This guide explains what the New Jersey Department of Human Services offers through county offices statewide. Programs include SNAP food benefits on the Families First Card, NJFamilyCare health coverage, and WorkFirst NJ cash assistance â€” which covers both families and single adults. Also covered are the Child Care Assistance Program, WIC, and programs unique to New Jersey: PAAD and Senior Gold prescription help for seniors, Lifeline Utility Assistance, and the NJ Earned Income Tax Credit.

This page covers the benefits that are offered — a plain-English guide to how they work and how to apply. New Jersey delivers most of these programs through local county DHS offices — one in each county — so your local county agency handles SNAP applications, WorkFirst NJ cases, and NJFamilyCare enrollment, rather than a central state office. The programs reach every part of the state, from the densely populated urban centers of Hudson and Essex counties to the Shore communities of Monmouth and Ocean, the older industrial cities of Camden and Trenton, the agricultural stretches of Salem and Cumberland, and the northern suburbs of Bergen and Morris, where the cost of living is among the highest in the country.

SNAP food benefits — monthly grocery assistance on the Families First Card

SNAP provides monthly food benefits that load onto the Families First Card, accepted at most grocery stores statewide and at many farmers markets. Benefit amounts depend on household size, income, and certain allowable expenses — housing costs and dependent care can factor into the calculation in ways that increase what a household qualifies for.

New Jersey uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which sets the gross income limit higher than the standard federal floor. That means more households qualify for SNAP here than in states that apply only the minimum federal threshold. Households already receiving WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance qualify for SNAP automatically without a separate income or asset test. Employment alone does not disqualify anyone — hourly workers in retail, food service, warehousing, and domestic work across the state regularly receive SNAP while earning wages.

New Jersey also guarantees a minimum monthly SNAP payment for eligible households. If a household would otherwise receive very little, the state adds a supplemental amount to reach that floor — something most states do not do, and which matters particularly for seniors and smaller households. If the need is immediate and the household has almost no money for food, expedited processing is designed to return a decision within seven days. Tell the caseworker at intake that the situation is urgent so the request is handled on that timeline. Apply online at https://mynjhelps.gov/home, which takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes. For a quick eligibility screen before applying, https://www.njhelps.gov/ also covers the basics in about five minutes.

WIC — food benefits, nutrition counseling, and health referrals for women, infants, and young children

WIC provides monthly benefits for purchasing specific nutritious foods, along with nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care providers. The program serves pregnant women, recently postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five. Benefits can also be used at participating farmers markets through the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, which operates at locations across the state each summer.

One important distinction for New Jersey residents: WIC here is administered by the Department of Health, not the Department of Human Services. That means it runs on a separate clinic network and a separate application process from the county agencies that handle SNAP and NJFamilyCare. The WIC Shopper app, available on iOS and Android, helps participants identify approved foods at the grocery store before they get to the register. To find the WIC clinic in your area or to begin a pre-screening, visit https://nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/ and use the WIC Participant Portal.

SNAP food benefits — monthly grocery assistance on the Families First Card

New Jersey's SNAP program provides monthly food benefits that load onto the Families First Card, accepted at most grocery stores statewide and at many farmers markets. A household does not need to be unemployed or currently receiving other government assistance to qualify — working families, single adults, seniors, and households with children can all be eligible, provided income falls within program limits.

New Jersey uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which sets the gross income limit higher than the standard federal threshold. That means more households qualify for SNAP here than in states applying only the federal minimum. Households already receiving WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance qualify for SNAP automatically without going through a separate income or asset test.

Employment is not a disqualifying factor. Workers in warehousing, food service, retail, and the many service-sector industries concentrated along the Route 1 and Route 9 corridors — or seasonal workers in the shore communities and agricultural counties further south — frequently qualify while earning wages. Seniors and households that include a member with a disability may have additional flexibility in how eligibility is calculated. If the need is immediate and the household has almost no food money, expedited processing can reach a decision within seven days — tell the caseworker when applying that the situation is urgent.

Applications are processed by the DHS office in your county. The fastest route is online at https://www.mynjhelps.gov/home, which takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes to apply but there is a quicker, basic screening tool on the site too.

Cash assistance for families and single adults — WorkFirst New Jersey (WFNJ)

WorkFirst New Jersey runs on two separate tracks. WFNJ/TANF serves low-income families with children — single parents, two-parent households, and caretaker relatives raising children who are not their own are all eligible to apply. Pregnant women approaching their due date may qualify as well. WFNJ/GA, the General Assistance track, serves single adults and childless couples who do not meet the TANF household definition.

The GA track is worth understanding because most states do not fund cash assistance for adults without dependents — New Jersey does. A single adult with no children who is facing a financial crisis and would be turned away in most other states may still be eligible for WFNJ/GA here. Both tracks provide monthly cash with no restrictions on how it is spent — rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, and other household expenses all qualify - and for more options on rent help in the state see the NJ rental assistance page.

TANF carries a 60-month federal lifetime limit, and most adult recipients who are able to work are required to participate in employment activities or job training as a condition of receiving benefits. WorkFirst NJ connects participants with job search support and vocational services aimed at reaching financial independence. Child care through CCAP can run concurrently for parents who need it while working or in training. Caretaker relatives raising a child outside the formal foster care system may also find support through the Kinship Navigator program, which helps families understand their eligibility for TANF and related services. Apply at MyNJHelps.gov or at the county agency in your county.

Health coverage for children, families, and adults — NJFamilyCare

NJFamilyCare is New Jersey's combined Medicaid and children's health insurance program. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health services, and preventive care. Children's coverage includes dental. For most enrolled households, costs are low or none.

New Jersey has extended Medicaid eligibility to low-income adults — meaning working-age people without children can qualify for NJFamilyCare, which is not the case in states that have not expanded coverage. This is a meaningful distinction for people who assume they don't qualify because they have no dependents. Coverage for children extends to income levels that are among the highest of any state, giving families considerably more room before they'd need to look elsewhere for insurance.

Adults with Medicare and limited income may also qualify for a Medicare Savings Program through NJFamilyCare that can pay Medicare Part B premiums — a real reduction in monthly costs for people on fixed incomes. To apply for NJFamilyCare, use NJHelps.gov for a quick eligibility screen or MyNJHelps.gov for a full application. One application covers SNAP, WFNJ, and NJFamilyCare together. The NJFamilyCare hotline is 1-800-701-0710.

Child care cost relief — the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

CCAP helps income-eligible parents who are working, in school, or in job training pay for licensed child care. The program covers a portion — or in some cases all — of provider fees, depending on household income and the hours spent working or in training. Eligible providers include licensed child care centers, registered family home providers, and other state-approved care arrangements. Each county has a Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R) that administers CCAP locally, handles applications, and connects families with providers.

CCAP has limited capacity - resources and may close for a period of time. Families who need child care assistance should monitor the site and apply when it is open — funding availability can shift, and getting into the system while it is open is important. WFNJ/TANF households are prioritized for available slots. To apply or find the CCR&R serving your county, visit https://www.childcarenj.gov/ or call the Child Care Helpline at 1-800-332-9227 or see the NHPB NHPB guide to free daycare in NJ.

Prescription cost help for seniors and people with disabilities — PAAD and Senior Gold

New Jersey funds two state-level prescription assistance programs that help eligible residents reduce what they pay for medications: PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) and Senior Gold. Both work alongside Medicare Part D and are designed for the out-of-pocket drug costs that Medicare coverage alone does not fully address.

PAAD is the primary program, available to residents 65 and older and to those receiving Social Security disability benefits who have Medicare and meet income requirements. Under PAAD, covered prescriptions carry low flat copayments, and the program also helps pay Medicare Part D premiums for qualifying enrollees — which can produce meaningful monthly savings on its own. Senior Gold serves residents whose income falls just above the PAAD threshold. It functions as a prescription discount rather than the full PAAD benefit level, covering a share of out-of-pocket drug costs after Medicare pays its portion.

Neither program considers assets when determining eligibility. Both can be applied for simultaneously through NJSave, an online application managed by the Division of Aging Services that also covers Lifeline Utility Assistance and Medicare Savings Programs. Visit aging.nj.gov or call 1-800-792-9745.

Lifeline Utility Assistance — annual bill credit for seniors and people with disabilities

Lifeline is a New Jersey state program that provides an annual credit toward electric and gas bills for eligible seniors and people with disabilities. It operates entirely separately from the federal LIHEAP program — both can be active for the same household at the same time. Only one person per household may receive the Lifeline credit, and the application must be in the applicant's name. Residents who already receive PAAD are automatically considered for Lifeline. Everyone else can apply through NJSave at aging.nj.gov or by calling 1-800-792-9745.

New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit — extra refund money at tax time for working households

The New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit is a state-level credit that stacks on top of the federal EITC. Eligible filers receive both — the federal credit and a separate New Jersey credit calculated as a percentage of the federal amount — which means the combined benefit is larger than either one alone. Households with children typically receive the largest credits, but single adults and childless couples who qualify for the federal EITC may also qualify for the NJ credit. No separate application is needed. The credit is claimed when filing a New Jersey income tax return, and households that owe no state taxes can still receive it as a refund.

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — when a child's medical costs overwhelm the family

The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF) is a New Jersey-only program that provides cash grants to low- and moderate-income families when a child's medical bills exceed a threshold tied to household income. It is built for situations where a serious illness has generated costs that a family cannot reasonably absorb even after insurance has paid its share. Eligible children are ages zero through 21. Covered expenses are broad — home health care, specialized hospital care, medical equipment, prescriptions, medically necessary home and vehicle modifications such as wheelchair ramps or lifts, and medical transportation all qualify. For information and to apply, contact the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

How to apply statewide

The primary online portal for SNAP, WorkFirst NJ, and NJFamilyCare is https://mynjhelps.gov/home. A complete application takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes, and the portal also handles case status checks, income changes, household updates, and document submissions. For a five-minute eligibility screen before starting a full application for any benefit, visit NJHelps.gov. Applications are then processed by the county agency in your county. A caseworker interview is typically required after submission. Bring identification, proof of address, and income documentation for all household members.

For WIC, use the WIC Participant Portal at nj.gov/health/fhs/wic — this is a separate process from the county agency system. The NJFamilyCare hotline is 1-800-701-0710.
For PAAD, Senior Gold, Lifeline, and Medicare Savings Programs, apply through NJSave at aging.nj.gov or call 1-800-792-9745.
For CCAP child care assistance, contact the CCR&R in your county, visit childcarenj.gov, or call 1-800-332-9227.
For LIHEAP home heating and cooling assistance, contact the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which administers that program separately from DHS.
The Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired are two additional DHS divisions serving residents with specific needs — information on both is available at nj.gov/humanservices.

County programs in New Jersey

Some of New Jersey's more populated counties have additional programs and local resources layered on top of what DHS offers statewide. Select a county below for local office information and county-specific programs.