Food, cash, and government benefits from the Camden County, NJ Board of Social Services
The Camden County Board of Social Services is the county's government benefits office, and it's where Camden County residents apply for most of the public assistance the state and federal government fund — food benefits, cash assistance, health coverage, and emergency help in a crisis. If you're short on groceries, behind on rent, facing a utility shutoff, or without health insurance, this is the office where you start your application and get screened for those programs. This page walks you through what the Board of Social Services may be able to do for you, how each program works in plain terms, and where to begin.
It covers government programs only — the county welfare agency, the state benefits it administers, and a few city-run programs for Camden residents. Charities, food pantries, community action agencies, and churches in the area run their own assistance and are covered on separate pages of this site (see the list of Camden County NJ assistance programs), so think of this office as one important piece of the larger safety net, not the whole of it.
The primary location is at 101 Woodcrest Road, Suite 161, in Cherry Hill, within walking distance of the PATCO Woodcrest station. A satellite office at 525 Market Street in the city of Camden handles a smaller set of services, including homeless mail and EBT card pick-up, homeless emergency assistance, and basic eligibility questions. The agency serves residents across all of Camden County, not only the city of Camden. You can reach the agency at (856) 225-8800.
Food assistance through SNAP
SNAP, still widely called food stamps, is the program most people come here for first. It adds a monthly food benefit to a Families First EBT card — a card that works like a debit card at grocery stores and many supermarkets — so you can buy food without spending down what little cash you have. It isn't meant to cover a full grocery budget on its own, but it may provide just enough support to help keep food on the table. SNAP can also be used at the same time as other charitable options and see the food pantry page for Camden County for local options.
Camden County residents 18 and older can apply at the Board of Social Services or online at https://www.njhelps.gov/ or njsnap.gov. SNAP rules require a face-to-face interview, so if you apply online, the office will contact you to set up an appointment. It's worth knowing that you can apply for SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicaid on a single application, which saves you from repeating the process for each one.
Cash assistance through WorkFirst New Jersey
Cash assistance in New Jersey runs through a program called Work First New Jersey (WFNJ), and it comes in two forms. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides cash to eligible families, and it's also open to non-parents who have custody of an eligible child — a grandparent, aunt, or uncle raising a child, for example. General Assistance (GA) provides cash to adults 18 and older who don't have dependent children.
The money is meant to cover basic needs, which can include rent, utilities, clothing, and other essentials while you get back on your feet. WFNJ is built around employment, so it comes paired with support services during pre- and post-employment — case management and job training designed to help you find and keep work. It's also time-limited, with a lifetime cap on how many months a household can receive cash assistance, so it's structured as temporary help rather than an open-ended benefit. Families receiving TANF are generally asked to cooperate with child support services as part of the program.
Emergency assistance in a crisis
If you're facing an immediate emergency — losing your housing, going without heat, or unable to feed your family — the Board of Social Services runs an Emergency Assistance program where staff assess the situation and provide appropriate services such as shelter and food. The satellite office at 525 Market Street in Camden specifically handles homeless emergency assistance, along with EBT card and mail pick-up for people without a stable address. If you're in this situation, calling (856) 225-8800 or going in person is the fastest way to be screened.
Health coverage through NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid
New Jersey runs its Medicaid and children's health insurance programs together under the name NJ FamilyCare, and the Board of Social Services is one of the places you can apply. The coverage may pay for pharmacy, doctor, hospital, optometry, and dental care, and for many people it costs little or nothing. Eligibility reaches families with children, pregnant women, single adults, and couples without children, as well as residents who are older, blind, or have a disability.
There are also programs designed to keep people out of institutions. Community Care and the Model Waiver provide home health services so that elderly residents and people with disabilities — including children — may stay in their own homes rather than move into a nursing facility, and a separate waiver serves people with traumatic brain injuries. For residents who also have Medicare, certain programs may help cover Medicare costs. Children enrolled in Medicaid are covered for yearly health screenings through a program called EPSDT.
Support for older adults, people with disabilities, and families
Beyond benefits, the agency's Family and Adult Social Services unit offers additional help that's easy to overlook. For older adults and people who are blind or have disabilities, this can include homemaker services and medical transportation. Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults, and that service is available regardless of income. The unit also provides family planning guidance and medical transportation for Medicaid-eligible residents.
The agency runs child support services as well, which work to establish paternity, set up support orders, locate non-paying parents, and enforce or adjust existing orders. For a single parent, getting a support order in place can make a real difference in monthly stability.
City of Camden programs for city residents
If you live in the city of Camden specifically, the city government runs its own programs on top of the county and state help. Camden has long been one of New Jersey's lower-income cities, and the city has built out services to match. The City of Camden's Bureau of Senior Services and Emergency Assistance is a local point of contact for residents in need, with help connected to rental and utility assistance, available in English and Spanish, and a range of services for seniors. You can reach the city's Department of Human Services at (856) 757-7285.
The city also operates a Summer Youth Employment Program for young residents, community centers, and seasonal warming and cooling locations during dangerous weather. These are separate from anything the county Board of Social Services provides, so they're easy to miss if you only think to call the county office.
Help with heating, cooling, and utility bills
Energy bills are one of the most common reasons households reach a breaking point, and New Jersey funds government programs specifically for this. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may help with heating and cooling costs and with emergency heating-system services, and the Universal Service Fund (USF) provides a monthly credit on gas and electric bills for households that qualify. A single application covers both, plus weatherization to make a home more energy-efficient.
You apply through the state's DCAid portal at https://dcaid.dca.nj.gov/en-US/, and the same screening tool will tell you what other state assistance you might qualify for. The energy assistance season runs through the colder months into early summer, and help is first-come, first-served, so applying early matters. If you have questions, the Home Energy Assistance Hotline can be reached by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-510-3102. Older adults and people with disabilities may also qualify for a Lifeline credit on their utility bills.
What to expect when you apply
The staff at the Camden County Board of Social Services process applications for several programs at once, so a single visit can get you screened for food, cash, and health coverage together. When you apply, bring identification, proof of income, proof of where you live, and documents for everyone in your household; the office can give you an exact checklist for your situation.
The Board of Social Services (website: https://www.camdencounty.com/service/social-services/) is generally open on weekdays, but hours and procedures change, so it's best to call (856) 225-8800 before going in to confirm what you'll need and whether you can start online first.
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