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.

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

NJ LIHEAP for Union County residents: PROCEED, Inc. (1122 East Grand Street and 120 West 7th Street, Elizabeth; 908-351-7727 ext. 292) takes LIHEAP/USF applications for Union 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: Union: NJ LIHEAP delivery via PROCEED, Inc., the DCA-listed LIHEAP/USF agency 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: 908-994-8691.

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

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 (toll-free 888-280-8226) or using the "Email Us" form on the Division on Aging web page.

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

Union County Paratransit gives door-to-door rides to Union County residents who are 60 or older, who have a disability (18 and older), or who have low incomes. Fares are $3 per one-way trip, and you can ask for a fare waiver based on income. Rides cover medical appointments, mental-health services, nutrition sites, shopping, recreation, work, school and connections to bus and rail; out-of-county medical trips run on Mondays and Wednesdays. Buses run Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with limited Saturday service and no Sunday or holiday service. Call 908-241-8300 (option 1) to reserve up to three weeks ahead; first-time riders should call between 1 and 4 p.m. to register. Residents 18 and older can also join EZ Ride's Ryde4Life program for subsidized medical and grocery trips ($15 a year plus $1 per ride; call 866-208-1307, option 4).

Estimated service value: about $0 a year

In this county: Rides depend on vehicle availability and are reserved first-come, first-served up to three weeks ahead. Fare waivers are granted by the county based on income. Not legal or financial advice.

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.

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