Benefits for seniors in New Jersey

Medicaid for people 65 and over

NJ FamilyCare has several programs for people who are aged, blind or disabled (called "ABD"). The main one for low-income seniors is New Jersey Care Special Medicaid.

• Income: up to 100% of the federal poverty level. For 2026 that is $1,330 a month for one person ($15,960 a year) and $21,640 a year for a couple.
• Assets: $4,000 for one person, $6,000 for a couple.
• People who get SSI get NJ FamilyCare through SSI. SSI has a lower asset limit of $2,000.

Long-term care: Nursing home care and care at home are covered through MLTSS (Managed Long Term Services and Supports) and PACE. You must need the level of care given in a nursing home. The income limit can be as high as $2,982 a month for one person, and the asset limit is usually $2,000. If you are married, your spouse at home can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in assets. Home equity over $1,130,000 can block long-term care coverage. New Jersey looks back five years at gifts and transfers.

Estate recovery: After death, New Jersey can recover Medicaid costs paid for care you got at age 55 or older. This can include your home and jointly held accounts. Recovery waits while a spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or disabled child is living. Medicare Savings Program benefits are not recovered. Questions: DMAHS Estates, 609-588-2900.

Help paying Medicare costs

New Jersey uses the federal income and asset limits for its Medicare Savings Programs in 2026:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): pays Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays. Income up to $1,350 a month for one person, $1,824 for a couple.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): pays your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026). Income up to $1,616 a month for one person, $2,184 for a couple.
• QI-1 (Qualifying Individual): also pays your Part B premium. Income up to $1,816 a month for one person, $2,455 for a couple.

Assets: $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple. All three programs also pay any Medicare late-enrollment penalty.

If you get any Medicare Savings Program, you get Extra Help with Part D drug costs automatically. Apply through NJSave (1-800-792-9745).

Prescription drug help

New Jersey has two state drug programs for people 65 and over, or 18 to 64 and getting Social Security Disability. Neither has an asset limit.

• PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled): for income under $54,943 a year for one person or $62,390 for a couple. You pay $5 for each generic drug and $7 for each brand-name drug. PAAD also pays your Medicare Part D premium, including late penalties.
• Senior Gold: for income up to $64,943 a year for one person or $72,390 for a couple (above the PAAD limit). You pay $15 plus half the remaining cost of each drug. After you spend $2,000 in a year ($3,000 for a couple), each drug costs $15.

Apply for both through NJSave at 1-800-792-9745. Also apply for federal Extra Help if your income and savings are low.

Extra state payment with SSI

New Jersey adds a state payment to the federal SSI check. Social Security pays it in the same check, so you do not apply separately.

• Living alone or with others: $31.25 a month for one person, $25.36 a month for a couple.
• Amounts differ in care homes or if you live in someone else's household.

This amount has stayed the same for many years. Confirm the current amount with Social Security at ssa.gov.

Food help

The food program is called NJ SNAP. Rules for people 60 and over:

• Income: most households must have gross income under $2,461 a month for one person or $3,337 for two (October 2026 to September 2027). If someone in your home is 60 or older or disabled, you may qualify even above this limit.
• No work requirements for anyone 60 or older.
• Medical costs over $35 a month, plus housing and utility bills, can raise your benefit.
• Benefits usually last 24 months before you renew.
• New Jersey sets a minimum benefit of $95 a month.
• Older and disabled SNAP households automatically qualify for LIHEAP and USF utility help.

How to apply: online at MyNJHelps.gov, or by paper application in person, by mail or by fax to your County Social Service Agency. Free SNAP Navigators can help (NJSNAPNavigators.gov). You should never be asked to pay for help applying.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: free benefits for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. You must be 60 or older with gross income at or below $29,526 a year for one person ($40,034 for two). Apply through your county's local agency; the NJ Department of Health lists each county's phone number.

Your county Area Agency on Aging also runs senior meal programs.

Help staying at home

• MLTSS: Medicaid care at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home for people who need nursing-home-level care (see Medicaid above).
• PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly): for people 55 and older who need nursing-home-level care, can live safely at home, and live in a PACE service area. PACE covers all Medicare and Medicaid services. It is offered in all or part of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties. Call 1-800-792-8820.
• JACC (Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving): for people 60 and over who need nursing-home-level care but are not on Medicaid. Income can be up to $4,855 a month for one person ($6,582 for a couple) and assets up to $40,000 ($60,000 for a couple). It pays for up to $1,090 a month in services. You may pay a share on a sliding scale.
• Statewide Respite Care Program and Alzheimer's Adult Day Services Program: give unpaid family caregivers a break, with a sliding-scale share.

Your county Area Agency on Aging (1-877-222-3737) can tell you how to apply for JACC and the respite programs.

Property tax and housing help

New Jersey uses one application, form PAS-1, for three programs. The 2025 application is due November 2, 2026.

• Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement): for homeowners 65 or older (or getting Social Security Disability) who have owned and lived in their home since December 31, 2022, with 2025 income of $172,475 or less.
• Stay NJ: for homeowners 65 and older who owned and lived in their New Jersey home all of 2025, with income under $500,000. Stay NJ tops up your ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits to 50% of your property tax bill, up to $6,500. It is paid in quarterly installments.
• ANCHOR: homeowners get $1,500 with income up to $150,000, or $1,000 with income up to $250,000. Renters 65 or older get $700 with income up to $150,000.

All your property tax relief together cannot be more than the property tax you paid. Apply at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov or call 1-800-323-4400.

Senior property tax deduction: if you are 65 or older (or disabled) and your income is $10,000 a year or less, you can get $250 a year off your property taxes. Social Security and government pensions are not counted. File form PTD with your town's tax assessor or collector.

Help with energy bills

• LIHEAP and USF: apply from October 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Gross income must be under $4,273 a month for one person or $5,587 for two. LIHEAP gives a yearly heating payment, plus $300 for medically needed cooling. USF gives a monthly bill credit of up to $200. People 60 and over can apply by mail and ask for a home visit. Apply at energyassistance.nj.gov or call 1-800-510-3102.
• Lifeline Utility Assistance: a $225 yearly credit on your utility bill (or a check if utilities are in your rent). Same income limits as PAAD. Apply through NJSave.
• Hearing aid help (HAAAD): in the same NJSave application: $500 back for one hearing aid you bought, or up to $1,000 for two.

Free help and counseling

• SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): free, unbiased Medicare counseling about benefits, claims, Medigap, and drug and health plan choices. SHIP does not sell or endorse any plan. Call 1-800-792-8820.
• Area Agencies on Aging / ADRC: every county has one. Call 1-877-222-3737 to reach yours, or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 (eldercare.acl.gov).
• State aging office: the Division of Aging Services in the New Jersey Department of Human Services (www.aging.nj.gov).

How to apply

Check what you may qualify for