Funeral expenses can create financial hardship, but New Hampshire offers several resources to help families manage these costs. This guide outlines state, federal, local, and nonprofit programs, as well as religious and cultural support and crowdfunding options.
Government Funeral Funding Programs
Here are funeral cost assistance programs at the federal, state, and county levels.
New Hampshire State Programs
New Hampshire provides assistance programs for families struggling to afford funeral costs:
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Burial Assistance: Offers financial support for burial or cremation expenses for low-income families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or other state benefits. Visit New Hampshire DHHS for more information.
- Indigent Burial Programs: Counties in New Hampshire manage burial programs for unclaimed or indigent individuals. Contact your local county office or refer to How to help funeral expenses help at the county level for details.
Federal Assistance Programs
Federal programs that can assist New Hampshire residents include:
- Social Security Death Benefit: Provides a one-time $255 payment to eligible survivors. Learn more at Social Security Administration.
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Burial Benefits: Veterans and their families may qualify for funeral and burial allowances, including cemetery plot coverage. Visit VA Burial Benefits to learn more.
Local and County Assistance Programs
New Hampshire counties often provide local support for funeral costs. Examples include:
- Hillsborough County Burial Assistance: Offers aid for burial or cremation expenses for unclaimed or low-income individuals. Contact Hillsborough County Services.
- Rockingham County Funeral Assistance: Provides support to families in financial need. Learn more at Rockingham County Resources.
- Merrimack County Indigent Burial Program: Covers cremation or burial costs for qualifying residents. Visit Merrimack County Services.
Learn more: How to help funeral expenses help at the county level.
Nonprofit Funeral Assistance Programs
Several nonprofit organizations offer support for funeral expenses in New Hampshire:
- Catholic Charities of New Hampshire: Provides financial aid for funeral costs to low-income families. Visit Catholic Charities New Hampshire.
- Salvation Army Northern New England Division: Offers emergency financial aid for funeral expenses. Visit Salvation Army New Hampshire.
- United Way of New Hampshire: Connects families with resources for funeral assistance. Dial 2-1-1 or visit United Way New Hampshire.
See also: Charities that offer funeral financial assistance.
Religious and Cultural Organizations
Religious and cultural organizations in New Hampshire may provide funeral support to their members. Examples include:
- Diocese of Manchester: Catholic parishes may offer emergency financial aid for funeral expenses. Visit Diocese of Manchester.
- Jewish Federation of New Hampshire: Provides financial aid for Jewish families in need of funeral support. Learn more at Jewish Federation NH.
- Search for a Local Church: Catholic, Protestant: Use online directories to locate nearby churches offering assistance. Visit Catholic Directory or The Gospel Coalition.
Crowdfunding Options
Crowdfunding platforms allow families to raise funds for funeral expenses from their community. Options include:
- GoFundMe: Create and share a funeral fundraiser. Visit GoFundMe.
- FundRazr: Another crowdfunding platform for personal fundraising. Visit FundRazr.
Resources: Funeral Assistance in New Hampshire
| Resource | Type of Assistance | Eligibility | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire DHHS Burial Assistance | Financial support for burial costs | Low-income families | Visit New Hampshire DHHS |
| County Burial Assistance Programs | Burial or cremation cost support | County-determined | Visit How to help funeral expenses help at the county level |
| Social Security Death Benefit | One-time $255 payment | Eligible survivors | Visit SSA |
| VA Burial Benefits | Funeral and burial cost coverage | Veterans and their families | Visit VA Burial Benefits |
| Catholic Charities of New Hampshire | Financial aid for funeral costs | Low-income families | Visit Catholic Charities New Hampshire |
| Salvation Army Northern New England Division | Emergency funeral cost assistance | Families in crisis | Visit Salvation Army New Hampshire |
| United Way of New Hampshire | Connects families with resources | Open to all | Visit United Way New Hampshire |
| Hillsborough County Burial Assistance | Funeral expense support | Indigent residents | Visit Hillsborough County Services |
| Rockingham County Funeral Assistance | Burial or cremation cost support | Low-income families | Visit Rockingham County Resources |
| Merrimack County Indigent Burial Program | Funeral assistance for indigent cases | County-determined | Visit Merrimack County Services |
| Diocese of Manchester | Emergency aid for funeral costs | Members of Catholic parishes | Visit Diocese of Manchester |
| Jewish Federation of New Hampshire | Funeral cost support | Jewish families in need | Visit Jewish Federation NH |
| Catholic Directory | Locate nearby Catholic churches | Open to all | Visit Catholic Directory |
| The Gospel Coalition | Locate nearby Protestant churches | Open to all | Visit The Gospel Coalition |
| GoFundMe | Crowdfunding for funeral expenses | Open to all | Visit GoFundMe |
| FundRazr | Crowdfunding for funeral expenses | Open to all | Visit FundRazr |
For more information, see Help with Funeral Costs State by State.
