How to apply for NJ SNAP, WIC, and senior food assistance in New Jersey

More than 1 in 3 New Jersey households struggle to afford things like food, housing, transportation, health care, childcare, and basic technology, according to a 2018 analysis from United Way Northern New Jersey.

The United Way measurement system, ALICE, counts the number of households with annual budgets below the minimum cost of living.

While the 2018 federal poverty level was $12,140 for a single adult and $25,100 for a family of four, the United Way study found that the actual bare minimum cost of living in Essex County was more than $28,200 and $81,396, respectively.

But approximately 30 percent of people who can qualify for federal food assistance aren’t enrolled in those programs, according to New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.

The Jersey Bee produced this explainer to help residents understand how they can access food aid and assistance programs in New Jersey.

NJ SNAP or Supplement Nutrition Assistance

New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to families and individuals with low incomes. Money is loaded onto a debit card and can be used to buy groceries. The card is accepted at most grocery stores. Eligibility is based on factors like income and other resources.

What can be purchased with NJ SNAP?

• Fruits and vegetables
• Beans, fish, poultry, meat
• Rice, bread, tortillas, cereal
• Milk and cheese
• Seeds and plants that produce food

What cannot be purchased with NJ SNAP?

• Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes
• Non-food items like pet food, toilet paper, diapers, soap, etc.
• Vitamins and medicine
• Hot and prepared food or meals

New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to families and individuals with low incomes. Money is loaded onto a debit card and can be used to buy groceries. The card is accepted at most grocery stores. Eligibility is based on factors like income and resources.

How do households and college students qualify for NJ SNAP?

Households

A household is anyone who lives and eats together. You must be 18 or older to apply, and an authorized representative (like a friend, relative, or neighbor) can go shopping for you if you’re unable.

Households must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the SNAP program, including income. To see a list of current income requirements, click here. 

College Students

College students can be eligible for SNAP if they are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education and:

• are eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work-study program OR
• in the current academic year, have an Expected Family Contribution of $0 on your FAFSA

College students ages 18-49 can qualify for SNAP if they meet any of the following conditions: 

• 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 six
• Be a single parent enrolled full-time AND responsible for a dependent under 12
• Be unable to work due to a physical or mental disability OR receive Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.

Where can I use NJ SNAP near me?

Find retailers that accept SNAP near you on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website here.

Where can I use NJ SNAP online?

NJ SNAP cannot be used to pay for delivery or other fees but can be used to shop online at supermarkets that offer online ordering.

You can also get your groceries delivered or packed free with Instacart if you have NJ SNAP. Find out more about using NJ SNAP benefits with Instacart here.

How do I apply for NJ SNAP?

To complete an online benefits screening to get preliminary information on if you qualify for SNAP benefits, click here. 

To complete an online application for NJ SNAP, click here. 

To complete an application by mail, print it here and send it to your county’s board of social services. Find the address for your county here.

Women, Infants, and Children or WIC

WIC is New Jersey’s supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. This program provides food, nutrition education, and support programs for income-eligible women who are pregnant and post-partum or have children up to age 5. Money is loaded onto a benefits debit card and can be used to supplement a food budget

WIC also provides an additional $25 during the summer months to purchase fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmer’s markets as part of the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).

Who qualifies for WIC?

Here are the people who may qualify for WIC:

• Pregnant women
• Women who have delivered a child within the last six months
• Breastfeeding women who have given birth to a child within the last year
• Infants and children under five years old

To be eligible, people in these categories must:

• Have a medical condition or limited access to nutrition that places their health at risk
• Live in New Jersey and provide proof of residency
• Meet income guidelines found here.

What can I buy using WIC?

Find New Jersey’s latest list of foods available through WIC here.

Download the WICShopper app from the Apple App Store here or Google Play here to scan food UPCs in stores to see if it qualifies for WIC.

Where can I use WIC near me?

Find retailers that accept WIC near you on the N.J. Department of Health website here.

How do I apply for WIC?

Complete your pre-application process online here. Then, qualifying applicants will be contacted by their local WIC agency or clinic office to schedule an appointment.

All family members who will be using the benefits must be present at the appointment, including children. You will need to bring the following documents with you:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of pregnancy
• Proof of income
• Proof of residency
• Your health care referral form if one was completed by a doctor or healthcare provider
• Your children’s Universal Child Health Record (UHCR)
• Your children’s vaccination records

Once approved, you will receive the eWIC benefits debit card, which can purchase foods on the WIC-approved list at local grocery stores.

Resources for people age 60+

In addition to being able to qualify for NJ SNAP, people age 60+ in New Jersey may qualify for the following programs.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program or CFSP

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) works to improve the health of low-income seniors 60 and older by supplementing their diets with monthly nutritious food packages provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Packages include a variety of foods.

In New Jersey, CFSP is administered by local food banks. Essex County’s program is run by the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside, New Jersey.

How do I qualify for CFSP?

Seniors who wish to participate must reside in New Jersey and need to provide proof of identity, age, residency, and income.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a resident of New Jersey
• Be age 60 and older
• Meet the income eligibility guidelines here.

What is included in a CFSP package? 

Packages can include: 

• Dairy like cheese and milk 
• Fruit juices
• Cereal, oats, or grits
• Rice, pasta, or dehydrated potato flakes
• Peanut butter
• Dry beans or peas
• Canned meat, poultry, or fish
• Canned fruits or vegetables

The contents of the food package may change monthly depending upon what is available provided by the USDA.

How do I apply for CFSP?

Applicants must contact the Community Food Bank of New Jersey by calling 908-355-3663 to learn about the nearest CFSP site. 

The program primarily operates out of senior housing buildings and may limit access to residents. However, if you do not live in participating senior housing, the food bank will let you know if any nearby locations allow the participation of non-residents.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program or SFMNP

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) promotes nutritional health among New Jersey residents age 60+ by providing locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at local farmers’ markets. 

Once approved for the program, residents will receive checks in the mail of up to $30 monthly from June to October to use at any of the county-listed farmer’s markets. The county also provides program participants transportation to and from those farmer’s markets.

Programs begin every year on June 1.

How do I qualify for SFMNP?

This program is limited to senior citizens who are 60 years and older and whose total income is equal to or less than the income poverty guidelines increased by 185%. Find the latest income requirements here.

Where can I use SFMNP in near me?

Visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s website for the latest information on farmer’s markets that accept SFMNP.

How do I apply for SFMNP in my county?

Seniors interested in applying for the SFMNP program should contact their local county board of social services. Find the phone number for your county here.

Help improve this resource

Applying for food aid and assistance in New Jersey can be a complicated process. Help The Jersey Bee improve this resource by volunteering your expertise on the subject. Contact us here or email connect@jerseybee.org if there are ways to improve this explainer.