New Hampshire runs its child care subsidy as the New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through its Division of Economic and Housing Stability and the Child Development Bureau. Here is exactly who qualifies, what your family pays, and the step-by-step way to apply in 2026.
You apply through New Hampshire DHHS, most easily online through the NH EASY portal. If your income is at or below about 220 percent of the federal poverty level, roughly $68,000 a year for a family of four per the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, at least one parent is working, in school, or in training, and your child is under thirteen, you qualify on paper. New Hampshire raised this entry limit in recent years, so more working families now qualify.
The honest tradeoff. New Hampshire's scholarship now reaches further up the income scale than most states, which is genuinely good news. The catch is supply: infant slots are scarce and expensive across much of the state, so a generous limit does not guarantee an open seat nearby. Apply early and start calling providers in parallel.
To qualify, your income must generally be at or below about 220 percent of the federal poverty level to enter, at least one parent must be in an approved activity such as employment, education, or training, you must be a New Hampshire resident, and the child must be under thirteen, per the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Children with documented special needs can qualify to a higher age.
Some families are prioritized. Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, families experiencing homelessness, and teen parents in school are served as priority groups, per DHHS policy. Both parents in a two-parent household generally must be in an approved activity during the hours care is needed.
This summary reflects New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services rules effective in 2026. Confirm the current figures before you apply.
| Rule | 2026 standard |
|---|---|
| Entry income limit | ~220% federal poverty level (~$68,000/yr, family of 4) |
| Child age | Under 13 (higher with documented special needs) |
| Activity required | Work, school, or training (each parent) |
| Family copay | Weekly fee set by income and family size |
| Where to apply | NH DHHS via the NH EASY portal |
| Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Scholarship rules effective 2026. Figures approximate; confirm with DHHS. | |
Most families pay a weekly copayment set by income and family size, paid to the provider, while the scholarship covers the rest up to the state maximum reimbursement rate. The lowest-income families pay the smallest copay, and it rises gradually as income approaches the upper limit, per the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services schedule.
The scholarship offsets a real bill. Full-time center-based infant care in New Hampshire commonly runs about $1,300–1,800 a month, per Child Care Aware of America 2024 data, so a capped copay can save a large share. Because the scholarship pays up to a state rate, families at higher-priced centers in Manchester, Nashua, and the Seacoast may owe the difference.
Apply in five steps through New Hampshire DHHS. Gather your documents first; an incomplete application is the most common reason for delay, per New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services guidance.
One practical tip. Choose a provider higher in Granite Steps for Quality. Higher-rated programs can earn higher reimbursement, which often closes the gap between the state rate and the center's tuition in Manchester, Nashua, and the Seacoast.
You can appeal a New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services denial or termination by requesting a fair hearing, generally within the timeframe stated on your notice, per DHHS due-process rules. Many denials turn on a missing pay stub or proof of activity and are resolved once you supply the right document.
While you wait, other supports layer well. Head Start and Early Head Start serve income-eligible children at no cost, a Dependent Care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $5,000 pre-tax for care costs, and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit can offset part of what you pay out of pocket.
Apply for the Child Care Scholarship through New Hampshire DHHS, most easily online through the NH EASY portal. Submit your documents and wait for a determination.
Families generally qualify at or below about 220 percent of the federal poverty level, roughly $68,000 a year for a family of four, with a higher exit limit once enrolled.
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, through its Division of Economic and Housing Stability and the Child Development Bureau.
A weekly copay set by income and family size, with the lowest-income families paying the least.
A licensed center, a licensed family child care home, or an approved license-exempt provider that participates in the scholarship. Higher Granite Steps for Quality levels earn higher reimbursement.
For most New Hampshire families, the smart move is to apply through NH EASY now, since the entry limit near 220 percent of poverty reaches a wide range of working families and the harder problem is finding an open infant slot. Gather your documents, file early, and ask which higher Granite Steps for Quality providers near you have space.
How New Hampshire’s income limits, copays, and quality-rated rates stack up against the other 49 states, with links to each program.
Read the guide → Daycare costSourced cost ranges by age and care type, plus the credits and subsidies that lower the bill.
See cost guide → Free toolEstimate your net out-of-pocket tuition after credits and subsidies.
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