303.11 Absence from New Hampshire Temporary (FAM-A)

An individual’s benefits are not affected by temporary absence from New Hampshire. A temporary absence is when an individual or assistance group is out of the state but intends to keep New Hampshire residency and return to the state as soon as the reason for the absence is complete. Examples include visiting, vacationing, temporary hospitalization, *rehabilitation services, and school attendance.

Evaluate residency status in questionable cases or when an individual has been absent from New Hampshire longer than 30 days without notifying DHHS. Recurring out-of-state EBT card transactions, out-of-state home ownership or rental, or use of a PO Box, rural route address, or general delivery address to receive mail are examples of factors that may raise questions about residency. Any one of these factors by itself is not proof that the individual is not a New Hampshire resident. If residency is questionable, evaluate information in the client’s electronic case file and information received about the client’s household circumstances or call the client, to consider the following:

• duration and frequency of absences,

• where personal and household possessions are kept,

• where the individual votes or pays resident taxes,

• place of employment,

• future plans, and

• reason for absence.

A statement from the individual is sufficient to document their intent unless there is conflicting evidence. If after evaluation residency remains doubtful, mail New HEIGHTS-generated AE0055, Proof Needed to Determine Your Assistance, (or paper backup DFA Form 808, Proof Needed to Determine Your Assistance, if New HEIGHTS is unavailable) to the client to request verification of residency. Enter an expected change in New HEIGHTS to check for verification in 10 days. If the individual does not respond within 10 days or provides insufficient information, *deny or close the case.

Examples:

• FANF casehead Beth, who is exempt from NHEP work requirements, informs her FSS that she and her children are temporarily staying with a friend out of state due to family/domestic violence concerns. Because Beth and her children intend to retain New Hampshire residency and their absence from the state is temporary, their FANF benefits are not affected.

• An FSS knows that FANF casehead Melissa uses a PO Box to receive her family’s mail. Reviewing the case, the FSS finds that Melissa had previously confirmed that her family lived in an apartment in an area of New Hampshire where home mail delivery was not available, so Melissa receives her mail from the Department at a PO Box. However, Melissa’s family vacated their apartment and now stays with friends in a different city in New Hampshire, but continues to use the PO Box for mail delivery. Because Melissa’s employer is located out of state, Melissa frequently uses her EBT card out of state to withdraw cash. Both of those factors raise questions. The FSS calls Melissa, but Melissa does not answer. The FSS immediately mails Melissa the New HEIGHTS-generated AE0055, Proof Needed to Determine Your Assistance, to request verification of residency. The FSS enters an expected change into New HEIGHTS to check the status in 10 days. When the FSS checks the status 10 days later, she sees that Melissa did not respond. The FSS enters Melissa’s failure to verify residency status into New HEIGHTS, which closes her family’s FANF cash.

When a parent retains custody of a child who is attending school in another state, consider the child to be a resident of New Hampshire and the parent as providing care for the child. See Section 207.05, Living with a Specified Relative.

References: He-W 601.06(w), He-W 601.07(e), He-W 601.08(b), He-W 606.11, RSA 21:6, RSA 167:6, V, RSA 167:78, XXIV, RSA 167:79, II & IV(a), Section 408(a)(10) of the SSA [42 USC 608(a)(10)]