Senior benefits in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Seniors in Atlantic County, New Jersey have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care costs, prescription drugs, home energy bills, property taxes, and more. The Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services is the local Area Agency on Aging and a strong starting point for getting connected to help. Through this office, seniors can get assistance enrolling in PAAD, Senior Gold, and NJ SHIP Medicare counseling. Atlantic County residents may also qualify for emergency aid through the Atlantic County Emergency Aid Referral Coordination framework, home energy help through the local LIHEAP administering agencies, and financial assistance through AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center if medical bills become a burden. State programs like ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, Lifeline Utility Assistance, and Medicare Savings Programs are available here as well. NJ Transit Senior Reduced Fare and local transit options serve the county. Dozens of federal programs apply too. Each program listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified. The administering agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
5
Local programs
19
New Jersey programs
25
Federal programs
15
Categories
Local starting point
Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services — designated Area Agency on Aging under the Older Americans Act Title III for Atlantic County; one of 21 NJ county AAAs.
1-888-426-9243
See which of these Atlantic County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Atlantic County benefits checklist — free to hand out.
When benefit rules change, it’s tracked here
Income limits, new requirements, how to apply — see what’s changed across senior benefit programs, from the official source in plain English.
Programs run in Atlantic County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Atlantic County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Atlantic County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountyAtlantic County emergency aid: (1) Atlantic County Department of Family & Community Development (county welfare agency, formerly Board of Social Services) for Cash Assistance (WorkFirst NJ TANF), General Assistance, Emergency Assistance, NJ FamilyCare Medicaid (609-348-3001); (2) Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services / Area Agency on Aging information-and-assistance line for senior-specific case management (1-888-426-9243 in-county; 609-645-5965 out-of-county); (3) NJHCPAP + hospital FAP for healthcare safety-net; (4) Atlantic Cape Community Action (formerly Atlantic Human Resources) + Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Atlantic County for LIHEAP/USF; (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden (serving all of South Jersey + Shore); (6) Food Bank of South Jersey + Community FoodBank of NJ; (7) NJ SHARES utility-bill assistance; (8) NJ 2-1-1 for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Atlantic County LIHEAP Administering Agency — Home Energy Assistance (Atlantic County)
CountyNJ LIHEAP for Atlantic County residents: Atlantic Cape Community Action (formerly Atlantic Human Resources) + Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Atlantic County. Income limit: 60% state median (~$50,005 family of 1, ~$65,000 family of 2). Apply via DCAid (dcaid.dca.nj.gov), by calling 1-800-510-3102, or at the local administering agency. USF (Universal Service Fund) layers on top for ongoing year-round utility relief.
$200–$1,500/yr
In this county: Atlantic: NJ LIHEAP delivery via Atlantic Cape Community Action (formerly Atlantic Human Resources) + Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Camden coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Atlantic County. NJ Jersey Shore final batch closes the catalog.
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (Atlantic City Campus + Mainland Campus) — Financial Assistance (Atlantic County)
CountyAtlantic County hospital safety net is Atlantic = AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (City Campus + Mainland Campus). INDEPENDENT NJ system. History: joined Geisinger PA 2015 → returned to independence 2020 — unique NJ story.. ALL NJ acute-care hospitals participate in NJ Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program (NJHCPAP, formerly Charity Care) — 100% covered ≤200% FPL, sliding scale to 300% FPL. Each system also operates its own Financial Assistance Program above NJHCPAP. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.atlanticare.org/patients-and-visitors/for-patients/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 609-441-2000.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Atlantic: Atlantic = AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center (City Campus + Mainland Campus). INDEPENDENT NJ system. History: joined Geisinger PA 2015 → returned to independence 2020 — unique NJ story.. NJHCPAP applies on top — 100% covered ≤200% FPL, sliding to 300% FPL. NJ Jersey Shore final batch closes the catalog.
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services — Title III + NJ SHIP + PAAD/Senior Gold Enrollment (Atlantic County)
CountyAtlantic County AAA serves seniors age 60+ and caregivers. Services include: Title III Congregate Meals + Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels); NJ SHIP (Medicare benefits counseling); PAAD/Senior Gold/Lifeline enrollment via NJSave combined application; Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC); Caregiver Support; Protective Services; LSTC Long-Term Care Options Counseling. Apply by calling the Information & Assistance line at 1-888-426-9243 or emailing agingservices@aclink.org.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $300–$2,500 a year to an eligible household.
NJ Transit (Atlantic City Line) + NJ Transit Bus + Atlantic City Jitney (Atlantic County)
CountyNJ Transit (Atlantic City Line) + NJ Transit Bus + Atlantic City Jitney serves Atlantic County. Atlantic County: NJ Transit Atlantic City Line (Atlantic City terminus, with stops at Egg Harbor + Hammonton + Lindenwold connections to PATCO Speedline → Philadelphia) + NJ Transit bus + Atlantic City Jitney (independent operator serving the casino corridor). NJ Transit Senior Reduced Fare half-fare for 62+. Atlantic City Jitney has its own fare structure. Atlantic City Convention Center + casinos drive transit demand.. NJ Transit Senior Reduced Fare ID required for half-fare — apply at NJ Transit customer service center or via mail-in form. Access Link statewide ADA paratransit within ¾ mile of NJ Transit bus routes.
$300–$2,500/yr
New Jersey and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Atlantic County and across the rest of New Jersey. Full details are on the New Jersey benefits page.
Emergency Aid
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB/SLMB/QI) — New JerseyState$2,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- NJ FamilyCare — Aged, Blind, Disabled MedicaidState$4,000–$30,000/yrOfficial source →
- NJ SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program (Medicare Counseling)StateOfficial source →
- PAAD — Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and DisabledState$500–$4,500/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Gold Prescription Discount ProgramState$300–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)State$30,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
Income Support
Long Term Care
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
- BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery (No-Cost Burial)StateOfficial source →
- New Jersey Disabled Veteran Free Hunting & Fishing LicensesStateOfficial source →
- New Jersey Veterans Service Offices (Free VA Claims Help)StateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federalup to $1,125/yrOfficial source →
- New Jersey 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (Full Exemption)State$7,000–$12,000/yrOfficial source →
- ANCHOR — Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and RentersState$450–$1,750/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Freeze — Property Tax Reimbursement (PTR)State$200–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- New Jersey $250 Veteran Property Tax DeductionState$250/yrOfficial source →
Transportation
- NJ Transit Senior Citizen Reduced FareState$300–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrOfficial source →
Nearby counties
County programs differ from one county to the next. If you live near a county line, or you are helping a parent who lives in one of these, it is worth checking there too.
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.
