PUBLIC ASSISTANCE in NEW JERSEY

New Jersey provides assistance to New Jersey residents of low income through the following programs:

• New Jersey FamilyCare
• Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)
• Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF)
• Work First New Jersey/General Assistance (WFNJ/GA)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

WHAT ARE THESE PROGRAMS?

New Jersey FamilyCare

NJ FamilyCare is a health insurance program made possible with federal and state funds. The program was created to help qualified New Jersey residents of any age obtain affordable health insurance. To be eligible, applicants for FamilyCare must not be able to procure health insurance through an employer.

Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)

WFNJ is a state public assistance program that provides cash, childcare, job search and readiness assistance, and short-term housing support for eligible New Jersey residents.

Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF)

WFNJ/TANF is a state public assistance program that provides financial aid, Medicaid, and social services to eligible low-income families to help them achieve economic independence.

Work First New Jersey/General Assistance (WFNJ/GA)

 This New Jersey program offers temporary cash assistance and other services to eligible single adults and couples without children in New Jersey. This assistance program serves to fill an economic gap and improve well-being while the recipient works toward self-sufficiency.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP provides assistance to families with low incomes with the goal of helping them sustain healthy nutrition. Eligible recipients receive a benefits card to use for the purchase of groceries in food retail stores and farmers markets.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Eligibility for these programs is determined through the analysis of several factors, including income and resources.

• • For NJ FamilyCare:
• Children under 19:
  • Eligible with incomes up to 355% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). That equals $9,230/month for a family of four.
  • The children’s parents must renew the coverage each year.
  • Children may be eligible regardless of their immigration status.
• Adults between the ages of 19–64 may be eligible with incomes up to 138% of the FPL, and
• Pregnant people may be eligible with incomes up to 205% of the FPL.

• • Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Programs

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be New Jersey residents, U.S. citizens, legal aliens, or qualified aliens.
• Be unemployed or underemployed,
• Have low or very low income, and
• Meet one of the following criteria:
  • have a child 18 or younger,
  • be pregnant, or
  • be 18 or younger and the head of their household.
• Applicants must also look for a job or participate in an employment and training program, unless they have a disability or other exemption.

• • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)

• • • Income Requirements

• To be eligible for SNAP, a household must meet or not exceed the maximum allowable income listed in the chart below. The figures represent the Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standard, or 185% of the FPL. The New Jersey government defines a “household” as “anyone who lives and eats together.”

• Meeting the income requirement does not guarantee eligibility.
• Senior citizens or people with disabilities may be eligible even if their income exceeds these parameters.

• • Work Requirements

SNAP participants may be required to register with the New Jersey One-Stop Career Center. That means you agree to make certain specific efforts to be gainfully employed. Participants may also be required to partake in services offered through SNAP’s Employment & Training Program (E&T). The E&T program offers many opportunities for training, skills, and suitable employment.

• • Eligibility for Seniors and People with Disabilities

For applicants aged 60 or older and people under 60 who have a disability, the requirements are modified as follows:

• There is no work requirement
• The participant will remain eligible for 24 months then must recertify
• Participants may have more resources
• Resources may be counted
• Any medical expenses over $35 per month will be deducted from income
• Participants will be automatically eligible for other utility benefit programs including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF)

• • Eligibility for College Students

Students aged 18-49 may be eligible for SNAP. To qualify, they must meet income eligibility and at least one of the following requirements as set forth by the State of New Jersey:

• Be enrolled in an approved Career and Technical Education Program at a New Jersey community college;

• Be employed at least 20 hours per week AND paid for such work;
• Be participating in a federal work study program during the school year;
• Be participating in an on-the-job training program;
• Be responsible for the care of a member of your household who is a dependent under the age of six years-old;
• Be a single parent enrolled full-time AND responsible for a dependent under the age 12 years-old;
• Be unable to work due to a physical or mental disability; or
• Be receiving Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits (cash assistance).

HOW AND WHERE DO I APPLY?

To apply, visit https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/apply/app/

SUSSAN GREENWALD & WESLER

609-409-3500