New Jersey financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in New Jersey
If household costs are hard to manage, New Jersey has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county or local application route when a program is handled by a social service agency, housing provider, utility-assistance agency, or community organization.
Money Fit serves New Jersey residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
New Jersey uses MyNJHelps for food, cash, and child care assistance, NJ FamilyCare for public health coverage, and separate state and county systems for housing, utilities, and emergency needs.
Food, cash, or child care assistance
MyNJHelps is the current online application and case-management route for NJ SNAP, WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance, and the Child Care Assistance Program.
Find nearby help statewide
NJ 211 provides free, confidential referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, legal help, transportation, disaster needs, and other community services throughout the state.
Housing or utility help
The New Jersey Housing Resource Center provides a statewide affordable-housing search, while DCAid handles LIHEAP, USF, weatherization, and related utility-assistance programs.
County routing matters in New Jersey. County Social Service Agencies process SNAP and WorkFirst NJ applications, child care assistance is handled locally by Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, Adult Protective Services is county-based, and housing or utility programs may use separate state and local providers.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with NJ SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, NJ 211 and New Jersey's regional food-bank network can help locate pantries, community kitchens, and meal programs.
NJ SNAP
NJ SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible households. Applications can be submitted through MyNJHelps or through the County Social Service Agency serving the household.
New Jersey WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC agencies complete enrollment.
New Jersey food banks and local pantries
New Jersey's major regional food banks include the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends, and Norwescap. Residents can use a food-bank pantry finder or NJ 211 to locate the appropriate local pantry or meal program.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey: 908-355-3663
NJ SNAP work rules changed. Current state guidance applies ABAWD time-limit rules to certain adults ages 18 through 64 who do not live with a child under age 14 and do not meet an exemption. Affected adults generally must complete at least 80 hours per month of qualifying work or activities to receive SNAP beyond the applicable time limit.
Housing, rent, and utility help
New Jersey housing help is spread across state housing programs, county agencies, local public housing authorities, community organizations, and legal-aid providers. Utility-assistance programs also have separate application seasons and deadlines.
New Jersey Housing Resource Center
NJHRC is a free statewide searchable registry for affordable, accessible, rental, for-sale, and temporary housing. Search by city or county and contact the property directly to confirm current availability, rent, eligibility, and application requirements.
NJHRC Call Center: 877-428-8844
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs funds county-based Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing providers. Help can vary by county and funding, so households should contact the provider serving their county for current availability and eligibility.
WorkFirst NJ Emergency Assistance
People who receive WorkFirst New Jersey or SSI and meet program rules may qualify for temporary housing and shelter-related assistance. Help can include back rent, mortgage or utility payments, temporary rental assistance, shelter, moving expenses, or security deposits.
LIHEAP and Universal Service Fund
LIHEAP helps eligible households with home energy costs, while USF can reduce qualifying gas and electric bills. As of September 17, 2026, LIHEAP application intake is closed and is scheduled to reopen October 1, 2026. The current USF application period ended August 15, 2026.
Utility Assistance: 800-510-3102
Weatherization Assistance Program
New Jersey's Weatherization Assistance Program helps eligible households reduce energy use through approved home improvements. Unlike LIHEAP, the Weatherization Application Portal is open year-round.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are managed by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods differ by agency, so contact the authority serving your community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
NJ 211 homeless hotline
New Jersey residents experiencing homelessness can call 211 for confidential help identifying emergency shelter and other housing-related services. Local availability varies by county and provider.
Call: 211
Legal Services of New Jersey
Legal Services of New Jersey and regional legal-aid programs provide free civil legal help to qualifying residents. Housing, public benefits, debt, family safety, employment, and other civil legal matters may be covered.
Utility-assistance timing is especially important right now. DCAid currently shows LIHEAP closed until October 1, 2026 and the current USF application period closed after August 15, 2026. Weatherization remains open year-round. If a household faces an immediate shutoff or other emergency before the next application window, contact 211 and the utility company for current emergency options.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey's publicly funded Medicaid and CHIP program. Applications are accepted year-round, and New Jersey also operates Get Covered New Jersey for Marketplace coverage.
NJ FamilyCare
NJ FamilyCare provides public health coverage for eligible children, adults, pregnant people, older adults, and people who are blind or disabled. Residents can apply online, by phone, or through a County Social Service Agency.
NJ FamilyCare: 800-701-0710, TTY 711
Get Covered New Jersey
Get Covered New Jersey is the state's official health-insurance Marketplace. The application can screen for Marketplace financial help and may also identify households that appear eligible for NJ FamilyCare.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
NJ FamilyCare has major federal eligibility changes beginning October 1, 2026. Some noncitizen immigrants may lose NJ FamilyCare eligibility after September 30, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2027, certain adults ages 19 through 64 enrolled in the Alternative Benefit Plan will face work or community-engagement requirements and most affected adults will renew coverage every six months. NJ FamilyCare is contacting members who may be affected.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
MyNJHelps can be used for New Jersey child care assistance and WorkFirst New Jersey cash assistance. Child care cases are handled locally through county Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.
New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program
CCAP helps income-eligible parents who are working, attending school, or participating in job training pay for child care. New Jersey fully reopened the program to all eligible applicants on April 9, 2026. Applications are submitted through MyNJHelps and reviewed by the Child Care Resource and Referral agency serving the family's county.
Child Care Helpline: 800-332-9227
WorkFirst New Jersey
WorkFirst New Jersey includes TANF cash assistance for families with children and General Assistance for certain adults without dependent children. Applications are available through MyNJHelps or the County Social Service Agency serving the household.
New Jersey Family Help Line
The Family Help Line provides free support for parents and caregivers who are under stress and can connect callers with community resources before a problem becomes a crisis.
24-hour Family Help Line: 800-THE-KIDS (800-843-5437)
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
CCAP is fully open again. New Jersey had restricted child care assistance applications in late 2025, but Human Services fully reopened the program on April 9, 2026. Current applicants should use ChildCareNJ.gov and MyNJHelps rather than older waitlist or limited-reopening instructions.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
New Jersey unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. New Jersey accepts claims online, with telephone filing available through regional Reemployment Call Centers.
North Jersey: 201-601-4100
Central Jersey: 732-761-2020
South Jersey: 856-507-2340
One-Stop Career Centers
New Jersey One-Stop Career Centers provide job-search assistance, career counseling, training and education referrals, computer access, veteran services, disability services, and other employment support. Jobseekers can walk in for career services, while unemployment-claim help generally requires an appointment.
Legal Services of New Jersey
Legal Services of New Jersey and its regional programs provide free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents. Services may include housing, public benefits, debt and consumer issues, employment, family safety, and other civil legal matters.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
New Jersey has statewide navigation for aging and disability services, while Adult Protective Services is administered county by county.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection
County ADRCs and Area Agencies on Aging help older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families find meals, transportation, benefits, long-term care, home-based services, caregiver support, and other local resources.
Statewide ADRC line: 877-222-3737
Division of Disability Services
The Division of Disability Services provides statewide information and referral for people with disabilities and the people who support them. Certified resource specialists can help callers understand services and connect with appropriate state and county programs.
DDS Information and Referral: 888-285-3036, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
County Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services investigates suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation involving vulnerable adults under New Jersey law. Reporting numbers and after-hours arrangements differ by county, so use the current state directory to contact the APS office serving the adult's county.
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
New Jersey 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance-use crisis. New Jersey also uses 988 to evaluate whether a Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Team is appropriate for an adult experiencing a non-life-threatening behavioral-health crisis.
Call or text: 988
New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
The statewide hotline provides confidential, 24-hour support and information for people affected by domestic violence and can connect callers with local programs.
24-hour hotline: 800-572-SAFE (800-572-7233)
NJ 211
NJ 211 maintains New Jersey's comprehensive statewide directory of free and low-cost government and nonprofit health and human services. Residents can call for help with food, shelter, utilities, healthcare, child care, legal needs, transportation, and other essential services.
Call: 211
New Jersey disaster help and FEMA
New Jersey's Disaster Help portal provides event-specific recovery information and directs residents to state, local, FEMA, and SBA resources when declarations are active. Federal household assistance is available only for qualifying disasters, designated counties, eligible losses, and current application periods.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help New Jersey residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
