Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits 2024

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New Jersey SNAP Eligibility : The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, provides food benefits, access to a healthy diet, and education on food preparation and nutrition to low-income households. Recipients spend their benefits (provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card) to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores.

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Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits

SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works with state agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits. SNAP is the federal name for the program. State programs may have different names.

Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits 2023

New Jersey SNAP Income Limits Eligibility : Your household must meet certain requirements to be eligible for SNAP and receive benefits, including meeting the maximum allowable income listed below. A SNAP household is anyone who lives and eats together.

Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standard
(185% of FPL)
Figures Valid October 2022 – September 2023

Household Size Max. Allowable Income
1 $2,096
2 $2,823
3 $3,551
4 $4,279
5 $5,006
6 $5,734
7 $6,462
8 $7,189
Each Additional Member + $728

Households that include a senior (aged 60 and older) or people with a disability may be eligible even if their gross income exceeds the amounts in the chart above.

Meeting the maximum allowable income for your household size does not guarantee you are eligible for SNAP. You can screen for NJ SNAP in five minutes to find out if you may be eligible for food assistance, cash assistance and more. Click here to screen and apply in 20 to 40 minutes.

Who Is Eligible For SNAP Benefits In New Jersey

Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits : To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of New Jersey and meet one of the following requirements:

  • You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or
  • You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with one of the following:
    • A person or persons age 60 and over or
    • A person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).

New Jersey SNAP Minimum Payments

New Jersey has a minimum monthly SNAP benefit amount of $95.  If you apply for SNAP and are approved to receive the federal minimum payment or any amount less than $95, New Jersey will add a supplemental payment so that the amount you receive equals $95.  The supplemental payment will be automatically added to your Families First Card along with your regular benefit.

For example, if you are approved for $23 in SNAP benefits, you will receive an additional payment of $72 from the state so your total benefit amount is $95. 

New Jersey Snap Required Documents 2023
New Jersey Food Stamp Application Form Online 2023

NJ SNAP Eligibility For Seniors and People with Disabilities

Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits : SNAP applicants aged 60 or older and those with a disability but who are not 60:

  • No work requirement
  • Remain eligible for 24 months before needing to recertify
  • Higher resource limits
  • Resources may be counted
  • Medical expenses over $35 per month deducted from income
  • Automatically eligible for other utility benefit programs including Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF)

New Jersey SNAP Eligibility For College Students

Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits : Are you a student, age 18 to 49 enrolled at least half-time in a college, university, community college, or business, technical, trade, or vocational school that requires a high school diploma? If so, you may be eligible for food assistance through New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

SNAP is a federal program that can help individuals and families with low incomes buy the groceries they need to eat healthy. Eligibility depends on several factors like income, household size, resources, etc. In addition to income eligibility factors, students also must fit at least ONE of the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled in an approved Career and Technical Education Program at a New Jersey community college;
  • Be employed at least 20 hours per week AND paid for such work;
  • Be participating in a federal work study program during the school year;
  • Be participating in an on-the-job training program;
  • Be responsible for the care of a member of your household who is a dependent under the age of six years-old;
  • Be a single parent enrolled full-time AND responsible for a dependent under the age 12 years-old;
  • Be unable to work due to a physical or mental disability; or
  • Be receiving Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits (cash assistance).

NJ SNAP Student Eligibility Verification Form PDF Download – If you would like more information on college student eligibility, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Can students receive NJ SNAP?

Yes, if they meet certain conditions. In addition to the general SNAP income and other eligibility requirements, students between the ages of 18 and 49 and fit at least ONE of the following requirements to be eligible:

  • Enrolled in an approved Career and Technical Education Programat a New Jersey community college;
  • Employed at least 20 hours per week AND paid for such work;
  • Participating in a federal work study program during the school year;
  • Participating in an on-the-job training program;
  • Responsible for a household member who is a dependent under the age of six;
  • A single parent enrolled full-time AND responsible for a dependent under the age 12;
  • Unable to work due to a physical or mental disability; or

Receiving Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits (cash assistance).

What are the income eligibility standards for NJ SNAP?

Who Is Eligible For New Jersey SNAP Benefits : Eligibility depends on several factors like income, household size, resources, etc. Below is the gross income (before taxes) eligibility standard for most households.

Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standard

(185% of FPL)
Figures Valid October 2022 – September 2023

Household Size Max. Allowable Income
1 $2,096
2 $2,823
3 $3,551
4 $4,279
5 $5,006
6 $5,734
7 $6,462
8 $7,189
Each Add’l + $728

How do I apply for New Jersey Food Stamp (SNAP)?

To apply online, please visit the NJOneApp online application portal. Please note that the online application website may only work in certain browsers. For additional application information, visit the Apply Online for NJ SNAP page. You will be able to download an application form directly from the site.

New Jersey Medicaid Income Limits 2023
New Jersey Food Stamps Income Limits 2023

Who is part of a SNAP household?

For SNAP purposes your household includes anyone who purchases and prepares food together. There does not have to be any family or legal relationship to be part of the same SNAP household. Roommates can be considered a SNAP household depending on how they buy and cook food. A person who is age 21 or younger who is living with their parent(s) must include the parent(s) in the SNAP household.

What does it mean to be physically or mentally unfit for work?

A physical or mental disability means a condition that prevents you from engaging in 20 hours of work per week. A doctor’s note may be necessary to support any physical or mental limitation that may not be obvious to a county social services worker reviewing your application. You do not have to be participating in a federal disability program such as Social Security Disability.

I am a college student and a single parent, can I receive NJ SNAP?

Yes, you may be eligible if you meet the income and expense requirements and your child is living with you and is under 6 years of age.  If you are a single parent you can qualify if you meet the income and expense requirements and your child is living with you and is under 12 years of age.

I think I may be eligible, what should I do next?

If you are ready to apply for SNAP, you can submit an application online by clicking “Get Started” under the “Apply” header in the bottom right hand corner of www.NJHelps.gov. You can apply in person at your County Board of Social Services – you will need to fill out an application and bring supporting documents with you.

What is the application process like?

After you submit an application, your County Board of Social Services will contact you to schedule an interview. Interviews may be over the phone or in person – depending on your situation. You must complete this interview. The interviewer will tell you what documents you must provide as proof of the information you stated during your application and interview.

For example, proof of your identity, residency, income and who lives in your house must be provided before your application can be approved. If your application is approved, you will be issued a Families First Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which will contain your benefits.

How To Check NJ SNAP Application Status 2023
NJ SNAP Student Eligibility Verification Form PDF Download

What is Work First New Jersey?

Work First New Jersey, or WFNJ, provides cash for a limited time to low-income families, single adults and couples without children working towards self-sufficiency. There are also non-cash benefits such as short-term housing support, child care, job search and readiness assistance. New Jersey’s cash assistance program for families is known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). New Jersey also has a program for single adults and couples without children, known as General Assistance (GA). You can find out more about WFNJ here.

Need Someone to Help You With Your Application?

SNAP Navigators teach you about SNAP availability, eligibility requirements, can answer your questions about applying and assist you with your SNAP application. They also can help you learn if you may be eligible for other programs, such as Work First New Jersey cash assistance. 

You can learn more about our SNAP Navigator program on the Get Help Applying page.  Our current SNAP Navigator agencies are listed below.  To find the agency that works in your county, visit the Get Help Applying page to view the counties each agency serves and the contact information for the agency.

  • Community FoodBank of New Jersey
  • Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA 
  • Food Bank of South Jersey 
  • Fulfill
  • Hamilton Area YMCA
  • Mercy Center
  • Norwescap
  • Raritan Bay Area YMCA
  • Raritan Valley YMCA
  • Sussex County YMCA
  • Tzu Chi
  • United Way of Greater Mercer County

Be aware that there other agencies that might claim to be “SNAP consultants,” asking you for personal information to complete a pre-approved SNAP application or telling you that an application was initiated on your behalf. If you think a letter or text is a scam, do not reply at all. If you do not know if a request for personal information is real, contact your county board of social services. 

You should never be asked to pay for help filling out an application. There is no charge.

My spouse and I are enrolled in college at the same time and we have a child under the age of 6. How does this work for us?

One parent can claim one child under the age of 6. If you have other children under 6, the other parent can claim that child/children for college student eligibility. If you only have one child under the age of 6, the other parent may still be eligible if they meet one of the other college student eligibility requirements listed above.

How can I find out if I’m eligible?

If you are not sure you are eligible based on the information provided above, you can use the www.NJHelps.gov screening tool. This will also screen your eligibility for Work First New Jersey cash and health insurance (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid). Remember, you must still meet one of the other student eligibility requirements listed above.

Screening takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, and you will need to provide monthly income information. If you are ready to apply for SNAP, you can submit an application online by clicking “Get Started” under the “Apply” header in the bottom right hand corner of www.NJHelps.gov. The online application can take 20-45 minutes to complete.

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