Locate grant money and financial assistance in all New Jersey counties and cities listed below, including Newark as well as Jersey City. Get help with paying utility bills, a mortgage or rent payment, transportation costs or find free gasoline cards. Or get free medical care, food or groceries, and help paying down debts. In addition to the state run government assistance programs listed below, families can also locate charities in New Jersey that can provide financial help.

The non-profits and government agencies in NJ combine the emergency financial help (listed below) along with free stuff. Struggling households may be given clothes for work, free bus tickets or transit passes, money to pay for a car payment or daycare vouchers for work. There are also low-income housing units or apartments and other social services as noted below.

Find grant money to help pay bills, housing or free stuff in NJ for struggling families

Kinship Navigator Program
Kinship care is assistance that is provided to grandparents, uncles, aunts and other relatives who care for their family member's children. The NJ program is a referral and information service that was established by charities to help relatives navigate their way through the various governmental social services to find the local support they may need.

Find cash assistance for paying bills, support groups, child care resources, medical coverage, housing assistance, and respite services. In addition to the navigator service, monthly subsidies and cash grants are also available in NJ to eligible kinship caregivers to help them pay their bills. Call 1-877-816-3211

New Jersey Mortgage Help and Foreclosure Prevention
New Jersey offers programs that assist families with paying their mortgages, and the state can also help those who may be in need avoid foreclosure. Get information on government as well as free non-profit programs. Read more on mortgage help in New Jersey.

The state of New Jersey also has a mediation program that will help lenders and homeowners agree to a solution to stop a foreclosure. This involves “neutral” mediators that negotiate a solution.

The federal government also approves non-profits to help. Find a listing of New Jersey HUD approved foreclosure counseling agencies as well as law firms.

NJ WorkAbility
Provides health insurance coverage to the disabled who work and whose income makes them ineligible for Medicaid. It will also help the disabled with paying their medical bills or for medications as well as outstanding debt. Dial 1-888-285-3036 for details, or find other government free health insurance policies.

Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)
A prescription drug discount program for the disabled as well as seniors with a low income. The savings that are offered can help them pay for prescribed medications. New Jersey PADD is program that provides insurance for prescribed drugs, such as insulin, life threatening medications, cancer and insulin strips or supplies. Call 1-800-792-9745.

Stop Medical Debt Collectors in New Jersey
New Jersey government laws provide consumers help with dealing with medical debt collectors. There are rules and regulations in place. The state will also ensure people have access to free health care. More on programs to stop debt collectors.

Charity Care - Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program
This program provides free or very low cost medical care for lower income patients who receive outpatient or inpatient services at an acute care hospital in NJ. The state offers financial aid to help pay bills, surgeries or hospital debt. To be eligible for government aid, those in need of help can’t have insurance, or they need to have limited health insurance coverage. Call 1-866-588-5696 or 1-800-367-6543.

New Jersey State Rental Assistance Program
This is a rental assistance program offered by New Jersey for low-income families, individuals, single mom, immigrants or households. The program will help residents with paying their rent or deposits. Assistance is offered in the form of housing vouchers or grants. Call 609-292-4080 to reach DCA, or find free housing assistance.

New Jersey Family Care - Medicaid
Provides free or very low-cost health insurance to lower income working families, the disabled in NH and also their children. Those eligible for support from this program include parents with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, and children that are in families earning up to 350% of the federal poverty level.

The NJ FamilyCare program helps financially eligible families who need health insurance obtain it to help cover the cost of routine physician visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, lab tests, x-rays, eyeglasses, eye exams, and other medical bills for themselves and for their children. It will also pay for dental care for most children and for some adults. Call 1-800-701-0710 for details or applications to this free government health care in New Jersey.

Free Credit Counseling for Debts and Mortgage Assistance
Find details on non-profit organizations that offer New Jersey residents credit counseling services. A number of debt consolidation, housing, credit card hardship and auto programs are offered. The non-profits can help pay bills and loans are offered. More on New Jersey free credit counseling.

The NJ Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The amount of financial aid is based on the federal EITC. The state provides a fully refundable credit to help boost the paychecks of low-income families. Call 609-292-6400.

Telephone Assistance - Home and Cellular
Lifeline is available to low income families in New Jersey. It provides savings on both a monthly phone bill and the installation cost. There are also discounts for residents that collect SSI, food stamps, and other government benefits. More on Lifeline in New Jersey.

Senior Freeze Property Tax Relief
Receive property tax assistance from the Senior Freeze program. Eligible seniors, retirees as well as disabled residents will receive reimbursement for the difference between their local property taxes that were paid the first year they enrolled in the tax assistance program and what their current real estate tax bill is. Call 1-800-882-6597 for information on this and other options. Find more details on financial help paying property taxes.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
This will provide eligible families, that have kids with financial assistance. Funds as well as government grants can help those low income families cover medical expenses that were incurred because their child became injured or catastrophically ill. There is financial help for children ages 0 to 21 include. Support will include, but is not limited to, acute or specialized in- or out - patient hospital care, special ambulatory care, medical equipment, home health care, medically - related home and vehicle modifications, and medical transportation. Phone 1-800-335-3863, or read more on New Jersey Catastrophic Illness Fund.

Work First New Jersey (WFNJ)
This is New Jersey public assistance grant program that offers cash aid. It was created to help families move to self-sufficiency by offering families, single parents and individuals a full array of support, from health insurance, child care, and transportation, up to substance abuse treatment. There is also emergency cash assistance in NJ to pay their bills for the short term. Recipients who need the help will face a five-year lifetime limit on cash assistance, and they also must become employed or take part in work activities. Phone 1-800-792-9773.

Section 8 Rental Assistance Vouchers
A key program in New Jersey for low income families is available as part of the section 8 HUD housing organization. Rent subsidies as well as apartments are offered. There are additional housing resources for the disabled as well as senior citizens. Read more New Jersey housing vouchers.

Government Disability Assistance Programs
Individuals in New Jersey, as well as their families, can access resources that are specifically for the disabled. The state provides health care, limited financial assistance for medical bills and heating bills, home care, SSI applications as well as other support. Organizations will also help individuals apply for SSDI or federal government disability benefits and compensation. Continue with disability benefits in New Jersey.

Cash Assistance in a Crisis
Low income families with children, seniors, the working poor, and other disadvantaged families may be able to receive help for paying bills, rent, and other expenses. The Human Services Department runs a program that offers help in a crisis. More on New Jersey emergency assistance.

Legal Assistance
Find resources that provide free legal assistance as well as advice in New Jersey. Lawyers offer free advice, representation and guidance. Federal government grants fund the programs. Click here free legal aid in New Jersey.

Eviction Assistance and Government Programs for the Homeless
New Jersey uses Housing and Urban Development grants to fund programs such as emergency rental assistance, transitional housing, and programs that can help pay security deposits on low income housing. Non-profits focus on helping struggling families facing eviction and also rehousing the homeless. More on eviction prevention in New Jersey.

Medicaid
An entitlement program that currently provides health insurance for hundreds of thousands of very low-income New Jersey parents, people who are aged, children, as well as the blind or disabled. The program pays for doctor, hospital, prescription drug bills, nursing home expenses and many other health care benefits. Or even find other resources, including government and charity prescription drug programs.

Employment Services, Education Programs and Government Grants
Residents who meet low income guidelines or who are faced with poverty can get help from their local community action agency. Resources available to New Jersey families include job training, career counseling, grants for paying housing or energy costs, and financial support. Continue New Jersey community action agency.

Other employment related programs include assistance with job searches, training, and career counseling. Services are offered for the unemployed and residents looking to gain experience or a skill to increase their income. Continue with free job training in New Jersey.

New Jersey Senior Programs
The organization to call is the Aging & Disability Resource Connection. They operate a number of offices across the state, and can provide various forms of assistance or advice. There is government aid, grants, free stuff and support to senior citizens and the elderly. More New Jersey senior citizen assistance.

Social Services and Government Cash Assistance
New Jersey offers low income residents access to a number of assistance programs. Find where to get free food, cash, health care, financial assistance for child care, SNAP food stamps and much more. More on New Jersey public assistance.

Case Management in New Jersey and Charity Assistance
One of the leading charity organizations, the Salvation Army, can provide limited amounts of financial assistance for living expenses. Programs can pay for housing, medications, electric bills, food, Christmas toys, and more. Also get advice and referrals from a case manager. Learn more on New Jersey Salvation Army.

New Jersey Free Food Banks and Distribution Centers
Individuals and families who need help across the state can turn to non-profit food banks as well as emergency pantries. These centers and organizations can provide free food, groceries, meals and other resources to those who need help. More on New Jersey free food banks.

Utility and Heating Bills
Find a comprehensive listing of the programs that are offered by utility companies in New Jersey that can help customers pay their bills. There are payment plans, rebates, disconnection help and other services. Read more on New Jersey utility bill help.

Day and Free Child Care Subsidy Program
Parents that are working or that are attending school or job training may receive government assistance from New Jersey in paying for their child care expenses. A partial payment, or subsidy, can be provided to qualified low income families. Read New Jersey free child care assistance programs.

Community Clinics and Free Health Care
There are dozens of free community clinics in New Jersey that provide free or low cost medical care to the low income as well as people without health insurance. Free care is for adults as well as children. Click here to get more information on free community clinics in New Jersey.

Residents who need help to address a dental need also have options available to them. Government assistance and charitable centers offer free help. Read about free or reduced priced facilities and free dental care clinics in New Jersey.

Patients who do not have health insurance, or whose policy will not pay all of their bills, can look into several programs for free or low cost medical care. A focus is on helping children, providing medications, and helping people with certain conditions (such as cancer). Continue New Jersey uninsured health care programs.

Housing, Rent Assistance, and Homeless Prevention
A state run organization offers emergency rental assistance, money for security deposits, shelter, and housing counseling in partnerships with local charities. This helps tenants as well as homeowners. Find a listing of New Jersey rent assistance programs.

Home Energy Assistance Program
This will help very low-income residents with paying their heating and also cooling bills. Grants and government money is used from HEAP. The program also makes provisions for emergency fuel assistance and heating system repair services within the Home Energy Assistance Program. Free Government Weatherization Assistance, New Jersey Comfort Partners, and the Universal Service Fund (USF) are often part of NJ HEAP as well. More on LIHEAP in New Jersey.

New Jersey SHARES
This state program can help people pay for their heating, water and utility bills. The program provides home energy grants for hundreds of dollars (sometimes thousands) people whose income is too high for other government programs. So this program is targeted at more moderate income families. Call 1-866-657-4273, or read more on NJ Shares.

Assistance From New Jersey Cities and Counties

Find financial help, social services, grants and more in your local city or county (select below). As there are many other charities, government programs and resources in each county.

Atlantic County (Mays Landing)

Bergen County (Hackensack)

Burlington County (Mount Holly)

Camden County

Cape May County

Central New Jersey Area

Cumberland County (Bridgeton)

Essex County (Newark)

Gloucester County (Woodbury)

Hudson County (Jersey City)

Hunterdon County (Flemington)

Mercer County (Trenton)