MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney says homeowners hoping to benefit from a settlement over foreclosure abuses may have to wait several months to receive assistance.

The state is expected to get $43.6 million under the settlement among 49 states and the five largest mortgage lenders. It was announced in February.

The Telegraph of Nashua reports (http://bit.ly/JKYgk8) Delaney spoke Monday at a presentation at Saint Anselm College. He said those funds haven't yet reached the state as the settlement has been caught up in paperwork.

He said the five affected banks are starting to review applications. They are Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and GMAC/Ally Financial.

State figures say more than 3,000 families have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2008. .

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Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.nashuatelegraph.com