Medicaid Estate Recovery in New Hampshire: when someone dies

A 5-step process for New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services — Estate Recovery Unit after a death in New Hampshire.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Administering agency

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services — Estate Recovery Unit

Authority

RSA 167:14-a; RSA 167:16-a

Verified Jul 2026

Steps to take

  1. Determine whether the deceased received Medicaid medical assistance at age 55 or older, or any cash assistance (OAA, ANB, or APTD) at any age.
  2. Confirm whether a surviving spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or permanently and totally disabled child survives the recipient, which bars recovery.
  3. Contact the DHHS Estate Recovery Unit to confirm whether a claim applies and request the amount owed.
  4. Address any claim as a debt of the estate before distributing assets to heirs.
  5. Apply for an undue-hardship waiver through the Estate Recovery Unit if repayment would cause the family hardship.

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services — Estate Recovery Unit

Phone: 603-271-9236

Visit the agency website →

Frequently asked questions

New Hampshire DHHS files a claim against the estate of a recipient who was age 55 or older when medical assistance was provided, but only if the recipient leaves no surviving spouse and no surviving child who is under 21 or blind or permanently and totally disabled.

Yes. DHHS states that the family and/or the administrator of the estate can apply for a hardship waiver and have the debt forgiven if the hardship criteria are met. Contact the Estate Recovery Unit at 603-271-9236 to request one; under RSA 167:14-a, VI(b) the department's notice of its claim must explain how to request a hardship waiver.

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Sources

Data sourced from Medicaid Estate Recovery in New Hampshire primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.