§ A400-1. Definitions.

As used in these guidelines, the following terms have the indicated meaning:

APPLICANT

A person who expresses a desire to receive general assistance, or to have his/her eligibility for assistance reviewed, and has submitted a completed application.

APPLICATION

Action by which a person requests assistance from the welfare office through a completed written application obtained from the Welfare Department.

APPLICATION FORM

Form obtained from the welfare office upon which a written request for assistance or consideration for assistance is made. Such forms may be amended by the Welfare Officer and approved by the Mayor and Board of Alderman.

ARREARAGES

Past due amounts on bills for basic needs (i.e.: rent, utility bills); debts that remain after part of an overdue debt have been paid.

ASSETS

All real property, cash, real estate, personal property, future interests and anything else of value owned by the applicant. This includes, but is not limited to, annuities, insurance awards, expectancies and retroactive government and insurance payments, etc.

ASSISTANCE (GENERAL ASSISTANCE)

Support given to applicants through a voucher program administered and funded by each city and town in New Hampshire.

AVAILABLE LIQUID ASSETS

Amount of liquid assets after exclusions enumerated herein; includes, but is not limited to, cash on hand, checking accounts, bank deposits, credit union accounts, stocks, bonds, and securities. IRA (individual retirement account), 401K accounts and insurance policies with a loan value and nonessential personal property shall be considered as available liquid assets when they have been converted into cash. Income tax refunds may also be considered.

CASE RECORD

Official files containing forms, correspondence and narrative records pertaining to the application including determination of eligibility, reasons for decisions and actions by the Welfare Official and types of assistance.

CLIENT

A person utilizing the services of a social agency.

COMPLIANCE

Conformity in fulfilling official requests for information and requirements of the Welfare Official.

ELIGIBILITY

Determination by the Welfare Official, with the assistance of the welfare guidelines, of a person's poverty and inability to support himself/herself and, therefore, the need for general assistance under the eligibility formula in § A400-9.

FAIR HEARING

A hearing which the applicant may request in writing to contest a denial, termination or reduction of assistance. A hearing will be held before an impartial fair hearings officer, who is appointed having no prior knowledge of the case.

HOUSEHOLD

The total number of persons (related or unrelated) living together who share in or benefit from shelter/food expenses. The individuals share living quarters, but are not financially liable for each other unless they request to be treated as such. Expenses which are shared (rent, utilities, etc.) are divided pro rata for the purposes of calculating the applicant's need, based on the total number of persons in the household. However, the total shelter cost must approximate the shelter guideline amounts for the household size. (For example, three unrelated adults share an apartment, one applies for assistance, rental assistance is determined as 1/3 of the total shelter cost for three people and the total shelter cost for all three must approximate the guideline amounts for a household of three.)

LIABILITY FOR SUPPORT

Those persons deemed by New Hampshire law to have financial responsibility for anyone applying for general assistance, for example, adult children for parents, parents for adult children and husbands and wives for each other.

MINOR

A person who has not attained the age of 18 years. Note that a minor's residence is always that of the custodial parent.

NEED

The basic maintenance and support requirements of a person, as determined by a Welfare Official under the standards of § A400-9E of these guidelines.

NONRESIDENT

A person temporarily in Nashua while his/her residence is elsewhere. Nonresidency does not preclude general assistance, however, assistance will be of a temporary and reasonable nature given his/her temporary status. Duplication of resources available through his/her city or town of residence will be avoided except in cases of emergency. Cities or towns will be contacted for reimbursement.

NOTICE OF DECISION

Written grounds for approval or denial of an application detailing the amount and type of assistance issued, and/or the type of assistance pending further verification. Additionally, it contains the caseworker's name, date of applicant's next appointment, and a list of all the information to be provided by the applicant at the next appointment.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Abode or domicile occupied by an applicant. Permanent residency does not include temporary stays in shelters, motels, or other residence not intended to be permanent. (RSA 21:6-a)

REAL ESTATE

Land, structures and fixtures attached to it.

RECIPIENT

A person who is receiving general assistance.

REIMBURSEMENT

Each recipient who becomes financially able must reimburse the City of Nashua for assistance rendered when asked to do so. A schedule of repayment will be determined by the Welfare Department, in conjunction with the recipient, taking into consideration all necessary current and future obligations. The Welfare Department may also take a lien on real estate or civil judgments in the amount of assistance rendered. (RSA 165:28, 28-a)

RESIDENCE or RESIDENCY

A person's place of abode or domicile. The place of abode or domicile is that place designated by a person as his/her principal place of physical presence for the indefinite future to the exclusion of all others. Such residence or residency shall not be interrupted or lost by temporary absence from it, if there is intent to return to such residency as the principal place of physical presence. RSA 165:1 (I); 21:6-a. If another municipality moves a client into the City of Nashua, they should provide assistance for the first 30 days of assistance according to the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association's ethics policy.

RESIDENT

A person who has a residence within the City of Nashua.

RESIDENTIAL UNIT

All persons physically residing with the applicant, including persons in the applicant's household and those not within the household.

ROOMMATE

A person(s) who is/are financially responsible for himself/themselves and living with a recipient(s) of general assistance. Persons living together as domestic partners may be responsible for each other to the extent that they are able.

SUSPENSION

Cessation of benefits due to noncompliance.

VOUCHER SYSTEM

The system whereby a Welfare Official issues vouchers (authorizations for payment) directly to the recipient's vendors and creditors rather than cash to the recipient. (RSA 165:1 (III). [See Section VII.]

WELFARE OFFICER

The Welfare Officer of the City of Nashua which is an indefinite position appointed by the Mayor under the Charter Section 42 of the City. The Welfare Officer is charged with operating the Welfare Department in accordance with municipal, state and federal legislation.

WELFARE OFFICIAL

The official of the town or City, or his/her designee, who performs the function of administering general assistance. Such person has the authority to make all decisions regarding the granting of assistance under RSA 165, subject to the overall fiscal responsibility vested in the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The term includes "overseers of public welfare" (RSA 165:1) and "administrator of town or city welfare." (RSA 165:2)

WORK PROGRAM (NASHUA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM)

The City employment opportunity program that requires able-bodied recipients to work for the City at any job within the person's capacity in return for assistance. There are no wages paid. The recipient reimburses the City Welfare Department at the going rate for the particular job they are doing for general assistance provided. (RSA 165:31)