Welfare Benefits in New Jersey
- New Jersey welfare benefitsNew Jersey state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
New Jersey's Department of Human Services' Division of Family Development provides administrative oversight for the state's welfare program, Work First New Jersey. The purpose of the program is to help the state's residents gain training and employment so that they can live independently of welfare. County welfare agencies work with residents in their jurisdiction to get assistance to eligible individuals and families. - New Jersey's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides cash assistance to families for a maximum period of 60 consecutive months. Under extreme financial hardship, state benefits can be extended for 12 months beyond the 60-consecutive-month lifetime limit. Paternity must be established for children cared for in the program. Children must be under the age of 18 for families to receive assistance; in cases where the child is attending postsecondary school on full-time status, the child can be as old as 19 years of age for the family to receive welfare. Cash assistance recipients must be United States citizens, legal permanent residents or legal aliens. Monthly payments are based upon the number of children in a family and the amount of income the family generates. As of 2010, a family with four members and a monthly income of $732 could be eligible to receive up to $488 a month in financial assistance. A maximum $10 daily transportation allowance is also provided so that parents can transport children to childcare centers. A maximum $500 is provided over a recipient's lifetime to help pay for employment-related items, such as uniforms, licenses and testing fees.
- Eligible welfare recipients with children under the age of 22 can receive free medical assistance through Medicaid. Expenses associated with the costs of doctor visits and prescription drugs are covered under the program. Families must earn a gross monthly income that is equal to or less than 200% of the national poverty line to be eligible for the program. As of April 2010, for a family of four, the gross income amount that a family can earn to be eligible for medical assistance is $3,675 or less a month.
- As of April 2010, New Jersey increased the amount of income a resident could earn to be eligible to receive food stamps. For example, a childless New Jersey resident who earns $1,670 a month or less might be eligible to receive food stamps. A family of four that earns $3,400 or less a month might be eligible to receive food stamps. Proper identification--such as a valid driver's license, birth certificate and school or work ID--is required to apply for food stamps. Applicants must submit their monthly rent, mortgage, utility bills, phone bill, bank-account statements, income and medical bills when applying for food stamps. Residents receiving food stamps must be recertified every 24 months at their local Food Stamp Agency. The amount of food stamps residents would receive is based upon their income, the number of people in the family and the amount of monthly living expenses.
- Welfare recipients who have worked for at least 20 hours over the past four months can receive up to $200 a month in financial assistance while they continue to work. They are required to voluntarily close their welfare case in order to receive the supplemental work assistance. To be eligible for the support, recipients must have been on welfare for at least six months. Maximum length of the $200-a-month supplemental work support is 24 months.
- Emergency financial assistance to pay utility bills, purchase clothing, pay back rent or back mortgage, and moving or household furniture expenses are available to qualified welfare recipients under New Jersey's Emergency Assistance (EA) program. Residents who are already homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or who have experienced an emergency due to a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado are eligible to apply for the assistance. Emergency Assistance is provided for a maximum period of 12 months.
