefits
Food stamps eligibility in NH begins with determining an applicant’s financial qualifications. The requirements for SNAP are based heavily on income, since the program is meant to help low-earning individuals and families with financial assistance for food and groceries. To qualify for SNAP in New Hampshire, you must earn a certain amount of income, according to your household size, and have only a certain amount of resources.
Income requirements for NH food stamps begin with examining the current Federal Poverty Level, or FPL. You must earn only up to a certain income based on your family size in order to qualify for SNAP in New Hampshire. Income limits for food stamp requirements increase with household size. For instance, a household of two must earn much less in order to meet SNAP qualifications, versus a household of five.
Once income is determined for SNAP eligibility, candidates must examine their resources. Requirements for food stamps in NH factor in certain items, while others are not counted toward qualifications. Resources that must be counted in income eligibility for food stamps include bank account balances, trusts, unoccupied real estate investments, bonds, stocks and any cash you may have in savings. On the other hand, food stamp qualifications leave your current home, furniture and specific vehicles out of the financial determinations. Download our guide to learn more about SNAP requirements.
In addition to income and resources, requirements for NH SNAP calculate certain deductions when considering food stamp applications. Factors taken into consideration when adding in deductions include: shelter and utilities, child care costs, child support payments, expenses for the self-employed and medical expenses for elderly or disabled family members.
Learn About New Hampshire Citizenship Requirements for SNAP Benefits
Food stamps requirements in New Hampshire also make it mandatory for applicants to show proof of their legal presence in the country, as either U.S. citizens or lawful noncitizens. To qualify for food stamp assistance in NH through citizenship requirements, citizens must show documentation such as certified birth certificates or valid, current passports. In order to qualify for SNAP benefits as a noncitizen or a legal alien, potential beneficiaries must prepare immigration papers.
Next, the qualifications for NH SNAP require you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have a SSN to provide to the DHHS, you must show proof that you applied for one to be eligible to apply for SNAP benefits in New Hampshire.
In order to qualify for New Hampshire SNAP, in addition to citizenship and SSN, you must also furnish the DHHS with proof of New Hampshire residency. Since SNAP benefits are distributed on a state level, you are required to prove that you reside in state lines in order to obtain food stamp assistance. However, requirements for food stamps do not stipulate any amount of time necessary for an applicant to have resided in NH prior to requesting benefits.
Other SNAP Requirements You Must Meet in New Hampshire
If you are still wondering how to qualify for food stamps benefits in New Hampshire after you have met the above requirements, you must consider the rules enforced related to work and job training. Currently, food stamp requirements state that Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) must enroll in the state’s Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET) Program. The purpose of this NH SNAP qualification is to assist beneficiaries with attaining self-sufficiency through job search coaching, referrals to job training and referrals to support services. In order to retain eligibility for NH food stamps, the DHHS requirements for food stamp assistance make it mandatory for ABAWDs to engage in work-related activities and/or job training for 20 hours per week, or approximately 80 hours per month.
Applicants Who Are Not Qualified for New Hampshire SNAP Benefits
Eligibility for food stamps in NH accommodates a wide range of applicants, but the program also deems certain residents ineligible. In terms of who does not qualify for food stamp benefits in NH, those residing in group living arrangements may be turned away from food stamps, because they likely already have meal accommodations. Students also may not qualify for food stamps in New Hampshire (with certain exceptions) if they attend school for half-time or more. Typically, universities provide food assistance to students in need, which is why you cannot apply for NH SNAP as well. In addition, members who are on strike at work will also be rejected from SNAP assistance requests, unless they qualified for food stamps up to the day prior to the strike. Furthermore, fugitives, felons, those on parole and those who violate probation are not able to qualify for New Hampshire SNAP, nor are those fraudulently collecting multiple benefits. Download our guide to read more about how to qualify for SNAP.