Senior benefits in Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County emergency aid: (1) Mercer County Board of Social Services for Cash Assistance (WorkFirst NJ TANF), General Assistance, Emergency Assistance, NJ FamilyCare Medicaid (609-989-4320); (2) Mercer AAA for senior-specific case management (609-989-6661); (3) NJHCPAP + hospital FAP for healthcare safety-net; (4) Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness + Catholic Charities of Trenton Diocese coordinate LIHEAP delivery for Mercer County for LIHEAP/USF; (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese serving Mercer; (6) Community FoodBank of New Jersey or regional food bank; (7) NJ SHARES utility-bill assistance; (8) NJ 2-1-1 for general referrals.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$3,000 a year

NJ LIHEAP for Mercer County residents: the Mercer County Administration housing office (640 South Broad Street, Trenton, 609-989-6959) and Humanitaire Chrétien Sans Frontière (HCSF, Ewing, 609-994-5900) take LIHEAP/USF applications for Mercer County. Income limit: 60% state median ($51,273 for 1 person, $67,049 for 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.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,500 a year

In this county: Mercer: NJ LIHEAP delivery via the Mercer County Administration housing office and Humanitaire Chrétien Sans Frontière (HCSF), the DCA-listed LIHEAP/USF agencies for Mercer County.

Mercer County hospital safety net is Mercer = Capital Health (Trenton safety-net + Hopewell suburban, 2-hospital independent) + Penn Medicine Princeton Health (Penn cross-border PA-NJ academic affiliation since 2018). Cross-border PA-NJ. 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 for those between 300-400% FPL. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.capitalhealth.org/patients-visitors/bills-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 609-394-6000.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$30,000 a year

In this county: Mercer: Mercer = Capital Health (Trenton safety-net + Hopewell suburban, 2-hospital independent) + Penn Medicine Princeton Health (Penn cross-border PA-NJ academic affiliation since 2018). Cross-border PA-NJ. NJHCPAP applies on top — 100% covered ≤200% FPL, sliding to 300% FPL.

Mercer 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 609-989-6661 or emailing aging@mercercounty.org.

Estimated service value: $1,500–$6,000 a year

NJ Transit (Northeast Corridor + River Line Light Rail) + Local Bus serves Mercer County. Mercer County: NJ Transit Northeast Corridor (Trenton, Hamilton, Princeton Junction — Trenton is also the southern terminus for SEPTA's regional rail to Philly) + River Line Light Rail (Trenton-Camden, NJ's only diesel light rail). Local NJ Transit bus + Princeton TigerTransit. NJ Transit Senior Reduced Fare half-fare for 62+. Trenton/Mercer is NJ's transit-system intersection with PA SEPTA. 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.

Estimated service value: $300–$2,500 a year

TRADE is Mercer County's door-to-door para-transit service. It gives non-emergency rides to Mercer County residents who are 60 or older or who have a disability. Rides can go to medical and therapy visits, public and private programs, recreation, and other places in the community, and TRADE also offers trips for veterans to VA hospitals. Call TRADE at 609-530-1971 or email trade@mercercounty.org to ask about signing up and booking rides.

Estimated service value: about $0 a year

In this county: TRADE decides who is eligible and schedules rides based on available space, so this shows as a may-qualify result. Not legal or financial advice.