Benefits
New Jersey Benefits for Older Adults
New Jersey has many programs that can help older adults pay for health care, drugs, food, energy bills, and property taxes on their home. This page lists each kind of help in New Jersey, what it pays for, and where to apply. The county or state agency makes the final decision on who gets help. You may qualify even if you own your home or get Social Security.
Kinds of benefits in New Jersey
The agency decides who qualifies. The limits below are the published figures — use them to see whether applying is worth your time.
Social Security in New Jersey
Social Security pays monthly benefits to retired workers, people with disabilities, and family members of workers who have died. Field offices can help you apply, replace a card, change your benefit information, and apply for Extra Help with drug costs. Many tasks can be done online or by phone at 1-800-772-1213.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration |
| How to apply | Online at ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local field office. Use the SSA Office Locator to find your office. |
| Phone | 1-800-772-1213 |
| TTY | 1-800-325-0778 |
| Source | Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Medicaid for Older New Jerseyans (NJ FamilyCare)
Medicaid in New Jersey is called NJ FamilyCare. For people 65 or older, blind, or disabled, it can pay for care that Medicare does not pay for, like long stays in a nursing home, help at home, some dental care, and hospice. In 2026, the main income limit is $1,330 a month for one person, with resources up to $4,000. Long-term care has a higher income limit of $2,982 a month. The county agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ FamilyCare, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS); County Boards of Social Services decide eligibility |
| What it covers | Health care Medicare does not pay for on its own, including long nursing home stays, help at home and in assisted living through MLTSS (Managed Long Term Services and Supports), some dental care, rides to care, and hospice. |
| How to apply | Apply through your County Board of Social Services or the NJ FamilyCare application. |
| Limits 2026 | Note: NJ Care Special Medicaid Programs limits for 2026 (NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled brochure, DMAHS).; Resources: Couple: 6000; Individual: 4000; Long term care: Note: MLTSS and institutional care: 300 percent of the federal SSI rate for 2026. Income over the limit can go into a Qualified Income Trust (QIT).; Resources individual: 2000; Monthly income individual: 2982; Monthly income: Couple: 1804; Individual: 1330 |
| Source | NJ FamilyCare, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS); County Boards of Social Services decide eligibility (www.state.nj.us) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New jersey notes
- The Medicaid Only program uses the SSI standards: income up to $1,025.25 a month for one person, counting the state SSI supplement, with resources up to $2,000 or $3,000.
- New Jersey expanded Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 can qualify on income alone up to 138 percent of the poverty level, with no asset test for that group.
Medicare Savings Programs in New Jersey
Medicare Savings Programs help pay your Medicare costs, like the Part B premium, co-pays, and deductibles. In New Jersey for 2026, QMB helps people with income up to $15,960 a year for one person. SLMB helps up to $19,152 a year, and QI up to $21,546 a year. Assets must be $9,950 or less for one person, or $14,910 for a couple. You apply through NJSave. The state decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ Division of Aging Services / NJ FamilyCare — apply through NJSave |
| How to apply | Apply online through NJSave at aging.nj.gov or by phone at 1-800-792-9745. Free help: SHIP at 1-800-792-8820. |
| Limits 2026 | QI: Income annual couple: 29214; Income annual individual: 21546; QMB: Income annual couple: 21640; Income annual individual: 15960; SLMB: Income annual couple: 25968; Income annual individual: 19152; Note: 2026 annual income limits as published by the NJ Division of Aging Services. QMB is about $1,330 a month for one person before the income disregards the county applies.; Resources: Couple: 14910; Individual: 9950 |
| Source | NJ Division of Aging Services / NJ FamilyCare — apply through NJSave (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New jersey notes
- QMB pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium only.
- Getting a Medicare Savings Program signs you up for Extra Help with drug costs on its own. One NJSave application screens you for these programs, PAAD, Senior Gold, and Lifeline at the same time.
SNAP Food Benefits in New Jersey
SNAP helps people with low income buy food in New Jersey. Benefits come on a Families First card that works like a debit card. If you are 60 or older, your medical costs may count in a way that raises your benefit, and you can own your home and still get SNAP. You apply online through NJHelps or at your County Board of Social Services. The county decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ Department of Human Services — NJ SNAP, through County Boards of Social Services |
| How to apply | Apply online through NJHelps, or at your County Board of Social Services. |
| Source | NJ Department of Human Services — NJ SNAP, through County Boards of Social Services (www.ssa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New jersey notes
- Benefits come on a Families First EBT card. Households with a member 60 or older or disabled face only the net income test, and medical costs over $35 a month may raise the benefit.
- If everyone in the household gets SSI or cash aid, you may apply for SNAP at a Social Security office (Social Security Administration, SSI in New Jersey, 2026). Households with very little income may get expedited benefits within 7 days.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in New Jersey
SSI pays monthly cash to people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very little income and few resources. For 2026, the federal part pays up to $994 a month for one person. New Jersey adds a small state payment, so a person living on their own can get $1,025.25 a month in total. Your resources must be $2,000 or less for one person, or $3,000 for a couple. The home you live in does not count. Social Security decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration |
| How to apply | Apply with the Social Security Administration online, by phone, or at a field office. |
| Phone | 1-800-772-1213 |
| Federal benefit rate | Couple: 1491; Individual: 994 |
| Resource limits | Couple: 3000; Individual: 2000 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Source | Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New jersey notes
- New Jersey adds a state payment on top of SSI. A person living on their own gets $1,025.25 a month in total, which counts a $31.25 state payment; a couple living on their own gets $1,516.35 in total (NJ FamilyCare ABD brochure; Social Security Administration, SSI in New Jersey, 2026).
- People who get SSI in New Jersey get Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare) on their own, with no separate application.
Extra Help and State Drug Help in New Jersey (PAAD and Senior Gold)
Extra Help is a federal Medicare program that pays most of your Part D drug costs if your income and savings are low. New Jersey also has its own drug help. PAAD helps residents 65 or older with income under $54,943 a year, with co-pays of $5 or $7 a drug and no limit on savings. Senior Gold helps people with a bit more income. You apply for both through NJSave. The agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration / Medicare (Extra Help); NJ Division of Aging Services (PAAD and Senior Gold) |
| How to apply | Apply for Extra Help at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Apply for PAAD or Senior Gold through NJSave. |
| Extra help | Income rule: Income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; for a household of one in 2026 that is $23,940 a year.; Resource limits 2026: Couple: 33100; Individual: 16590 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Source | Social Security Administration / Medicare (Extra Help); NJ Division of Aging Services (PAAD and Senior Gold) (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New jersey notes
- PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) is New Jersey state drug help: income under $54,943 a year if single or $62,390 if married in 2026, no limit on resources, co-pays of $5 for generic drugs and $7 for brand drugs, and help with Part D premiums (NJ Division of Aging Services).
- Senior Gold is a state drug discount for income from $54,943 to $64,943 if single, or $62,390 to $72,390 if married. Apply for PAAD and Senior Gold through the one NJSave application, or call 1-800-792-9745.
Energy Help in New Jersey (LIHEAP and USF)
LIHEAP helps New Jersey households with low income pay heating and cooling bills, and the same form covers the Universal Service Fund credit on gas and electric bills. For 2026, income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income — $4,167 a month for one person. You apply online or through your county agency. The agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ Department of Community Affairs — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF) |
| How to apply | Apply at energyassistance.nj.gov or through the agency for your county. People age 60 or older, or disabled, may apply by mail. |
| Facts | For federal fiscal year 2026, gross income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income: $4,167 a month, or $50,005 a year, for a household of one, and $5,449 a month for two (NJ Department of Community Affairs, FFY 2026 fact sheet)., The application period ran October 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, first come, first served. One application covers both LIHEAP heating and cooling help and the Universal Service Fund credit on gas and electric bills. Apply at energyassistance.nj.gov or through your county agency., People at PAAD income levels may also get the Lifeline program credit of $225 a year on gas and electric bills. Apply through NJSave. |
| Source | NJ Department of Community Affairs — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF) (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Property Tax Relief for Older New Jersey Homeowners
New Jersey gives older homeowners three kinds of property tax relief, and you ask for all three on one form, the PAS-1. The Senior Freeze pays you back when your tax bill rises over the amount in your first year. ANCHOR pays a set amount each year. Stay NJ, the newest program, pays toward half your tax bill, up to $6,500. The Division of Taxation decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ Division of Taxation — PAS-1 combined application |
| How to apply | File the PAS-1 online at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov or by paper booklet from the Division of Taxation. |
| Facts | Homeowners 65 or older, and disabled homeowners, apply for three programs on one form, the PAS-1: Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ (NJ Division of Taxation, February 2026)., Senior Freeze pays you back for property tax rises over your base year. Income must have been $168,268 or less in 2024 and $172,475 or less in 2025., ANCHOR pays a direct benefit to homeowners with income of $250,000 or less (renters up to $150,000). Stay NJ pays toward half your property tax bill, up to $6,500, for homeowners 65 or older with income of $500,000 or less. This cycle the PAS-1 deadline was November 2, 2026, with Senior Freeze payments from July 2026, ANCHOR from September 2026, and Stay NJ in February 2027. |
| Source | NJ Division of Taxation — PAS-1 combined application (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Aging Services in New Jersey (County Offices on Aging)
New Jersey aging services help people age 60 and older and the people who care for them. Each county has an Office on Aging that can help you find meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support, and benefits you may have missed. Call the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-877-222-3737. Help is free.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | NJ Division of Aging Services / County Offices on Aging (Area Agencies on Aging) / Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) |
| How to apply | Call the ADRC at 1-877-222-3737 or your County Office on Aging to be pointed to local help. |
| Phone | 1-877-222-3737 |
| Facts | New Jersey has 21 County Offices on Aging, one for each county, also called Area Agencies on Aging (NJ Department of Human Services)., The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) is the single door to aging help in New Jersey: meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support, and benefits checks. Call 1-877-222-3737., County Offices on Aging also host SHIP Medicare counselors and can help with the NJSave application. |
| Source | NJ Division of Aging Services / County Offices on Aging (Area Agencies on Aging) / Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Free Medicare Counseling in New Jersey (SHIP)
SHIP is the free Medicare counseling program in New Jersey. Counselors can explain Medicare, compare plans, help with appeals, and check if you may qualify for programs that lower your costs, like the Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, and PAAD. They do not sell insurance. Call 1-800-792-8820 to reach a counselor near you.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — NJ Division of Aging Services |
| How to apply | Call SHIP at 1-800-792-8820 to reach a counselor in your county. |
| Phone | 1-800-792-8820 |
| Facts | SHIP counselors work through the County Offices on Aging in every New Jersey county (NJ Division of Aging Services)., Counselors give free, unbiased help. They do not sell insurance. For NJSave program questions, call 1-800-792-9745. |
| Source | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — NJ Division of Aging Services (www.nj.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Applying for Benefits in New Jersey (County Boards and NJSave)
Most New Jersey benefit programs run through your County Board of Social Services or the NJSave application. NJSave is one form that checks you for Medicare premium help, state drug help, and a utility credit at the same time. Bring proof of who you are, where you live, your income, and your bank accounts. The agency makes the final decision.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | County Boards of Social Services; NJSave online (NJ Division of Aging Services) |
| How to apply | Apply for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and SNAP at your County Board of Social Services. Apply for Medicare Savings Programs, PAAD, Senior Gold, and Lifeline in one NJSave application at aging.nj.gov or by phone at 1-800-792-9745. |
| Phone | 1-800-792-9745 |
| Source | County Boards of Social Services; NJSave online (NJ Division of Aging Services) (www.state.nj.us) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Good to know in New Jersey
- Medicaid for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled in New Jersey is NJ FamilyCare. The NJ Care Special Medicaid Programs cover income up to $1,330 a month for one person and $1,804 for a couple, with resources up to $4,000 or $6,000 (NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled brochure, 2026). Long-term care through MLTSS uses a higher income limit of $2,982 a month with resources up to $2,000, and a Qualified Income Trust can hold income over the limit.
- New Jersey Medicare Savings Programs in 2026 go up to $15,960 a year for QMB, $19,152 for SLMB, and $21,546 for QI for one person, with assets up to $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple (NJ Division of Aging Services). Apply for all three through the one NJSave application.
- New Jersey has its own drug help: PAAD pays toward drug costs for residents with income under $54,943 a year if single or $62,390 if married, with $5 and $7 co-pays and no limit on resources. Senior Gold helps at income from $54,943 to $64,943 if single (NJ Division of Aging Services, 2026).
- Energy help in New Jersey is LIHEAP and the Universal Service Fund, on one application. Gross income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income — $4,167 a month, or $50,005 a year, for one person in federal fiscal year 2026 (NJ Department of Community Affairs). PAAD-level income also brings a $225 Lifeline credit on gas and electric bills.
- Senior homeowners apply for three property tax programs on one form, the PAS-1: the Senior Freeze (income $172,475 or less for 2025), ANCHOR (homeowner income $250,000 or less), and Stay NJ (homeowner income $500,000 or less). The deadline for this cycle was November 2, 2026 (NJ Division of Taxation).
- Free Medicare counseling in New Jersey is SHIP, run by the Division of Aging Services. Call 1-800-792-8820. Most benefits are applied for through your County Board of Social Services or the NJSave application. New Jersey has 21 County Offices on Aging.
Free local help
Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: