Senior benefits in Union County, New Jersey

Union County emergency aid: (1) Union County Board of Social Services for Cash Assistance (WorkFirst NJ TANF), General Assistance, Emergency Assistance, NJ FamilyCare Medicaid (908-965-2700); (2) Union AAA for senior-specific case management (908-527-4870); (3) NJHCPAP + hospital FAP for healthcare safety-net; (4) Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC) + Plainfield Action Services coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Union County for LIHEAP/USF; (5) Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese serving Union; (6) Community FoodBank of New Jersey or regional food bank; (7) NJ SHARES utility-bill assistance; (8) NJ 2-1-1 for general referrals.

$200–$3,000/yr

NJ LIHEAP for Union County residents: Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC) + Plainfield Action Services coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Union 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: Union: NJ LIHEAP delivery via Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC) + Plainfield Action Services coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Union County.

Union County hospital safety net is Union = Trinitas (RWJBarnabas Elizabeth flagship) + Overlook (Atlantic Health Summit) + RWJ Rahway. Two competing systems.. ALL NJ acute-care hospitals participate in the NJ Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program (NJHCPAP, formerly Charity Care) — 100% covered ≤200% FPL, sliding scale to 300% FPL — this applies in every NJ county. Each system also operates its own Financial Assistance Program above NJHCPAP for those between 300-400% FPL. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.rwjbh.org/patients-visitors/billing-financial-assistance/. Phone: 908-994-5000.

$500–$30,000/yr

In this county: Union: Union = Trinitas (RWJBarnabas Elizabeth flagship) + Overlook (Atlantic Health Summit) + RWJ Rahway. Two competing systems.. NJHCPAP (state-mandated Charity Care) applies on top — 100% covered ≤200% FPL, sliding to 300% FPL.

Union 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 AAA at 908-527-4870 or emailing aging@ucnj.org.

$1,500–$6,000/yr

NJ Transit (Raritan Valley Line + Northeast Corridor) + Local Bus serves Union County. Union County: NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line (Cranford, Westfield, Plainfield) + Northeast Corridor (Elizabeth, Linden, Rahway). Multiple local NJ Transit bus routes. Newark Liberty International Airport partly in Union County. NJ Transit Senior Reduced Fare half-fare for 62+.. 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