Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you need a ride in New Hampshire, start with the reason for the trip. Medicaid may cover rides to covered medical care. Work programs may help with gas, bus passes, or training-related travel. Local transit, ADA paratransit, volunteer drivers, town welfare, and 211 can fill some gaps.
There is no single statewide program that pays for every ride or car repair. The best path is to match the trip to the right office, call early, and keep proof of the appointment, work activity, or urgent need.
Urgent help if you need a ride now
If this is a medical emergency, call 911. New Hampshire Medicaid says emergency medical transportation is covered when it is needed, and you do not need advance approval for an emergency ambulance.
- Medical appointment: Call the transportation number for your Medicaid plan or use the state Medicaid transportation page to find the right broker.
- Food, shelter, utilities, or urgent local help: Call 211 NH contact at 1-866-444-4211 and ask for transportation, gas card, or local charity help near your town.
- Disability, aging, or caregiver ride needs: Contact the state Aging and Disability Resource Center network.
- Town emergency help: Ask your city or town welfare office about help under RSA 165. Rules and paperwork vary by town.
Where to start
Use this first-step guide before you call around. It can save time and help you avoid getting sent to the wrong office.
If the trip is medical
Call your Medicaid plan, your Medicaid fee-for-service broker, or your clinic. Ask for non-emergency medical transportation and mileage reimbursement before the appointment.
If the trip is work
Call your NHWorks office, WorkNowNH, TANF/FANF worker, SNAP E&T worker, or WIOA case manager. Ask if travel support can be added to your plan.
If the trip is local
Use Keep NH Moving, TripLink, city buses, ADA paratransit, volunteer drivers, or 211. Some services need applications or several days of notice.
If you need money today
Call 211, your town welfare office, your child’s school, your clinic social worker, or a local Community Action agency. Emergency funds are limited and local.
Quick help table
| Need | Best first call | What to ask for | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride to a doctor, dentist, therapy, or pharmacy after a covered visit | Medicaid ride broker or health plan | Non-emergency medical transportation or mileage reimbursement | Usually must be tied to a Medicaid-covered service and requested ahead of time. |
| Gas or bus pass for work or training | NHWorks, WorkNowNH, TANF/FANF, SNAP E&T, or WIOA | Travel reimbursement, bus pass, or support services | Often must be part of an approved work, training, or employment plan. |
| Local ride without Medicaid | Keep NH Moving, TripLink, 211, or transit agency | Volunteer driver, bus route, shuttle, or paratransit | Coverage depends on town, disability status, age, trip type, and driver availability. |
| Car repair | TANF/FANF worker, WIOA counselor, town welfare, or 211 | Repair help tied to work, training, or urgent family need | Car repair funds are limited and usually need prior approval. |
Medical rides through New Hampshire Medicaid
New Hampshire Medicaid can help with rides to covered medical services when you do not have another way to get there. This is called non-emergency medical transportation, or NEMT. It may include a ride, public transportation, or mileage reimbursement when someone you know drives you.
If you are in Medicaid Fee for Service, the state says to contact Coordinated Transportation Solutions through the Medicaid Fee Service page. The state page lists CTS at 1-844-259-4780 and says to call at least 48 hours before the ride when you can.
If you are in a Medicaid managed care plan, call the ride number for your plan. AmeriHealth rides, WellSense rides, and the NH Healthy Families transportation flyer explain their ride and reimbursement rules. Your card may be the fastest way to confirm the right number.
Tip for medical rides
Call before the appointment, even if a friend is driving you. Some reimbursement programs require advance approval, a trip log, and a provider signature. Ask the broker exactly what proof is needed before you leave home.
If your ride is late, call the broker again and write down the time, the person you spoke with, and what they said. If the appointment is important, ask the clinic to note that the visit is time-sensitive. For repeated missed rides, ask the broker how to file a complaint and ask your health plan member services for help.
Help for work, school, training, and child care trips
Some transportation help is tied to work plans, training, job search, or school. These programs do not usually hand out open-ended gas money. They pay for specific needs that help you take part in an approved activity.
WorkNowNH helps some people who receive Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF become job ready and connect with work. The program page lists travel reimbursement, tuition, books, fees, supplies, child care registration fees, case management, job search help, training referrals, and direct job placement. Call 1-833-658-4760 or use NHES office locations to reach a nearby NHWorks office.
If you receive FANF/TANF and are in the New Hampshire Employment Program, the NHEP transportation policy may allow help such as carrier payment, mileage reimbursement, or car repair reimbursement when it is authorized in your Employment Plan. Ask your worker before you spend money. Prior approval matters.
SNAP Employment and Training can also include transportation support. New Hampshire’s SNAP E&T transport policy explains reimbursement rules for eligible SNAP E&T participants. Ask your SNAP E&T worker if mileage, bus fare, or other approved travel costs can be covered.
WIOA is another possible path if you are enrolled in approved job training. The state workforce programs page explains the Office of Workforce Opportunity and WIOA services. Federal WIOA rules allow supportive services such as transportation when needed to take part in approved WIOA activities, but a case manager must approve them.
| Program | Possible travel help | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| WorkNowNH | Travel reimbursement for eligible people in the program | WorkNowNH or NHWorks |
| FANF/TANF and NHEP | Mileage, bus pass, carrier payment, or approved repair help | Your employment counselor or DHHS worker |
| SNAP E&T | Transportation reimbursement tied to E&T activity | Your SNAP E&T worker |
| WIOA | Supportive services that may include transportation | NHWorks or WIOA case manager |
Local transit, ADA paratransit, and volunteer rides
New Hampshire transportation is very local. A service that works in Manchester may not serve a rural town. Start with Keep NH Moving, which is the official statewide transportation resource directory for the State Coordinating Council and Regional Coordination Councils.
For the Seacoast and southeastern New Hampshire, TripLink is a regional call center and directory. The ACT region page says TripLink manages ride requests for Community Rides, COAST, Ready Rides, Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, Meals on Wheels of Rockingham County, and other local services through a common application. You can also review the ACT region page before you call.
If you live near fixed-route buses, check the transit agency first. COAST has COAST paratransit in its service area for eligible riders who cannot use regular buses because of a disability. Manchester Transit runs local and commuter service, and its site says all buses are wheelchair accessible. Use Manchester Transit for routes and contact details. Nashua has application-based Nashua paratransit for riders who cannot use CityBus because of a disability or health condition.
Volunteer driver programs can help where buses do not go, but they are not instant ride services. CVTC rider FAQs say riders should request rides at least five business days ahead. Transport Central serves some central New Hampshire riders, and Tri-County Transit serves Coos, Carroll, and northern Grafton counties with public and specialized transportation.
Reality check
Volunteer rides depend on driver availability. Some programs focus on older adults, people with disabilities, Medicaid members, medical trips, or certain towns. Call early and ask if your child may ride with you.
Gas cards, car repair, and donated cars
Many mothers ask for car grants. In real life, car help is usually small, local, and tied to work, medical care, safety, or an approved plan. Be careful with websites that promise free cars or fast grants without a real local program.
For gas cards or one-time emergency help, call 211 New Hampshire and ask for programs in your ZIP code. You can also ask your town welfare office, your child’s school social worker, your clinic social worker, or a Community Action agency. Some churches and charities help with gas cards, bus passes, or a ride when funds are available.
For car repair, ask before you pay. NHEP, WIOA, and some town welfare offices may be able to help only if the repair is needed for work, training, medical care, or a basic family need. They may require proof of income, registration, insurance, a repair estimate, and proof that the car is needed.
Watch out for car-help scams
Do not pay an application fee for a “guaranteed” car grant. Do not give your Social Security number to a random site. Use official offices, 211, trusted nonprofits, or programs listed by your town, school, clinic, or case manager.
What to have ready before you call
You may not need every item below. Still, having the basics ready makes the call easier.
| For this help | Have ready | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid medical ride | Medicaid ID, plan name, appointment date, provider name, pickup address, child seats if needed | “Do I need advance approval or a trip log?” |
| Mileage reimbursement | Driver information, appointment proof, mileage, provider signature rules | “How do I submit the form and by when?” |
| Work or training ride | Program notice, work schedule, training schedule, job search plan, receipts | “Can this be added to my plan?” |
| Car repair | Repair estimate, registration, insurance, income proof, work or medical proof | “Do you need to approve this before repair?” |
| Local charity help | Photo ID, address, reason for trip, children in household, amount needed | “Do any local gas card funds exist this week?” |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the morning of a routine appointment to ask for a ride.
- Paying for gas, rideshare, or repairs before asking if prior approval is required.
- Calling the wrong Medicaid plan number instead of the number on your current card.
- Missing the provider signature for mileage reimbursement.
- Assuming a volunteer driver program can take every trip in every town.
- Not telling the office that you have a child safety seat, wheelchair, stroller, or interpreter need.
Phone scripts you can use
For a Medicaid ride
“Hi, I need transportation to a covered medical appointment. My appointment is on [date] at [time] with [provider]. I have no other safe ride. Can you help me schedule a ride or explain mileage reimbursement?”
For WorkNowNH or NHWorks
“Hi, I receive [Medicaid/SNAP/TANF] and I need help getting to work, training, or job search. Can I be screened for WorkNowNH, WIOA, or other transportation support?”
For 211 or a local charity
“Hi, I am a single parent in [town]. I need transportation help for [medical/work/child care/food]. Are there any gas cards, volunteer rides, bus passes, or emergency funds in my area?”
For town welfare
“Hi, I need to apply for local welfare help because transportation is blocking a basic need. What documents do I need, and can I apply today?”
Backup plan if you get denied, delayed, or ignored
Ask for the denial or reason in writing when possible. If the problem is a Medicaid ride, ask the broker how to file a complaint and call your health plan member services. If the ride was for urgent medical care, ask the clinic if a social worker can help document the need.
If the problem is work or training travel, ask your case manager if there is another support category, a different start date, a bus pass, or reimbursement after proof is turned in. If the problem is local transportation, try Keep NH Moving, 211, your town welfare office, your school district, your child’s Head Start or child care program, and your clinic social worker.
Resumen en español
Si necesita transporte en New Hampshire, empiece con el motivo del viaje. Para citas médicas cubiertas por Medicaid, llame al número de transporte de su plan antes de la cita. Para trabajo, capacitación o búsqueda de empleo, pregunte a NHWorks, WorkNowNH, TANF/FANF, SNAP E&T o WIOA si hay ayuda con gasolina, millas o pases de autobús.
Para ayuda local, llame al 211, su oficina de bienestar municipal, Keep NH Moving o un programa de transporte de su región. No todos los programas sirven a todos los pueblos. Pregunte qué documentos necesita y si debe recibir aprobación antes de pagar.
FAQ
Can Medicaid pay for rides in New Hampshire?
Yes, Medicaid may cover non-emergency transportation to covered medical services when you have no other way to get there. You must use the right broker or health plan process and usually request the ride ahead of time.
Can I get gas money instead of a ride?
Sometimes. Medicaid, WorkNowNH, SNAP E&T, TANF/NHEP, WIOA, or local charities may offer reimbursement or gas help in specific situations. Ask before you spend money because prior approval may be required.
Does New Hampshire have free cars for single mothers?
There is no guaranteed statewide free car program for single mothers. Some work programs or local charities may help with repairs or transportation costs when funding and eligibility rules allow.
Who can help if I live in a rural area?
Start with Keep NH Moving, 211, your town welfare office, and your regional transit or volunteer driver program. Rural ride help depends on your town, trip purpose, eligibility, and driver availability.
Can I take my child on a Medicaid ride?
Rules vary by broker, plan, vehicle, and medical need. Tell the broker when you book that your child must ride with you and ask about car seats, pickup time, and any limits.
What should I do if my ride does not show up?
Call the broker or transit agency right away, write down the time, and tell the clinic if you may be late. If missed rides keep happening, ask how to file a complaint and call your health plan or case manager.
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 May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 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.