The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.

When you apply for either program, we will collect medical and other information from you and make a decision about whether or not you meet Social Security's definition of disability. If your application has recently been denied, the Internet Appeal is a starting point to request a review of our decision about your eligibility for disability benefits.

Getting Medicare if you have a disability and are under 65: You automatically get Part A and Part B after you get one of these:

• Disability benefits from Social Security after 24 months

• Certain disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months

S.H.I.P. (State Health Insurance Program)

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide program administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services with financial assistance through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Medicare beneficiaries frequently have questions about benefits, claims and supplement policies (known as Medigaps). Volunteer counselors, trained in areas of health insurance coverage and benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries, provide information and assistance for dealing with claims and in evaluating health insurance options.

Meals on Wheels

Home Delivered Meal Service (Meals on Wheels) is available to homebound older adults who are unable to provide for their own nutritional needs due to acute/chronic illness or handicap. Please note that applicants must meet specific program requirements to be eligible for service. Service includes the delivery of one hot meal per day Monday through Friday. In addition, weekend service is also available if eligible.

An individual meets the age status by meeting at least one of the following criteria:

• Individual is 60 years of age or older

• Individual under the age of 60 is living with an individual 60 years of age or older and is receiving Meals on Wheels

• Individual under the age of 60 who meets financial qualification

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, NJ SNAP, provides food assistance to families with low incomes to help them buy groceries through a benefits card accepted in most food retail stores and some farmers markets. Eligibility is set by several factors such as income and resources. You can use SNAP benefits to stretch your food budget and buy nutritious foods that can keep you and your family healthy.

NJ WorkAbility offers people with disabilities who are working, and whose income would otherwise make them ineligible for Medicaid, the opportunity to receive full Medicaid coverage.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age 16-64

• Working full or part-time with proof of employment

• Determined as disabled by the Social Security Administration OR the Disability Review Team at the Division of Medical Assistance & Health Services

• Income and asset eligibility are required

NJ FamilyCare - New Jersey's publicly funded health insurance program - includes SHIP, Medicaid and Medicaid expansion populations. That means qualified NJ residents of any age may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance that covers doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental care, mental health, and substance use services and even hospitalization.

NJ FamilyCare includes children, pregnant women, parents/caretaker relatives, single adults, and childless couples. Financial eligibility will be determined by the latest federal tax return which, when filed, will be electronically verified.

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NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD) Programs

The NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD) Programs are multiple programs for people who need access to health care services in the community, or in long-term care facilities. In determining whether a person is financially eligible for NJ FamilyCare ABD Programs, the applicant’s financial eligibility will be considered along with his or her spouse or parents. All of the NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled Programs have just one application called the NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled Program Application.

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Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)

Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) refers to the delivery of long-term services and supports through New Jersey Medicaid's NJ FamilyCare managed care program. MLTSS is designed to expand home and community-based services, promote community inclusion, and ensure quality and efficiency.

MLTSS uses NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations (also known as HMOs or health plans) to coordinate ALL services. MLTSS provides comprehensive services and supports, whether at home, in an assisted living facility, in community residential services, or in a nursing home.

For individuals 21 and older contact your local County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) - Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) to find out more information on services and resources in your area and to be clinically screened for MLTSS.

For children birth through 20 years old contact the Division of Disabilities Services (DDS) at 1-888-285-3036 (press 2 after prompt and then press 1 after next prompt) to speak with an Information and Referral Specialist.

PASP (Personal Assistance Services Program)

The PASP is a personal care assistance program that provides up to 40 hours per week of routine, non-medical personal care assistance to adults with permanent physical disabilities between the ages 18-70 who are employed, preparing for employment, attending school or involved in community volunteer work and who are able to self-direct their own services.

Personal assistants help with personal care tasks including, but not limited to bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, preparing meals, shopping, light housekeeping, driving or using public transportation. The goal of this program is to support individuals with physical disabilities so that they can remain active in their community. The PASP offers participants choice, flexibility, control, and the opportunity to manage their own personal care assistance services.

Eligibility is not income based, but there is a cost share based on income. The PASP is administered through County offices with oversight and funding provided by the Division of Disability Services.

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Lifeline Program

Lifeline is a utility assistance program that offers a $225 annual benefit to persons who meet the PAAD eligibility requirements or who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This includes utility customers as well as tenants whose utility bills are included in their rent.

Lifeline consists of three programs:

• The Lifeline Credit Program provides a $225 annual benefit in the form of a credit on electric and gas utility bills for eligible beneficiaries.

• The Tenants Lifeline Assistance Program provides a $225 annual benefit in the form of a check to eligible tenants who have the cost of gas and electric utilities included in their rent.

• The Special Utility Supplement provides a supplement of up to $18.75 a month to recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in place of a Lifeline Utility credit or Tenants Lifeline Assistance payment.

In order to be eligible for Lifeline, beneficiaries must:

• Be a recipient of Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) or meet the PAAD eligibility requirements; or

• Be a recipient of either Medical Assistance to the Aged (MAA), Medical Assistance Only (MAO) or New Jersey Care.

• Apply for Lifeline with the NJ Save application.

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Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

The Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Program is an optional statewide service offered to New Jersey Medicaid recipients who are experiencing some functional impairment and need a personal care assistant to help them with some aspects of daily living, such as dressing or bathing.

The purpose of the program is to accommodate long-term chronic or maintenance health care, as opposed to short-term skilled care as is provided under Medicaid’s home health program. PCA services are non-emergency health related tasks done by qualified staff in a medically eligible beneficiary’s home.

The New Jersey Statewide Respite Care Program gives a short-term or periodic break to family (or other caregivers) from the demands of daily care for functionally impaired persons, including the frail elderly. The sliding scale ranges from 0% to 25% of the cost of services, based on the care recipient's (and spouse's) income.

This program provides respite care services in order to relieve caregivers of stress from providing daily care. This respite may be provided for a short time, or once in a while. For example, services could be provided to:

• Allow the caregiver to take a vacation

• Cover care when a caregiver needs surgery or has an emergency

• Give the caregiver time to take care of him/herself, run errands, etc.

Statewide Respite is care for the caregiver, not for the care recipient. While services are given to the care recipient, it's for the purpose of giving the caregiver a break. If the care recipient needs more care than the caregiver can provide, or does not have a caregiver who gives daily, basic care, then Statewide Respite may not be the right program. The Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) can help find the right programs.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)

LIHEAP or HEA is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay for heating costs (includes electric, natural gas, oil, and other deliverable fuels). Even if your heat is included in your rent, you may qualify. LIHEAP grants are also available for medically necessary cooling costs. LIHEAP is administered by the Department of Community Affairs.

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USF (Universal Service Fund)

USF is a program created by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to help low-income households pay for their electric and natural gas costs. To be eligible for USF, your household must: 1) Be income eligible (see chart on next page) and 2) spend more than three percent of household income on gas and/or electricity; (or spend more than six percent of household income on electric heating). Apply any time of the year. USF is administered by the Department of Community Affairs.

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Winter Termination Program (WTP)

WTP protects residential customers from disconnection of natural gas and electric service from November 15th - March 15th if they participate in USF, LIHEAP, Lifeline Utility Assistance Program, Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Also, persons unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control may request the protection of WTP. Customers should make every effort to pay as much of their bill as possible during the WTP period to avoid a large overdue balance at the end of the WTP. You must call your utility company and request protection under the WTP and explain why you need this protection. For more information about the WTP, or if you have a complaint about your utility company, please call the Board of Public Utilities at: 1-800-624-0241.

PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled)

The Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program is a state-funded program that helps eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities save money on their prescription drug costs.

• You may be eligible for PAAD if you meet the following requirements:

• You are a New Jersey resident.

• You are age 65 or older or between ages 18 and 64 and receiving Social Security Title II Disability benefits: and

• Medicare-eligible PAAD beneficiaries are also required to enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

PAAD will pay the monthly premium for certain standard basic Part D plans with a monthly premium at or below the regional benchmark or standard basic plans or enhanced plans up to $20 above the benchmark amount that have no deductible. These plans will cover medically necessary prescription medications under Medicare Part D. The federal Medicare Plan and/or PAAD will pay any costs above the PAAD copayment of $5 for each covered generic drug or $7 for each covered brand name drug, including premiums. However, if a Medicare Part D plan does not pay for a medication because the drug is not on its formulary, PAAD beneficiaries will have to switch to a drug on their Part D plan's formulary, or their doctor will have to request an exception due to medical necessity directly to their Part D plan. Medicare Advantage participants must add a prescription benefit to their coverage, and PAAD will contribute up to the regional benchmark amount towards the prescription portion of their total premium. To apply, use the NJSave online application.

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Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program

The Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program (Senior Gold) is a state-funded prescription program with a different co-payment structure and income eligibility guidelines than those of PAAD.

You may be eligible for Senior Gold if you meet the following requirements:

• You are a New Jersey resident.

• You are age 65 or older or between ages 18 and 64 and receiving Social Security Disability benefits.

In addition: All Medicare-eligible Senior Gold beneficiaries are also required to enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan of their choice. They will be responsible for paying the monthly premium directly to the Medicare Part D plan. They also will be responsible for paying any late enrollment penalty imposed by Medicare for each month they were eligible to enroll in Medicare Part D but did not enroll.

Reduced Fare Program

If you're a senior citizen or a person with a disability, you can enjoy greater traveling freedom and lower fares. When you ride with NJ TRANSIT, you can save one-half or more of the regular one-way fare. Special rates are available for senior citizens 62 years of age* or older and people with disabilities. Personal assistants ride for free when proper identification is presented by the person with a disability. And you don't need to be a New Jersey resident to be eligible for the program. Eligible applicants will receive an ID card through the mail approximately four weeks after applying.

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State Park Pass

New Jersey residents who are age 62 or older or who are disabled may be eligible for a Senior Citizen Pass or Disability Pass, which grants free entrance to the parks and discounted camping rates. Our Senior Citizen and Disability Pass are currently being updated. The Senior Citizen pass may still be obtained at any of our state park/forest offices or through the Trenton Office. Disability Passes may only be obtained at our Trenton office location. For further information, please contact 1-800-843-6420.

Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) - Formerly known as Homestead Rebate Program

This program provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019 and met the 2019 gross income limits. (Homeowners $250,000 and Renters/Tenants $150,000)

Homeowners

You are considered a homeowner if, on October 1, 2019, you:

• You were a New Jersey resident; and
• You owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
• 2019 property taxes were paid on that home; and
• Your 2019 New Jersey gross income was $250,000 or less

Renters/Tenants

You are considered a tenant if, on October 1, 2019, you:

You are eligible for a 2019 ANCHOR benefit if you met these requirements:

• You were a New Jersey resident; and
• Your 2019 New Jersey gross income was not more than $150,000; and
• Your name was on the lease or rental agreement; and
• You paid rent; and
• You rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
• The rental property was subject to local property taxes

$250 Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Deduction

If you are age 65 or older, or disabled, and have been a New Jersey resident for at least one year, you may be eligible for an annual $250 property tax deduction.

You also may qualify if you are a surviving spouse or civil union partner.

Eligibility Requirements and Income Guidelines: You must be age 65 or older or disabled (with a Physician’s Certificate or Social Security document) as of December 31 of the pretax year.

To qualify, you must:

• Be a legal resident of New Jersey for at least one year prior to October 1;
• Own and occupy your home as of October 1 of the pretax year;
• File a timely application.
• Not exceed the income threshold

Eligibility Requirements for Surviving Spouse/ Civil Union Partner

You may be eligible for the deduction when your spouse passes away

• The deduction must be on the same home for which the deceased spouse received the deduction in his/her lifetime;
• You must be age 55 or older at the time of the deceased spouse’s death;
• You must be age 55 or older as of December 31 of the pretax year.

To qualify you must:

• Be a New Jersey resident and citizen for at least one year prior to October 1;
• File a timely application.
• Have owned and occupied your home for at least one year prior to October 1;
• Provide proof that your spouse/civil union partner is deceased;
• Have not remarried or formed a new registered civil union partnership;
• Have not exceeded the income threshold

NJ Property Tax Reimbursement Program

The Senior Freeze Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax or mobile home park site fee increases on their principal residence. To qualify, you must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the application year

*Income requirements and tax year changes yearly. Please contact our office for current filing year information.

The New Jersey Disability Health & Wellness (DH&W) program serves to consult and collaborate on projects that seek to promote healthy living and prevention of secondary conditions for people with disabilities. As such, the Division works to identify gaps in the State healthcare system; improve state surveillance activities; and facilitate partnerships between state agencies, community organizations, service providers and individuals with disabilities.

The DH&W program staff work with policy makers, health educators, public and private agencies, and experts in the field of health and wellness to brainstorm and implement ways to integrate health and wellness options for people with disabilities into the general health promotion activities in existence within the state.