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The
federal, state and local governments provide a "safety net"
of programs offering financial assistance to eligible
individuals and families. The welfare reforms of 1996
abolished some of the principal programs, most notably Aid
to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and made
significant changes in others.
Currently, federal and state
governments fund the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) program to replace AFDC as the principal family
support system. A new state General Assistance (GA) program
replaces the old program of that name in assisting single
adults and couples with no dependents. Both are part of the
Work First New Jersey program described below. Some
programs, like Food Stamps, have changed little in structure
but have new eligibility requirements.
Work First New Jersey
(WFNJ)
The
principal features of WFNJ’s TANF and GA programs are
described below.
Benefits
A single adult in
the GA program who has no income whatever receives about
$2,500 a year, plus health coverage and food stamp
eligibility. GA recipients get no hospitalization benefits
and must rely on the Charity Care program. They do receive
physician benefits.
A husband and wife with one child in
the TANF program receive about $5,000 per year, plus
Medicaid and food stamps. They may continue to receive
Medicaid benefits for up to 24 months after receiving job
income that would otherwise disqualify them.
Work Requirements
If you voluntarily
quit your job, you will not be eligible for WFNJ for 90
days. Ordinarily you must work in order to receive WFNJ
benefits. This work requirement can be met by job training
and vocational education, completing high school, unpaid
community work, job searches and approved alternate work
experience. Using educational options often requires up to
15 hours of unpaid community work.
Work requirements do not apply if you
are certified by a doctor to be physically or mentally
incapable of working. They also do not apply to victims of
domestic violence.
Child Care
You may get
temporary deferments from work requirements if you have
pre-school children with no child care options or children
up to 12 years old with no after-school care options. Child
care services may continue for up to 24 months after you
leave WFNJ for a job.
Lack of Compliance
"Sanctions" punish
the head of a household who fails to actively cooperate with
WFNJ work and other requirements. For the first offense, you
lose benefits for yourself for 30 days. Further offenses
subject your whole family to lost benefits for 90 days. A
sanction can be removed from your record based on good
conduct.
Time Limits
You cannot receive
WFNJ assistance for more than 60 months in an adult
lifetime. This time limit does not apply if you are 1)
chronically unemployable, 2) over 60, 3) permanently
disabled, 4) caring for a disabled relative full time, or 5)
a victim of domestic violence.
Other Restrictions
Convicted drug
felons are disqualified for WFNJ assistance for ten years.
Other sanctions apply to anyone who has made a fraudulent
claim for benefits in any program. If you have lived in New
Jersey less than a year, you will not receive benefits
greater than those available in the state you left.
Illegal aliens are ineligible for all
benefits. Legal aliens are subject to limitations as well.
In general, legal aliens who arrived after August 22, 1996
are ineligible for benefits for five years and must meet
difficult eligibility tests after that. Some legal aliens
(such as domestic violence victims, United States armed
services members and veterans, and political refugees) are
exempt from these restrictions.
Supplemental Security
Income
Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) provides monthly payments to people
who are blind or have a disability, or to persons who are 65
or older with little or no income. The amount of the
supplement will depend on your physical circumstances and
how much other income you have. If you qualify for SSI, you
will also receive Medicaid and may be eligible for homemaker
service, meals, transportation and food stamps.
What to Do
To apply for SSI, call or visit any
Social Security Office and make an appointment to see a
representative. If you are denied benefits, you can file an
appeal for reconsideration of your case within 60 days.
Resource
- SSI general information
(800)772-1213
Emergency Housing
TANF, GA and SSI
recipients can receive shelter (as well as certain other
emergency needs for food and clothing) through Emergency
Assistance (EA). EA is limited to those benefit recipients
who:
- are homeless because of
natural disasters or domestic violence;
- face eviction from their
homes and can show that no substitute housing is
available; or
- have certification from the
Division of Youth and Family Services that their children
would otherwise require foster care placement.
Eligible persons may receive up to three months of housing
costs and up to six months of utility payments. The
assistance may be used to pay rent (Temporary Rental
Assistance, TRA) or mortgage. Housing also may be provided
at an emergency shelter or hotel. A security deposit and
moving expenses may also be paid and some emergency
household furnishings are provided.
Generally, EA may not continue for
more than 12 consecutive months. An adult can only qualify
once in a lifetime (except for natural disasters). Families
with children can get an additional six months of emergency
shelter assistance if they can show that otherwise they will
suffer hardship. Single adults and couples can get
extensions if they 1) have AIDS, 2) are terminally ill, or
3) are victims of domestic violence, rape or incest.
Food
Stamps
The Food Stamp
Program is federally funded and state operated. To qualify,
your family must have net income at or below the federal
poverty level. Unless you are over 65 or disabled, you must
also have a gross income below 130 percent of the poverty
level.
State-funded food stamp benefits are now available to
certain categories of legal aliens: those who are elderly or
disabled, and children. These benefits can be extended to a
natural or adoptive parents, step parent, or legal guardian
who lives with an eligible dependent
child. You can get information
about how the eligibility and amount of assistance are
determined from your County Board of Social Services.
Food stamps can be used at most food
stores but only to purchase food or plants and seeds to grow
food.
What
to Do
- Apply to your County Board
of Social Services.
- You may file an appeal for
reconsideration any time within 60 days of an adverse
decision (denial or reduction in benefits).
Resource
- For general information,
call: Public Welfare Food Stamp Office
(800)792-9773
Medicaid
Medicaid is a
program that pays for certain designated health care
services for low-income families. It is discussed in detail
in the Health Issues chapter.
Supplemental Food Program
for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
WIC is a
program designed to combat nutrition-related illnesses in
pregnant women, new mothers and children under five. Women
and children with gross incomes at or below 185 percent of
the federal poverty level may apply. Women and children who
are receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families,
Medicaid or food stamps are automatically eligible. Funds
are limited. First priority is given to pregnant women,
women who are breast feeding infants less than a year old,
and infants with nutritionally-related medical problems.
There are no limits on aliens applying for WIC in New
Jersey.
The program is administered through
hospitals, health centers and clinics for prenatal care, and
child health and family planning clinics throughout the
state. You and your children will be given a medical
examination at the site to determine whether you need this
program. If you qualify, you will be given nutritional
counseling as well as vouchers that can be used at your
store to buy wholesome foods and infant formula. If you are
denied participation, you will be given a written statement
of the reasons and instructions about how to appeal or
request a hearing.
Resource
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