New Hampshire EBT and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
New Hampshire runs SNAP under its federal name through the Department of Health and Human Services, whose Bureau of Family Assistance decides cases in 11 district offices1,3,15. You apply and manage the case in NH EASY, and every ongoing household's monthly benefit is loaded on the EBT card on the 5th6. For FY2027, most households can have gross income up to 200% of the poverty line with no asset test4,5. Most cases must renew every six months; households in which all adults are 65 or older or disabled and nobody works keep benefits for 36 months10.
Official links and numbers
| Apply, renew, upload proof or report changes | NH EASY Gateway to Servicesnheasy.nh.gov |
|---|---|
| Check your EBT balance and transactions online | ebtEDGE cardholder siteebtedge.us |
| Lost or stolen card, PIN, balance by phone (24 hours) | 1-888-997-9777 |
| Questions about your SNAP case (1-844-ASK-DHHS) | 1-844-275-3447 |
| Find one of the 11 DHHS district offices | DHHS locations and lobby hoursdhhs.nh.gov |
StateEBT is an independent guide, not a government website. Applications, logins and balances are handled only on the official sites above, run by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Family Assistance (BFA) and its EBT contractor.
Using NH EASY for SNAP, cash aid and Medicaid
NH EASY is the state's online application system for SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid, child care help, Medicare savings programs and long-term care14,26. In it you can apply, check whether you may qualify, track an application, and report changes; DHHS also accepts change reports by phone at 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447), by mail, or at a district office14,11. Paper forms sit on the same site: the Application for Assistance is Form 80014.
Your EBT card: PIN, ebtEDGE locks and theft
The card arrives by mail already active. Before you shop, choose a 4-digit PIN at ebtEDGE, by calling 1-888-997-9777, or at a district office; caseworkers are not allowed to help choose it7. You can collect the card at a district office instead only if you are homeless or a supervisor approves a hardship. A card the post office returns is held 30 days, then destroyed7. For balance and transaction history, use ebtEDGE or the 24-hour line2.
DHHS points cardholders to the ebtEDGE app from FIS. It lets you freeze the card between uses, block purchases outside New Hampshire, and block online purchases. Turn those blocks off before you order online or shop in another state8. The state's EBT manual describes the card as a magnetic-stripe card; DHHS pages checked October 16, 2026 do not mention chip cards7,2.
If the card is lost or stolen, or someone may know your PIN, call 1-888-997-9777 to shut the card off and ask for a new one, and change the PIN2. DHHS states that, under the federal law passed in December 2024, it no longer replaces SNAP stolen by skimming or card cloning. Stolen cash benefits may still be replaced: send BFA Form 473, Attestation and Verification of Stolen Electronic Benefits2.
- Card customer service: 1-888-997-9777
- Cardholder website: ebtEDGE
- Cardholder app: ebtEDGE (iPhone, Android)
- EBT processor: FIS
New Hampshire SNAP and EBT phone numbers
| For | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EBT customer service (card, PIN, balance, lost or stolen card) | 1-888-997-97772 | 24 hours |
| DHHS Customer Service Center, 1-844-ASK-DHHS (case questions, changes, ABAWD exemptions) | 1-844-275-34471 | — |
| BFA Client Services (ask for a paper application by mail) | 1-603-271-97002 | — |
| BFA Client Services, toll-free | 1-800-852-3345 ext. 97001 | — |
| Summer EBT (S-EBT) program | 1-603-271-737316 | Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| WIC Nutrition Program | 1-800-942-43211 | — |
| Relay NH (TDD access) | 1-800-735-296415 | — |
Applying through NH EASY or a district office
- Send an application. Apply online in NH EASY. Or print Form 800, Application for Assistance, fill it in and mail it to your district office; to apply for Medicaid at the same time, add the Form 800 Insert14. To get a paper form mailed to you, call 1-603-271-9700 or 1-800-852-3345 ext. 97001.
- Get free help filling it in. DHHS names the New Hampshire Food Bank as its SNAP Outreach partner for help with applications1. You can also go to one of the 11 district offices, whose lobbies are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday15.
- Complete the interview. A DHHS worker goes over the application with you, and the interview can be done by telephone12. Ask for BFA Form 215, the Reporting Requirements Handout, which lists the changes you must report later11.
- Send the proofs DHHS asks for. Return the verification your worker requests, such as proof of identity and income. If you qualify for expedited service but cannot prove identity, the 7-day clock starts only when that proof arrives12,11.
DHHS must make SNAP available on your EBT card no later than the 30th calendar day after the application date13. If you qualify for expedited service, the notice of decision and the benefits must come by the 7th calendar day. When the interview is done by phone and the form has to be mailed to you for a signature, the days it spends in the mail and in your hands do not count12.
New Hampshire SNAP income limits for FY2027
| Household size | Gross income limit (200%) | Net income limit (100%) | Maximum benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $3,607 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $6,447 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $7,394 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $8,340 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $9,287 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | +$947 | +$474 | +$225 |
Gross limit: as published by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bureau of Family Assistance (BFA)4. Net limit and maximum benefit: USDA FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments. All states compared.
New Hampshire calls its 200% route expanded categorical eligibility. It applies when gross income is at or below 200% of the poverty guideline and the household could receive a referral service, which DHHS provides through BFA Form 77u, Community Resources5. The FY2027 limits in Table E of the state's Food Stamp Manual took effect October 1, 2026, and match the federal figures4,3.
The utility allowance has a New Hampshire twist. A Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) payment of more than $20 a year unlocks the larger heating and cooling allowance only for households with a member 60 or older or disabled. Internet bills no longer count as a utility1. For FY2027 the standard deduction is $217 for one to three people, the excess shelter cap is $769, and the homeless shelter deduction is $2063.
Net income test. A household that qualifies through expanded categorical eligibility (gross income at or below 200%) has no net income test. Elderly or disabled households counted as the Target Population skip the gross test but must pass the 100% net test; regular households that do not use the 200% route face both the 130% gross and 100% net tests28.
Assets. No resource test for households that qualify through expanded categorical eligibility or receive cash assistance or SSI5. From October 1, 2026, other households have a $3,000 limit, or $4,750 if a member is 60 or older or disabled3.
SNAP arrives on the 5th in New Hampshire
Every ongoing New Hampshire SNAP case is paid on the same day: the 5th of each month, whatever the case number or name.
Ongoing benefits are credited to the EBT account once a month, on the 5th6. A new case does not wait for the 5th: the first allotment is available at 6 a.m. the day after eligibility is decided6. Benefits you do not use carry over, but SNAP left untouched for 274 days is removed from the account. DHHS mails a warning letter after 239 days without use, and any SNAP purchase restarts the count9.
Six-month renewals, 36 months for ESAP households
Most New Hampshire households are certified for six months, then must renew; a household with unstable circumstances can get a shorter period10. Households in which every adult is 65 or older or disabled and no adult works can join the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), which started under a federal waiver on July 1, 2025. ESAP households are certified for 36 months, renew on paper or online with no interview unless they ask for one, and get a yearly reminder to report changed expenses1,10.
Between renewals, report by the 10th of the month after it happens if household income rises above the 130% gross limit for your size ($1,729 for one person in FY2027)11,3. Adults under the work rule must also report within 10 days if their hours fall below 80 a month1. If the certification period ends without a renewal, benefits stop and you must reapply10.
Rules specific to New Hampshire
Work rules for adults 18 to 64 since November 1, 2025
Since November 1, 2025, adults 18 through 64 who can work and have no child under 14 in the household can get SNAP for only three months in three years unless they work, volunteer or train at least 80 hours a month. Being homeless, a veteran or a former foster youth no longer exempts you. Working 30 hours a week or earning at least $217.50 a week does1. USDA's list for October 1, 2026 shows no waived areas anywhere in New Hampshire17. To claim an exemption, call 1-844-275-34471.
Extended Food Stamps when FANF cash ends
When a family's Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) cash closes, SNAP continues as Extended Food Stamps for five months, starting the month after the last cash payment. To keep SNAP after that, reapply or recertify during the fifth month; otherwise it ends on the last day of month five20,10.
Summer EBT 2026 on a separate S-EBT card
New Hampshire took part in Summer EBT in 2026, which paid $120 per eligible school-age child16,27. Children whose household got SNAP, TANF or income-based Medicaid during the 2025-2026 school year, at a school in the lunch or breakfast program, were enrolled automatically and paid on an S-EBT card, separate from any SNAP card. Families with free or reduced-price meals only got a new card within 10 to 14 days of the approval letter. S-EBT benefits expire 122 days after issue; the deadline to appeal a 2026 decision is November 23, 202616.
No food restriction waiver and no restaurant meals
USDA's list of approved and pending food restriction waivers, updated October 13, 2026, does not include New Hampshire, so SNAP still buys soda and candy here18. New Hampshire is also not one of the states with a Restaurant Meals Program, so SNAP cannot be used for restaurant meals19.
Double Up Food Bucks, Market Match and online shopping
At participating grocery stores, Double Up Food Bucks takes 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables when you pay with EBT. At farmers markets showing the Granite State Market Match logo, ask for tokens to double your SNAP2. For online orders, DHHS lists Amazon, ALDI, Walmart, BJ's, Price Chopper, Hannaford, Price Rite, McKinnon's, Whole Foods, Shaw's, Target and Costco; delivery fees cannot be paid with SNAP1,2.
Other assistance in New Hampshire
| Program | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF), New Hampshire's TANF | Cash for families with children, paid twice a month by EBT or direct deposit; Emergency Assistance helps with rent and heating emergencies22 |
| NH Medicaid (including Granite Advantage) | Health coverage; apply in NH EASY or with Form 800 and the Form 800 Insert23,14 |
| HealthCare.gov | New Hampshire's health insurance marketplace for private plans; the NH Insurance Department sends shoppers there25 |
| Fuel Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Heating help from the NH Department of Energy, applied for at your local Community Action Agency21 |
| WIC Nutrition Program | Food and nutrition support for pregnant women and children under 5; call 1-800-942-432124,1 |
| Summer EBT (S-EBT) | Summer grocery benefit for school-age children16 |
Sources
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Electronic Benefits Transfer, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SR 26-26: October 2026 SNAP Mass Change (allotments, income limits, utility allowances, resource limits, deductions), NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual, Table E: SNAP Maximum Monthly Income Limits, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 231.05: Expanded Categorical Eligibility Criteria, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 615: Benefits Frequency and Issuance, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 707: Issuing Benefits, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Protect Against Skimming and Fraud with the ebtEDGE Mobile App, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SR 20-17: Expungement of SNAP benefits not accessed for 274 days, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 133: Length of Eligibility, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- BFA Form 215: Reporting Requirements Handout, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 125.09: Time Frames for Expedited Service, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 123: Benefit Delivery Time Frames, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Apply for Assistance, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Locations & Facilities (District Offices), New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Summer EBT, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Status of State ABAWD Time Limit Waivers, Fiscal Year 2027, 1st Quarter, USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SNAP Food Restriction Waivers, USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SNAP Restaurant Meals Program, USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 249.07: Extended Food Stamp (EFS) Period, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Fuel Assistance Program, New Hampshire Department of Energy. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Medicaid, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- New Hampshire Insurance Department launches 2025 open enrollment period, New Hampshire Insurance Department. Checked 16 October 2026.
- NH EASY Gateway to Services, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Summer EBT, USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Food Stamp Manual 611.01: Computing Income Eligibility, NH DHHS, Bureau of Family Assistance. Checked 16 October 2026.