Last updated: June 17, 2026
Bottom line
New Hampshire’s main child care help is the Child Care Scholarship. It helps eligible families pay approved child care providers so a parent can work, look for work, go to school, take part in approved training, or meet certain other activity rules.
This help is not a cash grant paid to you. If you qualify, New Hampshire DHHS pays an enrolled provider. You may still owe part of the bill, such as a family cost share or a provider charge above the state payment rate.
The best first steps are to apply through NH EASY, search for a provider that accepts the scholarship, and keep copies of every notice, upload, form, and phone call note.
If you need child care right away
If child care fell through and you could lose work, miss school, miss training, or lose a safe place to stay, work on more than one path at the same time. Child care approval can take paperwork, and finding an open slot can be hard.
- Apply for the Child Care Scholarship so the application process starts.
- Use the child care search to look for licensed or enrolled care near home, work, school, or your travel route.
- Ask Child Care Aware for free referral help if you cannot find an opening.
- If you are homeless, in a shelter, doubled up, or recently homeless, tell DHHS. Expedited child care may apply when your child is linked to an enrolled provider.
- Call 211 New Hampshire if child care is part of a larger emergency, such as no food, unsafe housing, a shutoff notice, diapers, or transportation.
If you need food, rent, utilities, or shelter while child care is pending, also check ASMOM’s New Hampshire emergency help.
Where to start
Start with the need that is most urgent. Many single mothers and caregivers need more than one type of help at the same time. Child care may be tied to work hours, school, rent, food, health coverage, child support, or a court order.
You need help paying daycare
Apply through NH EASY for the Child Care Scholarship. Then ask each provider if they are enrolled with DHHS and whether they charge families more than the state rate.
You need a child care slot
Search the state child care database and call Child Care Aware for referral help. Ask about infant care, evening care, school-age care, transportation, meals, and scholarship payments.
You need preschool help
Ask about Head Start or Early Head Start. These programs are separate from the Child Care Scholarship and may have local waitlists.
You need broader support
Use ASMOM’s New Hampshire guide and state help page for food, housing, health, cash aid, and local resources.
Quick reference
| Need | Best starting point | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Help paying child care | Apply through NH EASY. | You must meet income, child, activity, and provider rules. |
| Finding a provider | Use NH Child Care Search. | Call the provider to confirm openings and scholarship payment. |
| Free referral help | Ask Child Care Aware of NH. | Referral help does not guarantee a slot. |
| Preschool or infant help | Ask about Head Start. | Slots depend on age, location, and program openings. |
| Afterschool or summer help | Ask your school. | Programs may not be at every school. |
| Denied or delayed case | Read the notice first. | Appeal or fix missing proof before the deadline. |
New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship
The Child Care Scholarship is New Hampshire’s child care subsidy program. DHHS says the program helps eligible families pay qualified early childhood and out-of-school time providers for children under age 13, and through age 17 for children with disabilities.
In plain English, DHHS checks four main things:
- whether the child meets the child and residency rules;
- whether your household income is within the current limit;
- whether you have an approved activity, such as work, school, training, job search, or an approved program activity; and
- whether the provider is enrolled or qualified to be paid by DHHS.
Do not use an old income chart from a blog, social media post, or screenshot. DHHS updates rules and tables. The official income table says families over 85% of State Median Income are not eligible. Ask DHHS to check your household size, income, and activity if you are near the limit.
What the scholarship may not cover
The scholarship may not cover the whole provider bill. DHHS may assign a family cost share. Also, if a provider charges more than the state weekly standard rate, the provider may bill you for the difference. Ask the provider before your child starts.
Who may qualify
Eligibility is case by case. The official program criteria are detailed, so use this section as a plain-language map, not a final decision.
| Rule area | What DHHS may check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Child age | Most children must be under 13. Children with disabilities may be covered through 17. | Ask what proof is needed if your child has a disability or special need. |
| Income | DHHS compares gross income to federal poverty and state median income rules. | Send recent pay stubs, benefit letters, and self-employment records. |
| Activity | Work, school, approved training, job search, and some program activities may count. | Send your work, school, training, or job search details. |
| Provider | The provider must be able to receive DHHS scholarship payment. | Confirm this before you enroll your child. |
| Cost share | DHHS uses cost share rules to decide what the family must pay. | Read your notice and ask how the amount was figured. |
DHHS policy lists cost share steps. The lowest-income families may have a $0 weekly cost share. Some families above 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines may have a $5 weekly cost share. Families above 138% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and under 85% of State Median Income may have a cost share based on 7% of family income. Provider charges above the state rate can still create an extra provider co-pay.
How to apply
You can apply online, but online is not the only path. DHHS policy says an application can be submitted through NH EASY, by fax, email, mail, in person at a District Office, or over the phone. If you have trouble using the website, contact the DHHS service center or a DHHS office.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Submit the application. | This starts the review and gives DHHS your request date. |
| 2 | Watch for notices. | DHHS may ask for income, address, activity, child, or provider proof. |
| 3 | Pick an enrolled provider. | DHHS cannot pay just any sitter or program. |
| 4 | Submit the provider form. | This links your child to the provider for payment. |
| 5 | Read the notice. | The notice should explain approval, denial, cost share, dates, and appeal rights. |
DHHS application timing rules say applicants are usually given 10 calendar days to provide required verification, and a notice of decision must be sent as soon as a decision is made, but no later than 30 days after the official application date. If DHHS asks for more proof, send it quickly and keep a copy.
If your family is experiencing homelessness, DHHS application rules say expedited child care may be authorized within 7 days when the child is linked to a DHHS-enrolled provider. A final eligibility decision is still made within 30 days. Tell DHHS if you are in a shelter, doubled up, staying in a motel, fleeing unsafe housing, or were homeless within the past 92 days.
Finding a provider that works with the scholarship
Finding care can be harder than getting the paperwork started. Some programs have no openings. Some do not take scholarship payments. Some accept the scholarship but still charge more than the state rate. Start the provider search the same day you apply.
The NH Child Care Search lets you filter by town, age group, program type, available slots, schedule, transportation, meals, Head Start, Early Head Start, and whether the program accepts the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship. The search page also says DHHS does not verify every provider detail and families should confirm information directly with the child care program.
Ask these questions before your child starts:
- Do you have an opening for my child’s age?
- Do you accept the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship?
- Are you already enrolled with DHHS?
- What will I owe each week?
- Do you charge above the state rate?
- Can you help complete the provider verification form?
DHHS provider link rules say the child must be linked to a DHHS-enrolled provider within 30 calendar days of application, unless good cause is found. For an open child care case, a provider change must be reported with a new Form 1863 within 10 calendar days.
Other child care and school-age help
The Child Care Scholarship is the main payment help, but it is not the only support to check. Some families use more than one option over the year.
| Program | Who it may help | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Head Start | Pregnant women, babies, toddlers, and preschool children in eligible or priority families. | Use the NH Head Start page or the federal Head Start locator. |
| Afterschool programs | School-age children who need afterschool or summer learning support. | Ask your school and check 21st CCLC information. |
| Military fee help | Some active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and DoD families. | Start with military child care. |
| Work supports | Some people in work, training, SNAP, or TANF-related activities. | Ask DHHS or NH Employment Security about work support programs. |
| Tax help | Working parents who paid for care so they could work or look for work. | Check IRS Publication 503 and free tax filing help. |
For national background, ASMOM’s child care hub explains common child care help paths. ASMOM’s Head Start guide explains the federal early childhood option in plain language.
Documents and information to gather
DHHS may ask for different proof based on your case. Gather what you can, but do not wait weeks to start the application. Start the case and send missing proof as soon as you can.
- Photo ID, if you have one.
- Proof that you live in New Hampshire, such as a lease, mail, school record, or utility bill.
- Recent pay stubs, self-employment records, child support proof, or benefit letters.
- Work schedule, school schedule, training papers, or job search details.
- Child’s name, date of birth, and household information.
- Provider name, address, start date, and provider verification form.
- Any shelter, motel, school, or advocate note showing homelessness or unstable housing, if this applies.
- Disability or special-needs paperwork if you are asking for care for an older child with a disability.
Simple record tip
Take a picture of every paper before you send it. Save screenshots from NH EASY. Write down the date, time, office, and worker name after each call. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help you build one folder.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting to search for care. Apply and call providers at the same time.
- Assuming any sitter counts. DHHS can only pay providers that meet program rules.
- Not asking about extra charges. Ask if the provider charges more than the state rate.
- Missing notices. Check NH EASY, mail, email, and voicemail often.
- Changing providers quietly. Ask DHHS what form is needed before or right after a change.
- Missing the appeal deadline. If denied, read the notice the day it arrives.
If you are denied, delayed, or stuck
A denial does not always mean you can never get help. It may mean DHHS did not receive a document, your activity was not verified, your provider was not linked, your income was counted a certain way, or the provider could not be paid.
- Read the notice. Look for the reason, date, and appeal rights.
- Ask DHHS what exact proof is missing.
- If you found a provider, ask if Form 1863 was received and processed.
- If your income, hours, school, training, provider, or housing changed, report the change.
- If you cannot find care, ask Child Care Aware for written help with your search.
- If you need help with a hearing or benefits problem, contact legal aid or a trusted advocate.
DHHS good cause rules may allow one extra 30-day provider-link extension in limited cases, such as when a family cannot find child care with help from Child Care Resource and Referral or when a parent or child had an inpatient hospital stay. Ask before the deadline passes.
For broader benefits problems, use ASMOM’s benefits problem guide. If housing, food, or transportation is the larger problem, apply for those programs too.
Phone scripts
Calling DHHS about an application
Hello, I applied for the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship. Can you tell me if anything is missing, the deadline to send it, and whether my provider verification form has been received?
Calling a provider
Hello, I am looking for care for a child who is [age]. Do you have openings for [days and hours]? Do you accept the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship, and would I owe any amount above the state payment?
Calling Child Care Aware
Hello, I need help finding child care that accepts the scholarship. I live in [town], work or study near [town], and need care during [hours]. Can you help me find programs with openings?
Calling 211
Hello, I need child care help, but I also have an urgent family need. I need help with [food, rent, shelter, transportation, diapers, or safety]. What programs can I call today?
Resumen en español
La ayuda principal para pagar cuidado de niños en New Hampshire es Child Care Scholarship. Puede ayudar si usted trabaja, busca trabajo, estudia o participa en una actividad aprobada. La ayuda normalmente se paga al proveedor, no a usted.
Empiece con NH EASY y busque un proveedor que acepte la beca. Pregunte si tendrá que pagar una parte del costo. Si no encuentra cuidado, llame a Child Care Aware of NH. Si necesita comida, vivienda, transporte, pañales o ayuda urgente, llame al 2-1-1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main child care assistance program in New Hampshire?
The main program is the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship. It helps eligible families pay approved providers while a parent works or takes part in an approved activity.
Does the scholarship pay me directly?
No. The scholarship generally pays the approved child care provider. You may still owe a family cost share or a provider charge above the state rate.
Can I apply if I am looking for work?
Job search may count under New Hampshire rules, but proof and time rules can apply. Ask DHHS how your job search will be handled.
Do I have to use a licensed child care program?
You must use a provider that can be paid by DHHS. Use NH Child Care Search and confirm the provider accepts the Child Care Scholarship before your child starts.
What if I cannot find a provider?
Call Child Care Aware of New Hampshire for referral help, widen the search near work or school, and ask DHHS if any deadline or good cause extension may apply.
Can Head Start help instead of daycare?
Head Start and Early Head Start may help younger children in eligible families. They are separate from the Child Care Scholarship and may have local waitlists.
What if my child care case is denied?
Read the notice right away. Ask DHHS what proof is missing, check the appeal deadline, and contact legal aid or a benefits advocate if you need hearing help.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified June 17, 2026, next review September 17, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.