Emergency Assistance Program

The Emergency Assistance Program offers temporary housing and shelter-related assistance to eligible individuals and families.  Some of the services provided through this program include:

• Housing Costs
• Utilities
• Shelter, Transitional Housing, or Motel Placement
• Emergency Furniture, Clothing, Food
• Moving Expenses (Security, Storage, First Month Rent)
• Section 8 Moves

Eligibility: To be eligible for this program, you must have an active General Assistance, TANF, or SSI case.

Emergency Assistance Program: This program provides temporary housing and shelter-related assistance for eligible TANF, GA, or SSI people. Some services include assistance paying back rent, mortgage and utilities, shelter, transitional housing or motel payments, transportation, furniture, moving expenses, and eviction-related costs.

How To Apply

How to Apply

We strongly encourage the use of online applications using the link below. If you choose to come to our office to apply, you can complete a paper application and drop it in the mailbox provided at the front of the building.

• Residents of Passaic County can apply at the Passaic County Board of Social Services offices.
• Call 973-881-0100 for more information

Additional Resources:

• Report Abuse or Neglect: 862- 433-2249.  After hours 973-345-2676
• Homeless Hotline: 211
• Report Fraud: 973-881-0100 ext. 2677, 3202

General Assistance

New Jersey is one of only a few states that provide cash benefits and support services to individuals and couples with no children through the General Assistance (GA) program.  The GA program is part of the state’s welfare-to-work program, WorkFirst NJ, which emphasizes work as the first step toward building a new life and better future to help people become economically self-sufficient through job training, education, and work activities.  Services under WFNJ are limited to five years.

GA recipients receive a cash benefit of $185 a month for an employable single adult, $277 a month for a disabled adult, $254 a month for a couple where one or both members are employable, and $382 a month for a couple where both are disabled.

GA recipients access their cash benefits through their Families First Electronic Benefits Transfer card (EBT Card), which works similarly to a debit card. The Families First EBT card makes the benefit available to clients through electronic benefit accounts using their own plastic cards. The cards can be used at merchants’ POS (Point-of-Sale) terminals and ATMs.

If you need to replace a lost or stolen EBT card or more information about it, please click on the line below and refer to the EBT section of the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on the drop-down menu.

Eligibility:

Eligibility depends on several factors, such as income, household size, resources, legal status, etc. To be eligible, you must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Family’s income must be under the income limit
• Adults must be Legal Permanent Residents for no less than 5 years – this requirement does not apply in certain cases
• Resources such as savings, checking accounts, bonds, and immediate disposable assets must be below $2000.

Employable individuals will be required to participate in an Employment and Training Program.

Below are the income limits for the General Assistance program.

• Single Employable Adult – $185 a month
• Single Disabled Adult – $277 a month
• Couple – Employable – $254 a month
• Couple – Both Disabled – $382 a month

Required Verifications:

• Proof of birth, alien registration card or naturalization papers
• Social Security card
• Current lease or rent and utility bill
• Proof of most recent earned and unearned income
• Automobile registration
• 2 most recent checking and savings account statements.
• Other documents may also be requested at the interview.

Where to Apply:

Online: The most convenient way to complete an application is through the MyNJHELPS website. This site will allow you to complete a single online application for Food Stamps, cash assistance, and/or Medicaid for children, families, and pregnant women (New Jersey Family Care).  Elderly and Disabled individuals are not eligible to apply for Medicaid through the online application process.  The agency will receive the application electronically and contact you by mail within 7 business days to schedule an in-person interview.

In-Person: The agency is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. You may come in person to complete an application for our programs. After completing the application and depending upon the program(s) you appear to be eligible to apply for, you will either be seen the same day or receive an appointment for an interview. Please note that the number of daily appointments is limited and is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Paper Application:  You may complete a paper application and return the completed application to the agency.  You will be sent an appointment letter in the mail.

Applicants who are applying for General Assistance are required to attend an in-person interview. Once the interview is completed, customers will be provided with a list of required verifications. The application will be processed once the verifications are received, and a final eligibility determination will be made. Customers will be notified by mail once an eligibility determination has been made. General Assistance applications are processed within Thirty (30) days of the date of application.

Temporary Family Assistance

Temporary cash assistance and many other support services are available to eligible families with children through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.  The TANF program is part of the state’s welfare-to-work program, WorkFirst NJ, emphasizing work as the first step toward building a new life and better future to help people become economically self-sufficient through job training, education, and work activities.  Services under WFNJ are limited to five years.

TANF recipients receive a cash benefit. The exact amount of that benefit will vary depending on the family’s earned and unearned income.

TANF recipients access their cash benefits through their Families First Electronic Benefits Transfer card (EBT Card), which works similarly to a debit card. The Families First EBT card makes the benefit available to clients through electronic benefit accounts using their own plastic cards. The cards can be used at merchants’ POS (Point-of-Sale) terminals and ATMs.

Eligibility

Eligibility depends on several factors, such as income, household size, resources, legal status, etc. You must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Family’s income must be under the income limit
• Adults must be a Legal Permanent Resident for no less than 5 years –this requirement does not apply in certain cases
• Resources such as savings, checking accounts, bonds, and immediate disposable assets must be below $2000.

Some individuals will be required to participate in an Employment and Training Program.

Required Verifications

Applicants are required to provide the following verifications:

• Proof of birth, alien registration card or naturalization papers
• Social Security card
• Current lease or rent and utility bill
• Proof of most recent earned and unearned income
• Automobile registration
• 2 most recent checking account statements and savings account verification.
• Other documents may also be requested at the interview.

How to Apply

In-Person: The agency is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. You may come in person and complete an application for our programs. After completing the application and depending upon the program(s) you appear to be eligible to apply for, you will either be seen the same day or receive an appointment for an interview. Please note that the number of appointments available daily is limited, and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Online: The most convenient way to complete an application is to visit the NJOneApp website. This site will allow you to complete a single online application for Food Stamps, cash assistance, and/or Medicaid for children, families, and pregnant women (New Jersey Family Care).  Elderly and Disabled individuals are not eligible to apply for Medicaid through the online application process.  The agency will receive the application electronically and contact you by mail within 7 business days to schedule an in-person interview.

Paper Application:  You may complete a paper application and return the completed application to the agency.  You will be sent an appointment letter in the mail.

TANF applicants must attend an in-person interview. Once the interview is completed, clients will receive a list of required verifications. The application will be processed once the verifications are received, and a final eligibility determination will be made. Clients will be notified by mail once an eligibility determination has been made. General Assistance applications are processed within Thirty (30) days of the date of application.

Support Services

General Assistance recipients are eligible for support services through the following programs:

Work First New Jersey Work Program: This unit provides social case management to all WFNJ participants, including transportation, testing costs, and uniforms. The unit also manages the work component of the case and implements a sanction if the individual is not in compliance.

Emergency Assistance Program: This program provides temporary housing and shelter-related assistance for eligible people for TANF, GA, or SSI. Some services include assistance paying back rent, mortgage and utilities, shelter, transitional housing or motel payments, transportation, furniture, moving expenses, and eviction-related costs.

Additional Services: TANF recipients may also be eligible for assistance through the TANF Trans-Wrap program.  This program strives to remove transportation as a barrier to securing and retaining employment.  The program provides the following Emergency Transportation Assistance to eligible individuals: funds to obtain a new Driver’s license or restoration and renewal fees; Car registration, vehicle insurance, and repair; transportation for children of TANF clients to include bus passes and car booster seats.

Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services (APS) programs promote the safety, independence, and quality of life for vulnerable adults who are, or are in danger of, being abused, neglected by self or others, or financially exploited, and who are unable to protect themselves.