The North Ward Center

Eligibility

General

Aid and Attendance or Housebound is an increased VA pension rate for eligible veterans or surviving spouses who meet pension and additional care/disability requirements; it is not a stand-alone state benefit.

NJ specifics

Federal VA pension rules apply nationwide.

What it provides

• Monthly pension is based on the applicable MAPR less countable annual income; divided by 12. Maximum annual veteran Aid and Attendance rates are $29,093 without dependents and $34,488 with one dependent; actual payments may be lower.

Eligibility

General

Age 60+, nursing-home level of care, and desire to remain at home; JACC does not serve people enrolled in Medicaid such as NJ FamilyCare or MLTSS.

What it provides

• Care management and an individualized plan of home/community services.

Eligibility

General

New Jersey adults 18+ living in the community with certified functional impairment and daily unpaid care or supervision. Financial rules apply; participation cannot overlap with MLTSS, JACC, Alzheimer’s Adult Day Services or Congregate Housing Services.

What it provides

• Short-term or intermittent respite for an unpaid caregiver; the care recipient’s income determines a 0%–25% share of service costs.

Eligibility

General

New Jersey resident age 65+ or age 18–64 receiving Social Security disability benefits; meet the program income and prescription-coverage rules. Medicare-eligible participants must meet Part D enrollment requirements.

What it provides

• Covered prescription copay generally $5 for generic and $7 for brand-name drugs; subject to coordination with Medicare Part D.

Eligibility

General

New Jersey resident age 65+ or age 18–64 receiving Social Security disability benefits; meet the program income and prescription-coverage rules. Medicare-eligible participants must meet Part D enrollment requirements.

What it provides

• Covered prescriptions generally cost the member $15 plus half the remaining drug cost; with program-specific catastrophic protection.

Eligibility

General

Medicare beneficiary; the state determines the applicable Medicare Savings Program. QMB helps with premiums and Medicare cost sharing; SLMB and QI generally help with Part B premiums.

NJ specifics

QI requires annual application and is funded first-come, first-served with priority for prior recipients. QMB, SLMB and QI confer Part D Extra Help.

What it provides

• QMB pays eligible Part A/Part B premiums and Medicare deductibles and cost sharing; SLMB and QI pay Part B premiums. The exact benefit depends on the approved program.

Eligibility

General

Income-eligible New Jersey households with qualifying natural-gas or electric costs; assistance depends on household income and energy burden.

NJ specifics

USF accepts applications year-round and shares an application with LIHEAP.

What it provides

• Monthly credits on qualifying natural-gas and electric bills.

Eligibility

General

Income-eligible households responsible for home-heating costs, including qualifying heating costs included in rent.

NJ specifics

The 2026–2027 LIHEAP application period runs October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, subject to funding; the combined application also screens for USF.

What it provides

• Assistance with eligible home-heating costs; qualifying households may also receive medically necessary cooling assistance.

Eligibility

General

New Jersey residents who meet PAAD criteria or a specified qualifying assistance category; applies to eligible utility customers and tenants whose gas/electric costs are included in rent.

What it provides

• A $225 annual electric/gas bill credit or eligible tenant payment. SSI recipients receive the utility supplement through their SSI payment instead of a second Lifeline award.

Eligibility

General

New Jersey residents with hearing loss who meet PAAD/Lifeline age-or-disability and financial criteria. Beneficiaries must be enrolled in PAAD or Lifeline; if not already enrolled, complete NJSave before applying for HAAAD. Other hearing-aid coverage is considered.

What it provides

• Reimbursement up to $500 for one hearing aid or $1,000 for two per calendar year; partial insurance coverage may qualify within program rules.