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RSA 165:1 · Who Entitled; Local Responsibility

165:1 Who Entitled; Local Responsibility. –

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I.

Whenever a person in any town is poor and unable to support himself, he shall be relieved and maintained by the overseers of public welfare of such town, whether or not he has residence there. For the purposes of this chapter the term "residence" shall have the same definition as in RSA 21:6-a.

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II.

The local governing body, as defined in RSA 672:6, of every town and city in the state shall adopt written guidelines relative to general assistance. The guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

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(a)

The process for application for general assistance.

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(b)

The criteria for determining eligibility.

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(c)

The process for appealing a decision relative to the granting of general assistance.

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(d)

The process for the application of rents under RSA 165:4-b, if the municipality uses the offset provisions of RSA 165:4-a.

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(e)

A statement that qualified state assistance reductions under RSA 167:82, VIII may be deemed as income, if the local governing body has permitted the welfare administrator to treat a qualified state assistance reduction as deemed income under RSA 165:1-e.

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III.

Whenever a town provides assistance under this section, no such assistance shall be provided directly to a person or household in the form of cash payments. Source. RS 66:1. CS 70:1. GS 74:1. GL 82:1. PS 84:1. PL 106:1. RL 124:1. RSA 165:1. 1979, 243:1; 351:2. 1985, 380:2. 1986, 5:2. 1991, 355:56. 1992, 184:1. 1996, 175:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996.

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Source note

Source. RS 66:1. CS 70:1. GS 74:1. GL 82:1. PS 84:1. PL 106:1. RL 124:1. RSA 165:1. 1979, 243:1; 351:2. 1985, 380:2. 1986, 5:2. 1991, 355:56. 1992, 184:1. 1996, 175:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996.

Source history

  • 1979, 243:1; 351:2
  • 1985, 380:2
  • 1986, 5:2
  • 1991, 355:56
  • 1992, 184:1
  • 1996, 175:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996
  • RS 66:1. CS 70:1. GS 74:1. GL 82:1. PS 84:1. PL 106:1. RL 124:1. RSA 165:1

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1336 reference · effective 2027-01-01

    his section shall be discharged of liability related to such apportionment. Unless otherwise directed by the municipality, any security deposit funds paid by a municipality under RSA 165, together with any interest required by law and less any lawful deductions, shall be returned directly to the municipality within 30 days after termination of the tenancy. A landlord who, in good faith, returns such fu

  • 2026 HB1336-FN reference · effective 2027-01-01

    his section shall be discharged of liability related to such apportionment. Unless otherwise directed by the municipality, any security deposit funds paid by a municipality under RSA 165, together with any interest required by law and less any lawful deductions, shall be returned directly to the municipality within 30 days after termination of the tenancy. A landlord who, in good faith, returns such fu

  • 2026 HB348 reference

    be evaluated using local or regional market rates applicable to available temporary emergency housing placements at the time of the emergency. (b) Nothing in this paragraph or RSA 165:1-f shall be construed to prohibit the welfare official from authorizing, on a documented, case-by-case basis, a deviation as necessary to relieve a basic needs emergency or avert a more costly future need for assistance, p

  • 2026 HB348 amend

    under this section, no such assistance shall be provided directly to a person or household in the form of cash payments. 81:2 New Section; Temporary Emergency Assistance. Amend RSA 165 by inserting after section 1-e the following new section: 165:1-f Temporary Emergency Assistance. The welfare official shall provide temporary emergency assistance for up to 6 days to individuals, as necessary to r

  • 2026 HB348 amend

    l assistance. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 81:1 Aid to Assisted Persons; Who Entitled; Local Responsibility. Amend RSA 165:1 to read as follows: 165:1 Who Entitled; Local Responsibility. I. Whenever a person in any town is poor and unable to support [himself, he] themselves, he or she shall be relieved and maintained by the overseers

  • 2026 HB348 reference

    the town or city in which the person making application [resides] has residence for local welfare purposes, as defined in RSA 165:1 and RSA 21:6-a, except as otherwise provided in RSA 165:1-c. II. Whenever any town or city assists a person pursuant to this chapter who is believed to be a resident of another New Hampshire municipality or outside of New Hampshire, the assisting municipality shall: (a) Con

  • 2026 HB348 reference

    SA 167:82, VIII may be deemed as income, if the local governing body has permitted the welfare administrator to treat a qualified state assistance reduction as deemed income under RSA 165:1-e. (f) A statement describing the municipality’s policy for referring residency disputes to the inter-municipal hearing process pursuant to RSA 165:2-a when an applicant is believed to be a resident of another New Hampsh

  • 2026 HB458 amend

    ns or permanent legal residents. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Eligibility for Local Assistance; Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residence Required. Amend RSA 165:1, I to read as follows: I. Whenever a [person] United States citizen, or legal permanent resident in any town is poor and unable to support himself or herself, [he] the person shall be relieved and maintained b

  • 2026 HB458-FN amend

    it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Eligibility for Local Assistance; Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residence Required. Amend RSA 165:1, I to read as follows: I. Whenever a [person] United States citizen, or legal permanent resident in any town is poor and unable to support himself or herself, [he] the person shall be relieved and maintained by the ov

  • 2026 SB441 amend · effective 2026-07-01

    tatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Aid to Assisted Persons; MOU Between Municipalities Required Prior to Transport for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. Amend RSA 165 by inserting after section 2-c the following new section: 165:2-d MOU Between Municipalities Required Prior to Transport for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. I. A municipality, or any representative of a municipa

  • 2026 SB441-FN amend · effective 2026-07-01

    tatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Aid to Assisted Persons; MOU Between Municipalities Required Prior to Transport for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. Amend RSA 165 by inserting after section 2-c the following new section: 165:2-d MOU Between Municipalities Required Prior to Transport for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. I. A municipality, or any representative of a municipa

  • 2025 HB132 amend

    relative to liability for familial support under RSA chapter 165, aid to assisted persons. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 267:1 Liability for Support. Amend RSA 165:19 to read as follows: 165:19 Liability for Support. The relation of any poor person in the line of father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, husband, or wife shall assist or maintain such person whe

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