dollars and sense - United Way of Hunterdon County

Transcription

United Way of Hunterdon County’s Financial
Stability Partnership is striving to help hardworking families in Hunterdon County become
financially stable and take the next steps to
long-term independence. Although financial
education alone does not guarantee financial
success, it is nevertheless important that all
individuals and families are aware of and have
access to reliable, clear, timely, relevant and
effective financial information and educational
resources. This is the first resource guide of its
kind.
.
INCREASE
INCOME
BUILD
SAVINGS
GAIN AND
SUSTAIN
ASSETS
DOLLARS
AND SENSE
Financial Stability Resource
Guide Provided by United
Way of Hunterdon County
4 Walter Foran Blvd.
Suite 401
Flemington, NJ 08822
Tel 908-782-3414
Fax 908-782-6704
www.uwhunterdon.org
“An investment in knowledge
pays the best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin
1
A message from United Way of Hunterdon County:
Too many of our neighbors in Hunterdon County are walking a financial tightrope--barely getting by,
with no ability to save for college, a home, or retirement. Finances, taxes, credit--they seem to get more
complicated by the day. As the saying goes, "Sometimes, there's too much month left at the end of the
money". That’s why we are working together with our partners, both public and private, to transform
that financial tightrope into solid ground.
First, let’s take a look at the warning signs of financial trouble:
$
$
$
$
$
An unbalanced budget
Unpaid bills
Unregulated spending
Spending too much on debt
Inability to make minimum payments
$
$
$
$
Writing bad checks
Calls from several creditors
Addictive behavior
Arguing with your partner about finances
Second, where can you go to get help, or more information, if you are experiencing any of the above
warning signs?
2-1-1 provides free and confidential information and referral. Call 2-1-1 or 877-652-1148 for help with
food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. (Fax: 973-887-4680/E-mail:
[email protected].)
We want to help you maximize your income. United Way of Hunterdon County now works with the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the NJ Treasury Department to operate a Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) site. This partnership allows us to provide free tax preparation for low to moderate
income families and individuals free of charge.
If you have trouble paying for groceries, rent, child care, health insurance, basic needs such as heat
and electricity, or perhaps you want to go to college or vocational school but need help paying for
tuition, this guide will provide you with information on the many resources that are available to you.
Give yourself credit for taking these first steps in improving your financial future!
United Way of Hunterdon County’s Financial Resource Guide will also give you tips about
how to manage your money in order to meet your basic needs. All of us need a new written budget
every month; make it a family project. At first it might seem difficult, but before you know it you will be
amazed at the control you have. Account for every dollar on paper before the month begins. Look at
this month’s income and this month’s bills, savings and debts, and match them up until you have given
every income dollar a matching outgo. Learning how to plan your spending, saving and sharing is the
key to financial success. (Look for the Daily Spending Diary and other worksheets located in the back
of this guide to help you in tracking your expenses.)
Please visit United Way of Hunterdon County’s Website at www.uwhunterdon.org or call us directly at
908-782-3414 for information on financial coaching and future financial stability workshops.
Additionally, we encourage you to complete the enclosed survey and return it to United Way of
Hunterdon County’s office located at 4 Walter Foran Blvd., Suite 401, Flemington, NJ 08822.
Please feel free to contact the below organizations for available workshops:
Hunterdon County Family Success Center
3 East Main Street
908-237-0465
www.vhcfsc.com
NORWESCAP CFRS Training Institute
Offers on-site workshops and seminars for
early childhood program staff on child
development, guiding behavior, brain
development research and many other
topics.
908-782-8183
[email protected]
Career and Life Planning Center –
Displaced Homemaker Service
84 Park Avenue, Unit E-103
908-788-1453
www.norwescap.org/www.dhnj.org
Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training
Services Center
Hunterdon Community Healthcare Campus
Adult Learning Center, Rear Building, Room 25
215 Route 31
908-806-2795
Hunterdon Helpline
800-272-4630 or 908-782-4357
[email protected]
Also, check out the County/State Help Chart located in the back of this guide. This chart lists the phone
numbers for county assistance offices, as well as helpful county and state Websites. Look at it when
you need more information or want to apply for a program.
This resource guide is a continuing work in progress. As additions and changes are made, new
releases will be placed on the Website at www.uwhunterdon.org. All additions and changes should be
emailed to Debbie Coughlin, Financial Stability Resource Coordinator, at [email protected].
Table of Contents
FOOD AND CLOTHING RESOURCES
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – New Jersey’s Food Stamp Program…………….1
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Services……………………………………………………………………...2
Local Food Pantries…………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Meals on Wheels………………………………………………………………………………………………………...3
Volunteer Shopper Program…………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Community Kitchen……………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
National School Breakfast Program (NSBP)……………………………………………………………………….4
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)……………………………………………………………………………4
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program………………………………………………………………………….4
NORWESCAP Child Care Food Program (CCFP)………………………………………………………………….5
Helpful Hints on Food Shopping, Saving and Preparation………………………………………………………5
Hunterdon County Diaper Bank…………………………………………………………………………………….5,6
New Jersey Animeals…………………………………………………………………………………………………...6
Clothing/Consignment Shops………………………………………………………………………………………6,7
HOUSING AND UTILITY RESOURCES
Affordable Housing/Homeless Assistance Program……………………………………………………………...8
Hunterdon County Division of Social Services……………………………………………………………………8
Social Services for the Homeless—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (SSH TANF)……………..8
Home Sharing…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Family Promise of Hunterdon County, Inc………………………………………………………………………….8
Homeless/Emergency Programs……………………………………………………………………………………..9
Mortgage Assistance…………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
FHA Refinance for Borrowers with Negative Equity (FHA Short Refinance)………………………………..10
Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)………………………………………………………………….10
Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)……………………………………………………………………..10
NJ Home Ownership Preservation Effort (NJ HOPE)…………………………………………………………….10
Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA)…………………………………………………………………11
Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA)……………………………………………………………………………...11
NJ Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program…………………………………………………………………….11
Mr. Fix-It Program………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)……………………………………………………..12
Universal Service Fund (USF) Program…………………………………………………………………………….12
USF Fresh Start…………………………………………………………………………………………………………12
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)………………………………………………………………………..13
Temporary Relief for Utility Expenses (TRUE) Program………………………………………………………...13
New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral Energy Service, Inc. NJShares………………...13
Winter Termination Program………………………………………………………………………………………….13
Comfort Partners………………………………………………………………………………………………………..13
Assistance Programs Sponsored by Individual Utility Companies………………………………………..13,14
Catholic Charities……………………………………………………………………………………………………….14
NJ Lifeline Program……………………………………………………………………………………………………..15
Comcast……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15,16
CenturyLink……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16
Energy Efficiency Measures – Tips to Save Energy Today…………………………………………………..16,17
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)……………………………………………………………………………17
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)………………………………………………………………………………….17,18
Child Tax Credit - Ten Things to Know About the Child and Dependent Care Credit………………………18
Hunterdon County Division of Social Services…………………………………………………………………… 19
Family First Card Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)…………………………………………………………….19
Kinship Navigator Program……………………………………………………………………………………………19
WorkFirst New Jersey…………………………………………………………………………………………………..20
National Foundation for Credit Counseling - Debt Management Plan…………………………………………20
CHILD CARE RESOURCES
Catholic Charities………………………………………………………………………………………………………21
Hand-in-Hand Child Care Center and Lambertville Academy…………………………………………………..21
Hunterdon County Head Start and Early Head Start…………………………………………………………….21
Hunterdon County YMCA……………………………………………………………………………………………..22
Norwescap Childcare Resource……………………………………………………………………………………..22
ChildCare Helpline……………………………………………………………………………………………………...23
Hunterdon County Department of Human Services – County Child Care Program
HEALTH CARE/INSURANCE RESOURCES
NJ Family Care (Health Insurance for Children)………………………………………………………………….23
Vaccines for Children Program……………………………………………………………………………………...23
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)……………………………………………………………..24
NJ Protect………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24
Global Options (GO) for Long Term Care………………………………………………………………………….24
Extra Help………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..25
Together Rx Access LLC……………………………………………………………………………………………..26
®
Familywize …………………………………………………………………………………………………………26,27
Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program……………………………………………………………………...27
Senior Gold Prescription Health Program………………………………………………………………………...27
Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)………………………………………………..27
Dental Care: Donated Dental Services (DDS)…………………………………………………………………….28
NJDA Senior-Dent Program………………………………………………………………………………………….28
Eyes Helpline……………………………………………………………………………………………………………28
Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD)…………………………………………………..29
Hunterdon Medical Center “Hospital Payment Assistance”…………………………………………………..29
Senior Medical Patrol (SMP)…………………………………………………………………………………………30
Seniors Medicare Assistance and Reporting Tool for Fraud and Complaint Tracking System
(SMART FACTS)………………………………………………………………………………………………………..30
Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ)…………………………………………………………………30
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hunterdon, Inc……………………………………………………30
Anderson House……………………………………………………………………………………………………….30
FAMILY RESOURCES
Tools for School………………………………………………………………………………………………………..30
Holiday Hands………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31
Hunterdon Helpline……………………………………………………………………………………………………31
Hunterdon Hospice……………………………………………………………………………………………………31
Hunterdon County Family Success Center……………………………………………………………………….32
Arc of Hunterdon County……………………………………………………………………………………………..32
Catholic Charities……………………………………………………………………………………………………...32
Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JAAC)……………………………………………………...32,33
Aids Community Care Alternatives Program (ACCAP) Waiver……………………………………………….33
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver Program……………………………………………………………………33
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund………………………………………………………………….33,34
Dr. Orlie Pell Fund, Inc………………………………………………………………………………………………..34
LifeBridge Free Life Insurance Program…………………………………………………………………………..35
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Onestop Career Center……………………………………………………………………………………………….35
Workforce Investment Act Training Programs……………………………………………………………….35,36
Workforce Development Partnership Training……………………………………………………………………36
Self Employment Assistance………………………………………………………………………………………..36
MONEY MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
Credit Unions 101………………………………………………………………………………………………………36
Individual Development Account (IDA)……………………………………………………………………………..37
Volunteer Bill Payer Program………………………………………………………………………………………..38
Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE)…………………………………………………………………..38
Shopping and Spending Tips……………………………………………………………………………………..38,39
Money Saving Tips……………………………………………………………………………………………………..39
Money Saving Tips for Teens……………………………………………………………………………………39-42
Money Saving Tips for Seniors……………………………………………………………………………………...42
Tips to Build Your Credit History…………………………………………………………………………………...43
Daily Spending Diary…………………………………………………………………………………………………..44
Debt to Income Ratio Worksheet……………………………………………………………………………………45
Monthly Budget…………………………………………………………………………………………………………46
Personal Balance Sheet……………………………………………………………………………………………....47
Websites…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………48
HIGHER EDUCATION
Transitional Education Centers………………………………………………………………………………....49-51
Saving for College – Helpful Websites……………………………………………………………………………51
Grants and Scholarships……………………………………………………………………………………………..52
Tuition Assistance……………………………………………………………………………………………………..52
Federal Student Aid……………………………………………………………………………………………………52
SeniorNet………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..52
TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
HART……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..53
Buses…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….53
Trains…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….54
Taxi Service……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..54
Medical Transport……………………………………………………………………………………………………...55
Home Healthcare Providers………………………………………………………………………………………….55
NJ Find A Ride………………………………………………………………………………………………………….55
Motor Vehicle Reduced Registration Fees for Seniors…………………………………………………………55
New Jersey Reduced Fare Program………………………………………………………………………….....55,56
Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP)……………………………………………………………………...56
COUNTY/STATE HELP CHART
2-1-1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..56-58
Helpful Fraud Prevention Links……………………………………………………………………………………..59
State of NJ Summary of Toll-Free Numbers…………………………………………………………………..60,61
FOOD AND CLOTHING RESOURCES
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY FOOD OR SHELTER PLEASE CALL:
HUNTERDON COUNTY DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
908-788-1300 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
8:30AM – 4:30PM
HUNTERDON HELPLINE
1-800-272-INFO (4630) AFTER 4:30PM AND WEEKENDS
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(SNAP)--NEW JERSEY’S FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
NJ SNAP helps eligible families stretch their food dollar with monthly electronic benefits provided on a
card that works like a credit or debit card. It can be used for grocery purchases to keep your children
school-ready and fueled to learn.
Many people who are eligible for Food Stamps/NJ SNAP don’t know it. Many families qualify for the
program, even if they work, own a home, or own a car. Individuals with incomes at or below $1,680 per
month or $20,160 per year, and families with incomes at or below $3,447 per month or $41,364 per
year (for a family of four) may be eligible. If you are eligible for NJ SNAP, you may also qualify for
heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); you will find
more information on LIHEAP in the Housing and Utilities Resources section of this guide.
What can you buy with food stamps? Food stamps cover many items that you can buy at the grocery
store. The chart below gives an idea of what you can and cannot buy with food stamps:
CAN BUY WITH FOOD STAMPS
*Most foods, like vegetables, fruits, breads, meats,
dairy, spices, etc.
*Seeds and plants to grow your own food
*Meals prepared and served by rehabilitation
centers, shelters, and certain services that bring
meals to the homeless
CANNOT BUY WITH FOOD STAMPS
*Alcohol
*Cigarettes
*Pet food
*Prepared hot foods, like takeout pizza
*Non-food items like paper products, diapers,
soaps, shampoos, and medicine
Call 1-800-687-9512 to learn more or apply online at www.njsnap.org. You may also ask for an
application in person, over the phone, or by mail. Please contact:
Hunterdon County Division of Social Services
Community Services Center
6 Gauntt Place
Flemington NJ 08822
908-788-1300
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN SERVICES (WIC)
New Jersey WIC Services provides supplemental nutritious foods to pregnant, breastfeeding, and
postpartum women, infants and children under the age of five. WIC services include nutrition education
and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, immunization screening, and healthcare
referrals.
Families with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty level ($41,348 for a family of four) may be
eligible. For more information please call toll free 1-866 44 NJ WIC (446-5942) or refer to the New
Jersey Department of Senior, Disabilities and Veteran Services WIC webpage at:
www.nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/index.shtml.
LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES
Many people in New Jersey are hungry because housing, health care, fuel, and utility costs are high.
Sudden illness, disabilities, low paying jobs, and fixed incomes make it difficult for many people to
afford food. Before you visit a food pantry please bring with you the following:
 Identification (at least one of which, if possible, is a photo ID)
 Social security card or number
 Income proof (2 or 3 most recent pay stubs or social security or disability check stub)
o OR verification of participation in one of the following programs:
 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
 Food Stamp Program (SNAP)
 Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
 Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
 Medicaid
FOOD PANTRIES IN HUNTERDON COUNTY
Elijah’s Cupboard Food Pantry
Sergeantsville United Methodist Church
622 Rosemont-Ringoes Road
Sergeantsville, NJ 08822
609-397-2333
Flemington Area Food Pantry
154 Route 31 N
PO Box 783
908-788-5568
Frenchtown Food Pantry
Frenchtown Presbyterian Church
20 Fourth Street
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
908-996-2227
Hampton Food Pantry
St. Ann Catholic Church
30 Main Street
Hampton, NJ 08827
908-537-2221
Open Cupboard Food Pantry (and Thrift Shop)
37 Old Highway 22
Clinton, NJ 08809
908-730-7320
The Food Pantry at Fisherman’s Mark
89 North Main Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-0194
St. Magdalen Food Pantry, Hope House
105 Mine Street
908-782-2342
Please visit the Endhungernj Website at
www.endhungernj.org for other available resources within
Hunterdon County.
MEALS ON WHEELS IN HUNTERDON, INC.
Phone: 908-284-0735
mowih.org/
Would you like to do lunch? With Meals on Wheels, that is. Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon has
provided "comfort food" to recipients since 1973. If you are over 60, homebound or have a disability,
Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon can deliver a hot noontime meal Monday through Friday with weekend
coverage if needed. However, if you are able to, Meals on Wheels invites you to join them at one of
their Congregate Dining Nutrition Sites around Hunterdon County (Annandale, Bunnvale, Flemington,
Lambertville).
Delicious meals delivered and served by warm and caring neighbors--what could be better? If you or
someone you know would benefit from the security and support of home delivered meals or congregate
dining, contact Meals on Wheels today. Or, join as a donor or volunteer driver! Speaking of
volunteers….
VOLUNTEER SHOPPER PROGRAM
Need help with grocery shopping? The Volunteer Shopper Program partners people with disabilities
and needy seniors with volunteer shoppers who are willing to pick up grocery or prescription items for
them while doing their own shopping. For more information on this program, please contact the Division
of Senior, Disabilities and Veterans Services at 908-788-1358.
COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Centenary United Methodist Church
108 North Union Street
For more information contact:
Pastor Anna Gillette
[email protected]
609-397-2468
The Community Kitchen is a mission outreach program of the Centenary United Methodist Church
providing free meals and a social center for all members of the community. Wednesday luncheons,
held from 11:30am-1:30pm, draw crowds of 100 people or more that represent all factions of the
community. Everybody is welcome and many people come in groups and some even schedule lunch
meetings with their colleagues. The Community Kitchen is also open on Sundays for brunch from
11:00am-12:30pm.
ESL classes at Centenary are offered at no charge from September through May on Monday and
Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm. Certified teachers are provided by the Hunterdon County
Educational Commission and meals are provided for students and teachers by the Community Kitchen.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM (NSBP)
The National School Breakfast Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and
nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. The program is administered at the
federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service. At the state level, the program is usually administered
by state education agencies, which operate the program through agreements with local school food
authorities in more than 88,000 schools and institutions.
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM (NSLP)
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public
and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced,
low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. In 1998, Congress expanded the National School
Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks served to children through 18 years of age in
afterschool educational and enrichment programs. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the
program at the federal level. At the state level, the program is usually administered by state education
agencies, which operate the program through agreements with school food authorities.
Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through both the National School Breakfast
Program (NSBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Children from families with incomes
at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (less than $29,055 annually for a family of four) are
eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty level
($41,348 annually for a family of four) are eligible for reduced‐price meals, for which students can be
charged no more than 40 cents. If you think your child may be eligible, request the forms from your
school.
SENIOR FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM
Hunterdon County residents, 60 years of age or older with low income (annual income not to exceed
$20,665--single/$27,991--couple), are invited to participate in the New Jersey Senior Farmers’ Market
Nutrition Program, funded by the Federal Department of Agriculture and sponsored by the NJ
Department of Health and Senior Services. The program, which usually runs June through November,
provides locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs to eligible seniors.
Participants receive four (4) checks valued at $5.00 each to be redeemed at participating farm stands
for fresh produce and herbs. Farmers are not allowed to give change so each $5.00 check must be
used in its entirety. Checks can be obtained from one of the following locations:
Hunterdon County Senior Center
Route 31 County Complex
4 Gauntt Place, Building #1
908-788-1361
North Hunterdon Senior Center
285 Rt. 513
Bunnvalle, NJ 07830
908-638-6515
Readington Twp. Social Services
509 Route 523
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
908-534-0974
Checks must be picked up in person and signed for; if a senior is housebound, arrangements can be
made for his/her representative to pick up the checks. For additional information, please call Penny
Folkner-Bush, Program Coordinator, at 908-788-1361.
NORWESCAP CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CCFP)
908-782-8183
This program is open to registered family day care providers and enables them to receive
reimbursement for meals served to day care children based on USDA guidelines.
VISIT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WEBSITES LISTED
BELOW FOR HELPFUL HINTS ON FOOD SHOPPING, SAVING AND PREPARATION:
MyPlate at www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
Features practical information and tips to help Americans build healthier diets. MyPlate is designed to
remind Americans to eat healthfully.
Community Corner on the SNAP-Ed Connection at www.snap.nal.usda.gov
Find information, tips, and tools for making healthy lifestyle choices.
Recipe Finder at recipefinder.nal.usda.gov
Contains over 600 low cost, nutritious, and delicious recipes in both English and Spanish.
HUNTERDON COUNTY DIAPER BANK (HDB)
The Hunterdon County Diaper Bank (HDB) is organized under the premise that those who need diapers
very possibly need other social services as well. In partnership between United Way of Hunterdon
County and NORWESCAP Food Bank, HDB continues to raise awareness about diaper need and to
help address that need in Hunterdon County.
That’s why the bank collects diapers, warehouses the diapers and then distributes the diapers to a
variety of partner agencies who can work with individuals in need. It offers diapers to parents and
caregivers of infants, toddlers, special needs children, disabled youth, and the elderly who cannot
afford the diapers they need. Through a Diaper Distribution Network (DDN) HDB will provide free
diapers monthly to families and individuals in Hunterdon County.
DIAPER DISTRIBUTION NETWORK IN HUNTERDON COUNTY
Catholic Charities Family Service Center
6 Park Avenue
908-782-7905
Clinton Honda
1511 US Highway 22 East
Annandale, NJ 08801
908-735-0700
Family Promise of Hunterdon County
Incorporating The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)
10 East Main Street
908-782-2490
Friendship Center for New Beginnings
162 Main Street
908-806-4444
NORWESCAP Head Start/Early Head Start
79 US Highway 202, Suite 200
Ringoes, NJ 08551
908-284-4757
SAFE in Hunterdon
47 East Main Street
908-788-7666
Hunterdon County Family Success Center
3 East Main Street
908-237-0465
Lambertville Food Pantry
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
44 Bridge Street
609-638-7888
Fisherman's Mark
609-397-0194
Flemington Area Food Pantry
154 Route 31 North
PO Box 783
908-788-5568
NEW JERSEY ANIMEALS
Pet Owners and Lovers…there is help for your furry friends! If you are struggling to provide food for
your pet, or are considering giving your animal to a shelter, help is available! New Jersey AniMeals
provides free cat food, dog food, and kitty litter to qualified households in Hunterdon County.
Volunteers make monthly deliveries to pet owners who are disabled, shut-ins, and persons having
financial difficulties. For additional information please visit: www.newjerseyanimeals.org or call
908-752-1927.
CLOTHING, ETC.
The Clothes Closet
Flemington Assembly of God
434 Route 202 N
908-782-5232
The Clothes Closet provides clothing and other items to people in need in the community and
surrounding neighborhoods. They encourage donations of “gently” used or new items. Everyone is
welcomed to browse, take home, donate, or bring a friend in need to the Clothes Closet. Call the phone
number above to make an appointment to browse the closet or make a donation.
The Lord’s Closet
Route 22 East and Mullen Road
908-534-1777
The Lord’s Closet provides individuals and families in need with such necessities as clean, serviceable
clothes, furniture, household items, linens, kitchen items, electronics, computers, toys, baby items,
major appliances, medical equipment, good running cars and much more.
ADDITIONAL CONSIGNMENT/THRIFT SHOPS IN HUNTERDON COUNTY AREA
Ever Green Consignment and Thrift Shop
456 State Route 31 South
Hampton, NJ 07882
908-537-4197
The Top O’th’ Barn Thrift Shop
15 Raritan River Road
Califon, NJ 07830
908-832-7018
SPCA Thrift Shop
576 Stamets Road
Milford, NJ 08848
908-996-2099
Fisherman’s Mark
609-397-0194
Open Cupboard Food Pantry (and Thrift Shop)
37 Old Highway 22
Clinton, NJ 08809
908-730-7320
Purple Kangaroo Consignment Boutique
191 Route 12
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
908-996-0100
North Hunterdon UMC Thrift Shop (Norton Church)
51 Charlestown Road
Hampton, NJ 08827
908-735-0177
HOUSING AND UTILITIES
HOUSING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING/ HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Hunterdon County Division of Housing
8 Gauntt Place
PO Box 2900
908-788-1336
www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/housing.htm
HUNTERDON COUNTY DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
6 Gauntt Place
PO Box 2900
908-788-1300
www.co.hunterdon/nj.us/depts/social/socserv.htm
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS--TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
(SSH TANF)
Provides temporary financial assistance to families with at least one dependent child to prevent
homelessness when other funding is not applicable. TANF is limited to a lifetime maximum of 60
cumulative months. To assist families with the transition of employment, the following supportive
services are available:
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Child Care Services
24 month Medicaid Extension
Payment of Certain Work Expenses
Supplemental Work Support Program
Transportation Assistance
Federal/State Earned Income Tax
Credits
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Early Employment Initiative (EEI)
Paycheck Plus
TANF Initiative for Parents (TIP)
Career Advancement Voucher Program
Child Support Services
HOMESHARING--AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALTERNATIVE
HomeSharing is a service to people who want or need to share their homes for economic, service, or
companionship reasons or need help in finding affordable housing. HomeSharing’s goal is to match
home providers with home seekers in such a way that the needs of both are met.
HomeSharing providers must have a suitable house or apartment with a separate bedroom for the
seeker. Providers and seekers must be independent enough to meet their own basic needs. In a
service arrangement, reduced rent or free rent may be exchanged for help with household chores and
services. For additional information please call 908-237-0650 or visit www.homesharing.org.
FAMILY PROMISE OF HUNTERDON COUNTY, INC.
Incorporating Interfaith Hospitality Network
10 East Main Street
908-782-2490
www.ihnhunterdon.org
Family Promise offers homelessness services to the community. The Interfaith Hospitality Network is a
shelter program for homeless families which offers shelter, food, case management and counseling
services.
Additional programs include the following:
HOMELESS/EMERGENCY PROGRAMS IN HUNTERDON COUNTY
Easter Seals
Supportive Housing (Rental Subsidy)
908-788-7580
This program serves adult clients with mental illness
to assist them with looking for housing in Hunterdon
County.
SAFE in Hunterdon
(formerly Women’s Crisis Services)
47 East Main Street
908-788-7666
1-888-988-4033 (24 Hour Toll Free Hotline)
Hunterdon Helpline
If you experience a housing emergency, call for a referral
and/or information regarding emergency shelter
placement or financial assistance.
1-800-272-4630 (24 hour, 7 day referral service)
Salvation Army
40 East Main Street
908-237-9008
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) and utility
funds are available. Call the office for more information.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (EA): Available for tenants who are recipients of WorkFirst New Jersey
(WFNJ) or General Assistance (GA) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You must apply
for EA at the Division of Social Services. To be eligible, you must be homeless, or expect to be
homeless soon. You must show proof of homelessness, usually an eviction complaint or notice from
your landlord, and that you were unable to pay your rent. To prevent eviction, Emergency Assistance
(EA) is available to help pay back rent or utility payments. If you are actually evicted and become
homeless, EA also provides emergency shelter, security deposits, utility deposits and help with
purchasing furniture. Temporary Rental Assistance (TRA) may also be available to help pay rent for a
new apartment. Please call the Hunterdon County Division of Social Services at 908-788-1300.
STATE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SRAP) provides rental assistance grants, comparable to
the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, for low-income individuals or households. Grants are
reserved for the elderly, disabled, homeless families with children, certain project-based programs,
such as collaborations with the Division of Children and Families, and for households currently on the
existing DCA Housing Choice Section 8 waiting list. For additional information please visit
www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/offices/sra.html.
SHELTER HOUSING EXIT (SHE) GRANT is specifically for women with children who are victims of
domestic violence and are currently residing in a shelter. The SHE grant can be short-term or long-term
for up to two years and requires that a client pay 30% of their gross income toward the rent, similar to
the HUD Section 8 guidelines. Clients do not apply directly for this grant; clients apply through a
domestic violence or homeless shelter.
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM provides temporary short-term assistance to households
who face imminent loss of housing by eviction because they are temporarily without adequate funds for
reasons beyond their control. Contact NORWESCAP via phone at 908-454-7000, ext. 118, or email at
[email protected].
MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE
Are you ready to buy a home? Use these questions to help you decide if you are ready to buy a home:
 Do I have a steady source of income?
 Have I been employed on a regular basis for 2-3 years?
 Is my income reliable?
 Do I have a credit history?
 Do I have a good record of paying bills?
 Am I able to pay my bills and other debts?
 Do I have the ability to make the mortgage payment every month plus handle additional costs
for taxes, insurance, maintenance, and repairs?
 Do I have money saved for a down payment or closing costs?
If you answer yes to these questions, you might be ready to buy a home. If you answer no to any of
them, concentrate on strengthening those areas.
FHA REFINANCE FOR BORROWERS WITH NEGATIVE EQUITY (FHA SHORT REFINANCE)
If you are current on your mortgage payments, but owe more than your home is worth, you may be
eligible for the FHA Short Refinance Option. If your current lender agrees to participate in this
refinance, they will be required to reduce the amount you owe on your first mortgage to no more than
97.75% of your home’s current value.
HOME AFFORDABLE MODIFICATION PROGRAM (HAMP)
If you are not unemployed, but you are still struggling to make your mortgage payments, you may be
eligible for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). HAMP may lower your monthly
mortgage payments in order to make them more affordable and sustainable for the long term.
If you currently occupy your home as your primary residence, you should contact your mortgage
servicer as soon as possible to begin the HAMP evaluation process.
PRINCIPAL REDUCTION ALTERNATIVE (PRA)
If your home is worth significantly less than you owe on it, contact your mortgage servicer to see if you
are eligible for PRA.
NJ HOME OWNERSHIP PRESERVATION EFFORT (NJ HOPE)
The New Jersey Homeownership Preservation Effort is a voluntary public/private alliance of
government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and financial institutions committed to enhancing
home ownership preservation by raising consumer awareness of available mortgage products and
funding, providing increased access to credit and loan counseling for those who need it, and providing
temporary assistance to consumers who are in immediate danger of foreclosure.
If your lender cannot help you, contact the Homeownership Preservation Foundation at 1-888-995HOPE, a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week toll-free hotline with trained counselors to help homeowners
avoid foreclosure. This is a free, non-judgmental service. Visit their Website at www.995hope.org for
additional information.
HOUSING AND MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY (HMFA)
Please visit www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/home/foreclosure. This site provides information and numbers to
call regarding foreclosures, and also provides links to information sheets such as “Foreclosure Fast
Facts” (www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/media/download/foreclosure/fc_foreclosurefastfacts_english.Pdf). You
may also call 609-278-7400.
NJ JUDICIARY FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM
This program provides homeowners with access to housing counselors and court trained mediators to
resolve foreclosure actions by proposing work-out and payment arrangements between distressed
borrowers and lenders. The program will also provide lawyers to income-eligible homeowners. Please
call 1-888-989-5277.
MR. FIX-IT PROGRAM
Hunterdon County Division of Senior, Disabilities and Veterans Services
908-788-1358
The Mr. Fix-It Program, sponsored by the Hunterdon County Division of Senior, Disabilities and
Veterans Services and funded by federal, state (from Title III of the Older American Act), and county
dollars, helps Hunterdon County residents, age 60 and over, with the minor repairs and maintenance of
their homes and personal items.
Mr. Fix-It Program volunteers perform small safety or health related home repairs and chores. Labor is
offered without charge; however, consumers are asked to pay for materials. Tenants are eligible for
repairs to their personal property only and must sign a Hold Harmless Agreement before any work can
be done.
 Chore Services are available on a limited basis. The program has a limited number of
volunteers who perform these services. When available, chore services may include leaf raking,
weeding or light yard work.
 Appliance Days are held twice a year (April and October) at the Hunterdon County Route 31
Complex. Consumers may bring in small household appliances for on-the-spot repair (please,
no TVs, Microwaves, or VCRs).
 Plumbing and Electrical: Fix leaky faucets, replace sink stoppers, replace floats in toilets,
repair/replace outlets, switches, light fixtures, sockets.
 Weatherization: Install/remove screens, storm windows, air conditioners, weather stripping.
 Safety and Security: Repair/install locks; replace glass panes, repair/replace steps, railings.
 Household: Install shades, curtains, blinds; repair cabinet doors, drawers; re-glue furniture;
repair small appliances; hang mirrors, pictures, shelving, and assemble furniture.
ADDITIONAL HOUSING REPAIR RESOURCES
 Housing Accessibility and Rehabilitation (HAR) Program--908-399-6411
o The HAR Program can help with home modifications for accessibility by providing
housing modifications, repairs and safety mechanisms to income-qualified senior
citizens and individuals with disabilities who reside in Hunterdon County. HAR works
with local churches and civic groups to help with certain renovations to minimize the cost
to the person needing the work.
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The program is also open to tenants. Upgrades to a rental property can be made. The
landlord is asked to make a five-year commitment to the tenant, with no rent increase
during that time period.
NORWESCAP Weatherization and Repair--908-454-7000, Ext. 160
UTILITIES
There are two utility assistance programs available to eligible low-income households offered by the
State of New Jersey--LIHEAP and USF. You may be eligible for both programs. Contact
NORWESCAP at 908-782-0612 or 888-454-4778.
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
This program is designed to help people afford home heating and medically necessary cooling costs.
You can qualify for LIHEAP if you are the head of household and have an individual income less than
$1,862 per month or $2,522 per month for a couple. The amount of the LIHEAP heating benefit is
determined by income, household size, fuel type and region. To download an application online please
visit www.energyassistance.nj.gov, or call 1-800-510-3012 Monday through Saturday, 9:00am –
5:00pm, or dial 2-1-1 any time of the day or night.
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF) PROGRAM
 Housing Assistance
 Housing Production
 Energy Assistance
 Community Services
 Neighborhood Programs
USF helps make energy bills more affordable for low income customers. If you are eligible, USF can
lower the amount you have to pay for natural gas and electricity. Credit on natural gas or electricity is
provided to low income persons year round. The LIHEAP application is also an application for the USF.
To be eligible, household gross income must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty level, and
paying more than 3% of its annual income for electric, or more than 3% for natural gas.
For additional information, call 888-454-4778 or 866-240-1347, or go to www.energyassistance.nj.gov.
USF FRESH START PROGRAM
If you have a balance of $60 or more on your energy bill as you enter the USF Program, you may be
eligible for additional benefits under the NJ Fresh Start Program.
The Fresh Start Program is a component of the USF program and is only available during your first
year of participation in USF. Fresh Start is a partnership between the customer and USF to forgive
past-due balances and improve your payment record. Participants must pay their current USFsupplemented bill on time and in full every month, and after 12 months of full on-time payments, the
pre-USF program overdue balance will be erased. If you are eligible for Fresh Start when you enroll in
USF for the first time, you will be automatically enrolled by your energy company and will be sent
additional information about how the Fresh Start program works. For more information call
1-866-240-1347.
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP)
HEAP helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills; makes provisions for
emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance. Please call 1-800-510-3102 for
more information.
TEMPORARY RELIEF FOR UTILITY EXPENSES (TRUE) PROGRAM
This is a one-time assistance program to help low or moderate income households across New Jersey
experiencing economic hardship and struggling to pay electric and natural gas bills. Maximum grant is
$750 for electric and $750 for gas service and is allocated on a first come, first serve basis. To be
eligible you must be a NJ resident who did not receive help from USF (Universal Service Fund) and
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in the last 12 months. You must also provide
documented notice of overdue payment for gas and/or electric service and have a past history of
making regular payments toward your utility bills. Please call 732-982-8710 for additional information.
NEW JERSEY STATEWIDE HEATING ASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL ENERGY SERVICE, INC.
(NJSHARES)
NJSHARES is an energy assistance program that assists households who do not qualify for federal or
state energy programs and whose income does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. Eligibility
is determined by income and household size. Maximums are $700 for heating and $300 for electric
service grants. You must first apply to the Temporary Relief for Utility Expenses (TRUE) Program
before being considered for NJSHARES.
WINTER TERMINATION PROGRAM
In effect November 15th through March 15th this program prevents residential gas and electric
customers who participate in Lifeline, LIHEAP, WFNJ/TANF, SSI or PAAD, and those who are unable
to pay their utility bills due to circumstances beyond their control such as unemployment or illness, from
having their gas or electric service disconnected during the winter months. Please call 1-800-624-0241
for additional information.
COMFORT PARTNERS
This program is designed to improve energy affordability for households who earn less than 225% of
the federal poverty level. Program objective is accomplished through the direct, free of charge,
installation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures (efficient lighting products); personalized
customer energy education and counseling; replacement of inefficient refrigerators; thermostats;
insulation upgrades (attic, wall, etc.). Please call JCP&L at 1-888-773-8326 or your local utility company
for additional information.
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY INDIVIDUAL UTILITY COMPANIES
•Elizabethtown Gas
For information regarding budget payment plans, energy assistance, deferred payment arrangements,
and third party notification program please call 1-800-242-5830.
•Jersey Central Power and Light Company (JCP&L)
For information regarding equal payment plan, extended due date, extended payment plan, or military
deferred payment program please call 1-800-357-2262.
•NJ Natural Gas
The Gift of Warmth fund, administered through local Community Action Program (CAP) agencies, was
established by NJ Natural Gas to help customers with financial difficulties (including temporary
unanticipated financial hardship), who cannot afford to pay their energy bills. Please call 1-800-2210051 for information regarding: third party notification, budget plan, deferred payment arrangements,
and life-sustaining equipment continuation during a disruption of gas services. Restoration of your
service will be a top priority.
Raised markings can be placed on gas ranges and heating thermostats free of charge to help visuallyimpaired customers regulate their appliances accurately and safely. NJ Natural Gas also offers bills in
Braille. Call the Customer Services Inquiry Center at 1-800-221-0051.
Hearing and speech impaired customers who have access to teletypewriters (TTYs) may call a special
toll-free number: 1-800-223-0024. TTY service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
•Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G)
Please call 800-436-PSEG (7734) for information regarding equal payment plan, third party notification
and life-sustaining equipment program. If you or a loved one uses a respirator, dialysis machine or
other type of life sustaining equipment at home, you can receive priority restoration if the power goes
out.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
6 Park Avenue
908-782-7905
Catholic Charities provides one time emergency assistance for utility payments, as well as for car
repairs, prescription assistance, and child care payments. This vital agency administers the NJ Natural
Gas Gift of Warmth fund.
VERIZON NEW JERSEY’S COMMUNICATIONS LIFELINE AND LINK UP AMERICA
In an emergency, who can afford not to have a telephone? Now, for those in need, Verizon
Communications makes residential telephone service more affordable in its’ service area by offering
Communications Lifeline service for qualified, low-income customers. Verizon New Jersey partners with
NJ SHARES for Communications Lifeline outreach and enrollment efforts. Through Communications
Lifeline, existing Verizon residential customers may be eligible to receive discounted local telephone
service. You can call Verizon at 1-800-427-9977 to establish or change your phone service. You will be
asked to provide proof of income. For additional information please visit www.verizon.com/nj.
You are eligible if no one claims you as a dependent on his or her income taxes (unless you are at least
60 years old) and you receive benefits from one of these programs:
 Medicaid
 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
 General Assistance (GA)
 Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Lifeline Utility Credit/Tenants Lifeline Assistance
 Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)
 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/WorkFirst New Jersey (TANF/WFNJ)
OR, if you are age 65 or over and are not participating in one of the above programs and your annual
income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty income level, then you qualify for Communications
Lifeline. You can call NJ SHARES at 1-888-337-3339 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm for
questions or information on enrollment.
NJ LIFELINE PROGRAM
NJ Lifeline Program is funded from the New Jersey General Fund and provides credit on electric or
natural gas bills of $225 per year to disabled and senior homeowners and tenants. This includes utility
customers as well as tenants whose utility bills are included in their rent.
Lifeline consists of three programs:
 Lifeline Credit Program provides a $225 credit on electric and gas utility bills for eligible
beneficiaries.
 Tenants Lifeline Assistance Program provides a $225 check to eligible tenants who have the
cost of gas and electric utilities included in their rent.
 Special Utility Supplement provides a supplement of up to $18.75 a month to recipients of
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in place of a Lifeline Utility credit or Tenants Lifeline
Assistance payment.
Only one tenant in a household is entitled to this assistance. You are eligible for the Lifeline benefit if
you are a recipient of Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD). Persons applying
for PAAD will also apply for their Lifeline benefit by answering the questions that pertain to the Lifeline
programs. Persons who are beneficiaries of Medical Assistance to the Aged (MAA), Medical Assistance
Only (MAO), or New Jersey Care, are sent Lifeline applications automatically every August.
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) should NOT file an application for Lifeline. The
Lifeline benefit is automatically included in the SSI checks. Your Lifeline benefit provides for only
electricity and natural gas. Other fuels, such as bottled or propane gas, oil, coal, or wood, are NOT
covered. If you pay utility bills directly to a single utility company, a $225 credit will appear on your utility
bill. If you receive service from two different companies, the $225 credit will be divided equally between
the two utilities. If the cost of your utilities is included in your rent, you will receive a check for $225.
Your Lifeline application pertains only to your primary place of residence. Seasonal or temporary
residence in New Jersey is not considered a primary residence. When two or more persons share a
single household, Lifeline will only accept one application from that household. The application must be
in the name of the person whose name appears on the utility bills or the lease.
If you pay utility bills to two different companies (with one bill in your name and the other in your
spouse's name) you must report this on your application. Your Lifeline credit will be divided equally and
applied to each account. Please call 1-800-792-9745 or visit their Website at:
www.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits/lifelinedetai/shtml.
COMCAST
Comcast has introduced a new service tier, one that is designed to bring the Internet to families that
would otherwise be unable to pay $40 to $60 for the company's lowest tiered plan. Dubbed "Internet
Essentials," Comcast's new plan will cost a family only $9.95 per month for a connection that features
1.5 Mbps download and 384 Kbps upload speeds. There is a guarantee of no price increases after-thefact, as well as no activation fees or equipment rental fees for families signed up for the program.
Enrollees will even be able to purchase a netbook computer via the Internet Essentials program for
$149.99 (plus tax), and Comcast is offering free online and in-person "Internet training."
Families have to meet four different criteria:
 They have to be located in an area where Comcast can actually deliver Internet service
(obviously);
 One of their children has to be receiving free school lunches via the National School Lunch
Program;
 Families must not have had Comcast Internet service up to 90 days prior to requesting to join
the program; and
 Families must not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned Comcast equipment.
For parents looking to enroll in the program, call 1-855-846-8376. For educators or community-based
program leaders, visit: www.InternetEssentials.com/partner.
CENTURY LINK
Lifeline from CenturyLink is a federal assistance program that can help you save on your monthly local
phone service. CenturyLink also provides Internet Basics, a federal assistance program for high-speed
Internet service. The Federal Communications Commission is taking a leadership role in bringing highspeed Internet and broadband services to more low-income families. To support this effort, CenturyLink
is offering discounted high-speed home Internet service, an affordable Internet-ready computer, and
free technology training and computer classes to help eligible families in Hunterdon County get online.
Eligibility is based on the FCC’s existing low-income Lifeline program. Home Internet rates start at
$9.95 a month plus taxes and fees with a 12-month commitment. Internet Basics is not a school
program and is not endorsed or required by a school district.
For additional information, please call CenturyLink at 908-782-4338 or 800-257-3212. or stop in at the
store near Five Below in The Shoppes at Flemington. Please also visit:
http://www.centurylink.com/home/internetbasics/.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES--TIPS TO SAVE ENERGY TODAY
Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems
efficiently.
Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, and
your computer and monitor.
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on light bulbs, home appliances, electronics, and other products.
ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when
the equipment is not in use--TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power.
Take short showers instead of baths and use lowWash only full loads of dishes and air dry instead
flow showerheads for additional energy savings.
of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
Wash only full loads of clothing and air dry.
Lower the thermostat on your water heater to
120ºF.
Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home.
Drive sensibly; aggressive driving such as speeding, and rapid acceleration and braking, wastes fuel.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RESOURCES
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)
Free tax preparation, done in partnership with the IRS, is available for eligible low to moderate wage
earning individuals and families. IRS-certified volunteers provide basic tax preparation and can assist in
the claiming of tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
By claiming these credits and splitting refunds, individuals and families have more money to pay bills,
pay down debt, etc. In 2011, over $423,000 in refunds benefited local families and the local economy. If
you are interested in receiving free tax preparation, please contact 2-1-1.
If you are a senior or permanently disabled and you own your home, you may be entitled to property tax
reduction also referred to as a “senior freeze”. This is NOT a homestead rebate program. Ask your
Volunteer Income Tax Assistant to refer you to our local Senior Services, which will provide you with
detailed information on how you might save thousands of dollars in taxes.
The military also has a strong Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The Armed Forces
Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Coast Guard. The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and
serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families. Airmen,
soldiers, sailors, marines, guardsmen, and their families worldwide receive free tax preparation
assistance at offices within their installations. These VITA sites provide free tax advice, tax preparation,
and assistance to military members and their families. They are trained and equipped to address
military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the new Earned Income
Tax Credit (EITC) guidelines.
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate
income working individuals and families. Taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax
return, even if they did not earn enough money to have a filing requirement. If you are under 65 years
old and permanently disabled, your disability income from a former employer may qualify you for an
Earned Income Credit. Ask your Volunteer Income Tax Assistant for details. If you are a single parent
and your child is being listed as non-dependent, send in a paper tax return to the state of New Jersey to
be eligible for credit.
To qualify, you must file a federal and state tax form. Individuals and married couples filing jointly are
eligible. To check income levels, call 1-800-829-1040 or go to www.njeitc.com. To make an
appointment, call 2-1-1.
What should you bring with you to the tax site?
• Social security card or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) card for all individuals listed
on return, in addition to birthdates for you, your spouse and dependents;
• Proof of identity;
• Copies of ALL W-2, 1098, 1099 forms;
• Banking information (voided check and/or savings deposit slip) for direct deposit of refunds;
• If e-filing a joint return, both spouses must be present to sign the return;
• Amounts/dates of estimated or other tax payments made, etc.;
• Child care provider’s identification number;
• Amounts of other income.
For all individuals filing tax returns, make sure you let your preparer know if you rent or own your home
because you may be entitled for credit or a rebate.
CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT
If you paid someone to care for your child, spouse, or dependent last year, you may be able to claim
the Child and Dependent Care Credit on your federal income tax return. The IRS wants you to know
about claiming a credit for child and dependent care expense--for example:
•
•
•
The care must have been provided so you --and your spouse if you are married filing jointly-could work or look for work.
Your filing status must be single, married filing jointly, head of household or qualifying widow(or)
with a dependent child.
The qualifying person must have lived with you for more than half the year. There are
exceptions for the birth or death of a qualifying person, or a child of divorced or separated
parents.
For additional qualifiers for the Child and Dependent Care Credit, see Publication 503, Child and
Dependent Care Expenses. You may download these free publications from www.irs.gov or order them
by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
Note: Additional Child Tax Credit: If the amount of your Child Tax Credit is greater than the amount of
income tax you owe, you may be able to claim the Additional Child Tax Credit. The tax credit
application form is also available at www.irs.gov.
HUNTERDON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Community Services Building
6 Gauntt Place
PO Box 2900
908-788-1300 (Phone)
908-806-4718 (TDD)
The Hunterdon County Division of Social Services administers mandated federal and state public
assistance programs as well as other family counseling programs. Please contact the Division at the
number listed above for information on programs and services.
FAMILIES FIRST CARD ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT)
EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. Through the Electronic Benefits Transfer System, the
Division has created a "Families First" debit card that is utilized by WorkFirst NJ (WFNJ) recipients to
purchase food and to access cash benefits for items that cannot be paid for with food stamps. WorkFirst NJ GA clients receive these benefits via check. The EPT card is similar to a bank card, with a
secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use the benefits that are deposited into an account just
for you. It is time and cost effective for merchants because it eliminates the use of food coupons.
Moreover, the system has proven helpful in preventing fraud associated with food stamp trafficking.
At some stores, you can use your card to withdraw your cash benefits.
Before you begin shopping, make sure the store accepts the card; look for the Quest® logo in the
windows or on the doors at the store. If you don't see the Quest® logo, go to the courtesy counter and
ask if the store accepts the Families First card.
KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM
This program provides the opportunity for relatives who have a child in their care to easily access
information regarding assistance and services available to them. These services include: information
and referrals, child care subsidies, wrap around services (i.e. furniture, suitable housing, legal
services), and subsidy program which provides a monthly subsidy for children living with caregivers
who acquire Kinship legal guardianship.
General eligibility requirements: people who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their relatives'
children; these children might be the caregiver's siblings, nieces, nephews, or, most often,
grandchildren. For income requirements please visit the NJ HELPS Website at: www.njhelps.org.
To access the Kinship Navigator Program’s Website, go to:
www.state.nj.us/humanservices/sp&i/Kinnav.html. To speak to a staff member at the Navigator
Program please contact the Division of Family Development at:
New Jersey Department of Human Services
PO Box 716
Trenton, NJ 08625
1-877-816-3211
NORWESCAP FAMILY LOAN PROGRAM
Working families that are within 250% of poverty guidelines are eligible for a two year low-interest loan
program to purchase or repair a vehicle, pay for child care, pay for employment related expenses, or
housing costs. For additional information please call 908-859-1777 or 1-800-480-8662.
WORKFIRST NEW JERSEY
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA)
The state's welfare reform program, WorkFirst NJ, emphasizes work as the first step toward building a
new life and a brighter future. Its goal is to help people get off welfare, secure employment and become
self-sufficient, through job training, education and work activities.
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR CREDIT COUNSELING--DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN
If you have severe debt, you may be eligible to enroll in a Debt Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is a
systematic way to pay down your outstanding debt through monthly deposits to your credit counseling
agency, which will then distribute these funds to your creditors. By participating in this program, you
may benefit from reduced or waived finance charges and few collection calls. When you have
completed your payments, they will help you reestablish credit. It takes approximately 36-60 months to
repay debts through a DMP. Your accounts with creditors will always be credited with 100% of the
amount you pay through an NFCC Member Agency. A DMP serves the dual role of helping you repay
your debts while creditors receive the money owed to them.
For those with considerable debt problems, entering into this Debt Management Plan is an effective first
step on the road to a financially stable, debt-free life. To obtain free copies of your credit report, please
visit www.annualcreditreport.com. Call the National Federation for Credit Counseling at 1-800-388-2227
or visit online at www.nfcc.org to find a Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) near you. The
majority of CCCS services are provided at no or low cost to clients. CCCS advises you on managing
your money, offers solutions to your current problems and develops a personalized plan to help you
prevent future difficulties.
HUNTERDON COUNTY DIVISION OF SENIOR, DISABILITY AND VETERANS SERVICES
For information on the programs and services available for seniors in Hunterdon County, please
contact:
Hunterdon County Department of Human Services
Division of Senior Services
908-788-1361
(877-222-3737 Toll Free)
908-806-4537 (Fax)
8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday
Email: [email protected]
CHILD CARE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
908-782-7905
Catholic Charities offers Regional Aftercare Program Services (RAPS), an independent living program
for aging-out youth active with the Department of Children Protection and Permanency (DCPP),
formerly known as the Division of Youth and Families Services (DYFS). This program offers skills
building and case management; there is no fee and referrals are restricted to DCPP.
HAND-IN-HAND CHILD CARE CENTER AND LAMBERTVILLE ACADEMY
50 York Street
609-397-8477
Hand-in-Hand Child Care Center and Lambertville Academy are programs of Fisherman’s Mark. They
provide year round pre-school child care, before and after-school care, full day school-age program
during holidays, vacations, and weather closings. The programs provide both a social and academic
curriculum, along with free play time, arts and crafts, outdoor play, reading and games, science
experiments and field trips.
HUNTERDON COUNTY HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START
908-454-8830/908-689-4668
This program, available to pregnant women and children ages birth through five that meet 100% of
federal poverty guidelines, offers full-day programs, part-day programs or home-based programs that
provide a caring, supportive and highly qualified staff and environment. It also provides:
 An opportunity for parents to participate in program planning, set goals for themselves and plan
for their future
 Health professionals that can offer guidance to parents in providing for all the necessary needs
of children
 Home visits with a pediatric nurse
 Inclusive educational services for children with disabilities
 Parenting classes and an opportunity to help parents understand common concerns such as
child discipline, child growth and development
 Support for pregnant women
 Parent education programs
 Transportation
HUNTERDON COUNTY YMCA
Financial Assistance Applications are available at:
Hunterdon County YMCA
144 W. Woodschurch Rd.
For additional information, please call:
Deer Path Branch – 908-788-1030
Round Valley Branch – 908-236-0055
[email protected]
NORWESCAP CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R)
908-782-8183
This program offers child care resource and referral services to parents and guardians free of charge,
and training and technical assistance for early childhood professionals and parents. There are no
eligibility requirements.
NORWESCAP TRANSITIONAL CHILD CARE (TCC)
908-782-8183
TCC is a child care subsidy program to assist working individuals/families pay for child care expenses
up to 24 months, remain off of cash assistance and become self-sufficient. Working Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients are eligible for this program.
NORWESCAP CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA)
908-782-8183
CDA, a one hundred twenty-hour class covered over a 10-month period, is a credential issued by the
Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C.,
NORWESCAP FAMILY CHILD CARE REGISTRATION PROGRAM (FCC)
908-782-8183
FCC, open to residents of Hunterdon County, is a voluntary registration program for those individuals
interested in providing child care in their residence.
For information on additional programs available through NORWESCAP please call 908-782-8183.
NEW JERSEY CARES FOR KIDS (NJCK)
This program assists families with paying for child care by providing child care subsidies and provides
resource and referral services to help parents know what to look for when searching for care. Agencies
also promote higher quality of child care operations and the development of additional child care
services.
Working families with low to moderate-incomes can receive help with child care costs for their children,
birth through 12 years of age. Single parents or both parents in two parent families must be employed
on a full-time basis (30 or more hours per week). Caregivers selected by the parent must be approved,
registered or licensed and meet applicable state requirements. A waiting list currently exists for this
service. Fees are co-pay based on family size and income, and general requirements include postTANF and low-income individuals. For additional income and eligibility requirements, please visit
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/chldca.html.
CHILD CARE HELPLINE
Working parents with incomes at or below $29,420 per year for a family of two, or $37,060 per year for
a family of three, can receive assistance for child care. To learn more about this program and to find out
if you may be eligible, call the Child Care Helpline at: 1-800-332-9227.
HEALTH CARE RESOURCES
NJ FAMILYCARE (HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN)
NJ FamilyCare is a federal and state funded health insurance program created to help New Jersey's
uninsured children and certain low-income parents and guardians to have affordable health coverage. It
is not a welfare program. NJ FamilyCare is for families who do not have available or affordable
employer insurance, and cannot afford to pay the high cost of private health insurance.
NJ FamilyCare offers health care coverage through established Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMO’s) that operate throughout the state. NJ FamilyCare covers just about every health care need,
including: doctor visits, x-rays, eyeglasses, prescriptions, hospitalization, mental health services, lab
tests, dental (for children), and specialist visits.
Children in families with incomes at or below 350% of the federal poverty level (under $78,225 per year
for a family of four) are eligible. Even if your income is higher, your child may still qualify for low-cost
health insurance through NJ FamilyCare Advantage. Call 1-800-701-0710 or visit www.njfamilycare.org
to apply.
Families who earn too much to qualify for NJ FamilyCare can purchase health insurance for their
children at reasonable rates through the NJ FamilyCare Advantage Program administered by Horizon
NJ Health, if they qualify. For more information, please visit
www.horizonnjhealth.com/ourplans/njfamilycareadvantage/about-plan-affordable-health-care-yourchildren.
VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM
Children without health insurance are eligible to receive low-to no-cost vaccinations through this
federally funded, state-operated vaccine supply program that provides pediatric vaccines at no cost to
doctors who serve children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of any inability to pay.
To find a location near you, please check with your physician’s office, county or local health
department, community health center, or NJ FamilyCare provider (www.njfamilycare.org).
STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SHIP)
Hunterdon County Division of Senior Services
6 Gauntt Place
PO Box 2900
908-788-1361
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey Medicare
beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about, their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide
program sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services with major funding
from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Medicare beneficiaries frequently have questions about benefits and claims, supplement policies, and
long-term care insurance. Volunteer counselors, trained in areas of health insurance coverage and
benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries, provide information and assistance for dealing with claims
and in evaluating health insurance needs.
Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, or endorse any specific insurance
product, agent, insurance company, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider
Organization (PPO), or Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan. They provide information and assistance
so that you can make your own decisions. Counseling is free of charge.
NJ PROTECT--A NEW, MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION
NJ Protect is a new health insurance option for uninsured New Jerseyans with pre-existing medical
conditions. Coverage through NJ Protect will generally cost less than comparable individual health
insurance and offers superior benefits. Because the program is federally subsidized, treatment for preexisting medical conditions will be covered as of the day a policy goes into effect, and preventive care
will be covered at no out-of-pocket cost to the policyholder.
NJ Protect is offered by two carriers: AmeriHealth of New Jersey and Horizon Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of NJ. For additional information, including eligibility requirements, or to download an application,
please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_insurance/njprotect/index.htm.
GLOBAL OPTIONS (GO) FOR LONG-TERM CARE--WHAT IS THE GO WAIVER PROGRAM?
Seniors, adults with physical disabilities and their caregivers seeking information and access to GO, as
well as other state-funded or private pay home and community based long-term care services, can do
so by calling their local area Agency on Aging toll-free at 1-877-222-3737, or by visiting the Division of
Aging and Community Services’ Website at www.aging.nj.gov.
Who is eligible for GO? A GO individual is a person who is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien assessed
by a State Community Choice counselor or an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)
assessor as clinically and financially eligible for Medicaid nursing facility level of care. An applicant
must be 65 years or older, or between the ages of 21 and 64 who shall be determined disabled by the
Social Security Administration (SSA) or be determined disabled by the Division of Medical Assistance
and Health Services, Disability Review Section. Additionally, eligibility depends on whether there is an
indication that the participant will need the level of care provided in a hospital, a nursing facility or an
intermediate care facility in the near future (i.e., a month or less) unless he or she receives home and
community-based services.
HOSPITAL CARE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The New Jersey Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program (Charity Care Assistance) is free or
reduced charge care which is provided to patients who receive inpatient and outpatient services at
acute care hospitals throughout the State of New Jersey. Hospital assistance and reduced charge care
are available only for necessary hospital care. Some services such as physician fees, anesthesiology
fees, radiology interpretation, and outpatient prescriptions are separate from hospital charges and may
not be eligible for reduction.
The source of funding for hospital care payment assistance is through the Health Care Subsidy Fund
administered under Public Law 1997, Chapter 263. Hospital care payment assistance is available to
New Jersey residents who:
 Have no health coverage or have coverage that pays only for part of the bill; and
 Are ineligible for any private or governmental sponsored coverage (such as Medicaid); and
 Meet both the income and assets eligibility criteria.
The patient or prospective patient must apply for hospital care payment assistance at the hospital from
which he/she plans to obtain or has obtained services. The patient should apply at the business office
or admissions office of the hospital. For additional information, please call the Health Care for the
Uninsured Program during business hours at 1-866-588-5696.
EXTRA HELP
Do you know someone who needs help with prescription costs? Now, you can help someone you care
about apply for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Anyone who has Medicare
can get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some people with limited income and resources also are
eligible for Extra Help to pay for the costs--monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments--related to a Medicare prescription drug plan. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an
average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for Extra Help their annual income must be limited to $16,245 for
an individual or $21,855 for a married couple living together.
To apply, simply complete Social Security’s Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Costs (SSA-1020). For an online application visit: www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply or request an
application over the phone: call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
What documents can help you prepare in advance?
 Statements that show account balances at banks, credit unions, or other financial institutions
 Investment statements
 Life insurance policy statements
 Stock certificates
 Tax returns
 Pension award letters
 Payroll slips
TOGETHER RX ACCESS® CARD
Together RX is a free to obtain and free to use prescription card. You may be eligible if you meet the
three requirements for the Together Rx Access® Card:
 Not eligible for Medicare
 No prescription drug coverage (public or private)
 Household income equal to or less than
o $45,000 for a single person
o $60,000 for a family of two
o $75,000 for a family of three
o $90,000 for a family of four
o $105,000 for a family of five
Most cardholders save 25-40% on brand-name prescriptions. Visit TogetherRxAccess.com for the most
current list of brand-name medicines and products, for savings on a wide range of generics as well.
 Instant savings right at the pharmacy counter
 No maximum usage
 No hidden fee
 No monthly charge
 It’s fast and easy to apply:
o Over the phone at 1-800-250-2839
o Online at TogetherRxAccess.com
Please note: the Together Rx Access® Card is not an insurance card.
HELPING HINTS WHEN FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS
Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic
equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the
counter alternative is available.
Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several.
When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which
often charge lower prices.
FamilyWize®
These savings cards are being distributed through participating United Way partner agencies and other
organizations in their area for people with no or limited prescription drug coverage. There is no cost to
you or your family for this discount card and there are no enrollment or eligibility requirements. You can
then take these reusable prescription coupons to over 60,000 participating pharmacies for discounts on
all FDA approved medicines.
Free prescription discount cards are available at:
United Way of Hunterdon County
4 Walter Foran Blvd.
Suite 401
You can also text to get a drug card by texting the word "Family" to 700700. An electronic free
prescription card will be sent to your phone to show your pharmacist.
Please note: FamilyWize is not an insurance card. For additional information, please call 866-810-3784
or visit www.familywize.org.
SENIOR GOLD PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program (Senior Gold) is a state-funded prescription program with a
different co-payment structure and income eligibility guidelines than those of PAAD. You are eligible for
Senior Gold if you meet the following requirements:
 A New Jersey resident;
 65 years of age or older or 18 years of age or older and receiving Social Security Title II
Disability benefits; and
 Annual income for 2012 is between $25,312 and $35,312 if you are single or between $31,035
and $41,035 if you are married.
All Medicare-eligible Senior Gold beneficiaries are also required to enroll in a Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Plan of their choice. They will be responsible for paying the monthly premium directly
to the Medicare Part D plan. They also will be responsible for paying any late enrollment penalty
imposed by Medicare for each month they were eligible to enroll in Medicare Part D but did not enroll.
For more information call toll free 1-800-792-9745. NOTE: If you are under age 65 and receiving Social
Security Disability benefits on behalf of someone other than yourself, you are NOT eligible for these
programs.
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE AGED AND DISABLED (PAAD) PROGRAM
The Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) Program, the Lifeline Program, and
the Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (HAAAD) Program are three state programs with
similar eligibility guidelines.
You may be eligible for PAAD if you meet the following requirements:
 A New Jersey resident;
 65 years of age or older, or 18 years of age or older and receiving Social Security Title II
Disability benefits;
 Annual income for 2012 of less than $25,312 if single, or less than $31,035 if married;
 Medicare-eligible PAAD beneficiaries are also required to enroll in a Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Plan in New Jersey.
PAAD will pay the monthly premium for certain Part D plans with a monthly premium at or below the
regional benchmark or up to $5 above the benchmark amount that has no deductible. These plans will
cover medically necessary prescription medications under Medicare Part D. The federal Medicare Plan
and/or PAAD will pay any costs above the PAAD copayment of $5 for each covered generic drug or $7
for each covered brand name drug, including premiums. However, if a Medicare Part D plan does not
pay for a medication because the drug is not on its formulary, PAAD beneficiaries will have to switch to
drugs on their Part D plan's formulary, or their doctor will have to request an exception due to medical
necessity directly to their Part D plan. Medicare Advantage participants must add a prescription benefit
to their coverage, and PAAD will contribute up to the regional benchmark amount towards the
prescription portion of their total premium. To find out which basic Part D plans in New Jersey for which
PAAD pays the monthly premium, please call 1-800-792-9745.
For more information, visit http://www.state.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits/paaddetail.shtml or call toll free
at 1-800-792-9745.
DENTAL CARE: DONATED DENTAL SERVICES
This program is sponsored by the NJ Foundation of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, through
which volunteer dentists provide dental care for indigent disabled and elderly persons whose dental
needs have been neglected. For an application call 732-296-6717 (toll-free: 800-829-4619) or visit
www.dentallifeline.org.
NJDA SENIOR-DENT PROGRAM
This program’s objective is to increase the access of senior citizens to dental care. Persons having a
Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) card AND age 65 or older with annual
incomes of less than $20,989 (single persons) or $25,735 (married persons) that have no dental
insurance or Medicaid benefits are eligible for this program.
How to Apply: Call the State Division on Aging’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-792-8820 or send a postcard
or letter with your name and address to:
Senior-Dent
c/o New Jersey Dental Association
P. O. Box 6020
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
What you will receive:
 A list of dentists in your area that participate in Senior-Dent
 A letter that you must give to a participating dentist
 A minimum courtesy reduction of 15% from the fee of the practitioner on all services
You must obtain treatment from a participating dentist. You must give the dentist the eligibility letter that
is sent to you. Bring your PAAD card with you.
EYES HELPLINE
Medical eye care is provided by volunteer physicians affiliated with the National Eye Care Project.
Medicare and private insurance payment is accepted as payment in full. This program does not include
glasses, medications, hospitalization, or the services of other medical professionals. Emphasis is on
helping those without the means to pay. US citizens and legal residents 65 and over who do not have
access to an ophthalmologist are eligible for this program. Please call 1-800-222-EYES (3937).
HEARING AID ASSISTANCE TO THE AGED AND DISABLED (HAAAD)
Persons who are on the PAAD Program and have a medical need for a hearing aid verified by a
physician are eligible for this program, which provides a $100 refund after purchase of a hearing aid.
Please call 1-800-792-9745 or the Hunterdon County Office on Aging at 908-788-1361. For additional
information you can also visit: www.state.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits/haaad.shtml.
HUNTERDON MEDICAL CENTER "HOSPITAL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE"
This program provides hospital care at no or reduced cost to persons with no or insufficient health
insurance, whose assets are less than $3,000 for individuals and $6,000 for couples, and whose
income is shown on the eligibility chart for this program. For an application and eligibility chart, contact
Hunterdon Medical Center at 908-788-6194.
SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL (SMP)--THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT WORKS
Billions of federal dollars are lost annually due to health care fraud, error and abuse. Since 1997 the
Administration on Aging (AoA) has funded SMP projects to recruit and train retired professionals and
other senior citizens about how to recognize and report instances or patterns of health care fraud.
In addition they are made aware of how threats to financial independence and health status may occur
when citizens are victimized by fraudulent schemes. These SMP projects partner with the aging
network, as well as community, faith-based, tribal, and health care organizations. Together they utilize
a variety of outreach strategies to educate and empower their peers to identify, prevent and report
health care fraud.
The SMP program empowers seniors through increased awareness and understanding of healthcare
programs. This knowledge helps seniors to protect themselves from the economic and health-related
consequences of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, error and abuse. SMP projects also work to resolve
beneficiary complaints of potential fraud in partnership with state and national fraud control/consumer
protection entities, including Medicare contractors, state Medicaid fraud control units, state attorney
generals, the OIG and CMS.
The National Consumer Protection Technical Resource Center (the Center) provides training and
technical assistance to SMP projects, promotes national visibility and shares best practices. The Center
disseminates information for consumers and professionals and maintains the online SMP Locator.
SENIORS MEDICARE ASSISTANCE AND REPORTING TOOL FOR FRAUD AND COMPLAINT
TRACKING SYSTEM (SMART FACTS)
SMART FACTS is the web-based, nationwide data management tool used by the Senior Medicare
Patrol (SMP) to track and report activity related to simple inquiries, complex issues, outreach and
education and volunteer management. SMART FACTS provides SMPs with the ability to "report as
they go" by entering data that is used for required reporting to OIG and AoA and for additional SMP
use.
The SMP Resource Center provides SMPs with many resources and tools to help them succeed in
using SMART FACTS. SMART FACTS resources can be accessed by visiting:
secure.etosoftware.com/Login.aspx?ETO=smartfacts. For assistance with SMART FACTS, contact the
SMP Resource Center toll free at 1-877-808-2468.
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN NEW JERSEY (MHANJ)
For confidential mental health information and referrals during times of wide-spread disaster, call the
New Jersey Disaster Mental Health HelpLine at (877) 294-HELP (4357) or the TTY line for the deaf and
hearing impaired at (877) 294-4356.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) HUNTERDON, INC.
PO Box 229
908-284-0500
[email protected]
www.namihunterdon.org
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health
organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its
commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.
From its inception in 1979, NAMI has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families
affected by mental illness. Financial contributions allow NAMI to offer an array of programs, initiatives
and activities in support of the NAMI mission.
ANDERSON HOUSE, INC.
532 Route 523
PO Box 134
908-534-5818
Anderson House supports women as they develop the necessary goals and life skills to return to the
community as responsible, sober and productive individuals. With a success rate of 78-84%, Anderson
House is a well-respected halfway house program serving women from all New Jersey counties.
Anderson House is committed to serving all women regardless of their ability to pay. Everyone at
Anderson House is dedicated to making it the premier program in the state.
FAMILY RESOURCES
Many families throughout Hunterdon County struggle at the start of each new
school year with the expense of providing new school supplies for their children.
United Way of Hunterdon County started the Tools 4 School Program over 10 years ago with the goal
of providing families with financial stability so that they will not need to make hard choices between
buying school supplies and paying for food or rent. Each year this program has grown not only in the
number of students being aided, but also the community support for the program has steadily
increased. To be eligible students should NOT be on the Free/Reduced Lunch Price Program at school
as the schools will be requesting kits for these students. Please note that in order to serve as many
students as possible without the duplication of service, we will only provide kits to Hunterdon County
students whose school does NOT participate in the Tools 4 School Program.
The high cost of living in Hunterdon County makes it increasingly difficult
for low-income families, elderly residents and others with special needs to make ends meet when the
holiday season arrives. People served by the program request items that most would take for granted:
a warm winter coat or a pair of boots, a game or a book, a new toy for a child.
This program originally started in 1998 as a Caring Connections project that BOC Gases called
"Helping Hands". The program has evolved and continued to grow over the years as the need has
increased and more and more companies, organizations, schools and individuals become involved.
HUNTERDON HELPLINE
Hunterdon Helpline is a 24-hour hot line at 1-800-272-4630 for persons in need, and provides free
reassurance calls to homebound persons in Hunterdon County.
HUNTERDON HOSPICE
Hunterdon Hospice provides medical care of terminally ill persons, paid for by Medicare, plus free
volunteer assistance and counseling. Patients are referred to Hospice by their physicians due to
advanced illness and limited life expectancy. Please call 908-788-6600.
HUNTERDON COUNTY FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER
3 East Main Street
908-237-0465
The center is a family-oriented, neighborhood gathering place where all community residents can go for
support, information and services. The center will provide you with:
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Economic Self-Sufficiency
Housing-Related Services
Child and Maternal Health
Parent-Child Activities
Information and Referral
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Advocacy
Enhancing Skills for Life
Parent Education and Support
Family Success Plans
Home Visiting
ARC OF HUNTERDON COUNTY
8 Bartles Corner Road
908-806-2353
The Arc of Hunterdon County is a non-profit organization devoted solely to promoting the welfare of
persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and their families. The Arc offers a wide
array of services to individuals within Hunterdon County, including residential services, day program
services, recreation programs, case management services, respite, employment services, and many
more.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
6 Park Avenue
908-782-7905
Catholic Charities has many programs serving Hunterdon County, including:
 Child Assault Prevention Program (CAP)
 Comprehensive Treatment Program (COMP)
 Dually Diagnosed Developmentally Disabled Program (DDDD)
 Family Preservation Services (FPS)
For information on additional programs, please call the phone number provided above.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SOMERSET, HUNTERDON AND WARREN COUNTIES (JFS)
Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian social service agency whose purpose is to preserve and strengthen the quality of individual,
family and community life based on Jewish values. JFS provides:
 Family and Children’s Services
 Ohr Tikvah/Jewish Healing Services
 Senior Support Services
 Family Life Education
 Career Services
 Information and Referral
For additional information, please call 908-725-0284 or you may also email at
[email protected] .
JERSEY ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY CAREGIVING (JACC)
JACC is a state-funded program that provides a broad array of in-home services to enable an
individual, at risk of placement in a nursing facility and who meets income and resource requirements,
to remain in his or her community home. By providing a uniquely designed package of support for the
individual, JACC delays or prevents placement in a nursing facility. The service package provided is
based on an assessment of the individual's needs, unique care plan, and availability of services and
funding.
A JACC eligible individual is a New Jersey resident who:
 Is 60 years of age or older;
• Resides in a home that he/she owns or rents, or lives in an unlicensed home of a relative or
friend;
• Has no alternate means available to secure needed services and/or support;
• Has been determined to be clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care; and
• Is a United States citizen or a Qualified Alien;
and meets financial eligibility by:
•
•
•
Being financially ineligible for Medicaid or Medicaid waiver services;
Having countable monthly income that is no more than 365% of the federal poverty level
($3,398 monthly in 2012); and
Having countable resources at or below $40,000 for an individual or $60,000 for a couple.
All applications are processed through your local county New Jersey Easy Access Single Entry (NJ
EASE) Agency. For more information please call NJ EASE toll-free at 1-877-222-3737.
AIDS COMMUNITY CARE ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (ACCAP) WAIVER
The purpose of the waiver is to help eligible individuals to remain in the community or to return to the
community, rather than be cared for in a nursing facility or a hospital setting. To be eligible, adults must
be diagnosed as having AIDS, as must children between the ages of 13 and 18. Children under the age
of 13 must have a diagnosis of AIDS or HIV positive. Participants must be in need of institutional care
and meet, at a minimum, the nursing facility (NF) level of care criteria. Individuals who are categorically
needy (SSI or the Department of Children Protection and Permanency (DCPP), formerly known as the
Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), DCPP foster children) or optional categorically needy
(Medicaid Only) are served under the program.
Application for the program can be made to the Hunterdon County Board of Social Services. For
information on the Aids Drug Distribution Program, please visit: www.nj.gov/health/aids/freemeds.shtml.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) WAIVER PROGRAM
This program is designed to provide community alternatives for brain-injured individuals who are
currently in nursing facilities, or who are in the community and at risk for placement in nursing facilities
and who meet the established criteria stated below. The population served is primarily ambulatory
young adults with cognitive, behavioral and physical deficits who require supervised and supportive
care. Most individuals involved have either completed, or would no longer benefit from, a course of
intensive rehabilitation.
Individuals must be financially eligible under the New Jersey Medicaid institutional eligibility standards
for both income and resources and have been declared permanently disabled by the Social Security
Administration or by the DMAHS Disability Review Section. Individuals must meet nursing facility level
of care standards established by the state’s preadmission screening process and also meet the
following criteria:
st
 Diagnosis of acquired brain injury after their 21 birthday but prior to turning 65 years of age;
 Exhibit medical, emotional, behavioral and cognitive deficits;
 Have a rating of at least 4 on the Rancho Los Amigos Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale.
For further information please contact the Division of Disability Services located in Trenton at
609-292-4800 or toll free at 1-888-285-3036.
CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS IN CHILDREN RELIEF FUND
The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund is a financial assistance program for New Jersey
families whose children have an illness or condition otherwise uncovered by insurance, state or federal
programs, or other source, such as fundraising. The fund is intended to assist in preserving a family's
ability to cope with the responsibilities which accompany a child's significant health problems.
Although the program maintains confidentiality of all applicants, some families were willing to help
spread the word about the fund's availability. Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
Program at 1-800-335-FUND (3863), or visit www.njcatastrophicfund.org.
DR. ORLIE PELL FUND, INC.
Hunterdon County Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services, administers a safety net
fund for those individuals in need of food, clothing, utilities, prescription drugs, etc., who are ineligible
for other categorical assistance programs and services. Please call 908-788-1300 for additional
information.
LIFEBRIDGE FREE LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM
MassMutual's LifeBridge is a national philanthropic program in which the company issues 10-year term
life insurance policies to eligible working parents to help pay for the cost of their children's education in
the event they die. Through LifeBridge, $50,000 life insurance policies are issued to a trust on the life of
qualifying parents or legal guardians to help pay for the education of their eligible children who--in the
event of a parent's death during the policy's term--may not be able to afford to complete their schooling.
All premiums are paid entirely by MassMutual, with no fees ever for qualified parents or their children.
There is absolutely no cost to the insured for a policy under the LifeBridge program.
To be eligible to apply for a term life insurance policy under the LifeBridge program, applicants must be:
 Between the ages of 19-42;
 A permanent, legal U.S. resident;
 The parent or legal guardian of one or more dependent children under the age of 18;
 Currently employed--either full or part-time--and have a family income between $10,000 and
$40,000 on their most recent income tax return;
 The only family member who has applied for the LifeBridge program; and
 In good health, as determined by MassMutual's underwriting guidelines.
Each LifeBridge policy has a 10-year policy term. If the insured parent or legal guardian dies during that
time, the $50,000 life insurance benefit will be applied solely toward the education of the children. The
money will be paid to a trust administered by The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB on behalf of the
children. The trust will pay the educational expenses of the children directly to the educational
institution they attend.
For additional information please contact the MassMutual Financial Group at 1-800-767-1000 or visit
their Website at www.massmutual.com/lifebridge. You may also contact Emerald Financial Resources
at 908-704-1800.
EMPLOYMENT
HUNTERDON--FLEMINGTON ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER
215 Sand Hill Road
Bldg. 7-ESC Complex
www.careeronestop.org/
908-782-2371
Monday - Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
The One-Stop Career Center’s comprehensive employment and training services are designed to help
its customers achieve self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. Located throughout the state
and online at www.wnjpin.net, New Jersey’s One-Stop Career Centers offer a variety of services to help
people find a new job or career and learn the skills they need to succeed in today’s work environment.
Available job search services include workforce information, employer job listings, and online resume
and job match systems. In reemployment workshops, job seekers learn how to look for a job, what to
do at a job interview, and how to conduct a successful job search. Career assistance is available in the
form of career advice, training programs, and information about on-the-job training and apprenticeships
in many fields.
Employers want workers who can read and write English, use a computer and understand basic math.
You can put yourself in a better position to get a good job by learning these skills in the One-Stop
Career Center’s workforce learning labs. Most One-Stops have labs where you can use a computer to
improve your basic skills and prepare for the high school equivalency (GED) test. In these labs, you can
learn to read and speak better, learn math or gain basic computer skills. An instructor will get you
started, assist if necessary, and allow you to learn at your own pace using a computer.
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT TRAINING PROGRAMS
Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs are offered to eligible customers through the local One-Stop
Career Centers. These programs provide employment, education and training services to assist
customers in obtaining and retaining a job. Individuals are provided information on available jobs, job
skill requirements and training opportunities. Customer services include eligibility determination,
assessment of skills, provision of job market information, group and individual counseling, job search
and placement, short-term prevention services, literacy and adult basic skills training, on-the-job
training and occupational skills training.
The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center procures contracts to fund youth programming under
WIA. To qualify you must be:
 A resident of Somerset or Hunterdon County
 A United States citizen or eligible alien
 Between the ages of 16-21
 A resident of low-income household based on 70% of the lower living standard who possesses
one more of the following challenges:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Basic skills deficient (literacy and/or math)
School drop-out
Homeless
Runaway
Foster child
Pregnant
Parenting
Offender
And/or an individual (including youth with a disability) who requires additional assistance
to complete an educational program or secure and hold employment.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP TRAINING
The Workforce Development Partnership Training Program (WDP) provides individual training grants to
dislocated and displaced workers. The program enables New Jersey workers to upgrade their skills to
satisfy the pressing demand of business for a high quality labor force and to return to full employment.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING ACT (SEA)
The Self-Employment Assistance Entrepreneurial Training Act (SEA) provides counseling, technical
assistance and entrepreneurial classroom training grants to help individuals prepare to start their own
business. One-Stop Career Centers work with ten of the state's community colleges to provide SEA
classroom training.
If you are interested in the SEA program or in regular occupational training and would like to be
scheduled for reemployment opportunities, please contact:
One-Stop Career Center, Employment and Training Unit
215 Route 31 South, Bldg. 7-ESC Complex,
MONEY MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL EDUCATION LEADING TO FINANCIAL STABILITY/
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY IN ORDER TO MEET YOUR BASIC NEEDS
Establishing a relationship with a mainstream financial institution, such as a bank or a credit union,
provides families with an entry point to the financial mainstream, including the opportunity to save,
access affordable credit, and purchase assets. Families with access to basic banking products are less
likely to utilize financial services that charge high fees and interest fees, such as refund anticipation
loans and payday loans.
CREDIT UNIONS 101
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution in which individuals pool their money to provide loans
and services to other members. In the United States, credit unions are nonprofit entities, and their
cooperative structure is designed to ensure fair dealing. Additionally, anyone who belongs to a credit
union must first qualify to join under a particular institution's field of membership.
Why Join a Credit Union?
Because the users and members of the cooperative are the same people, the idea behind credit unions
is that they provide services that are tailored to the people who use them, rather than to driving profit for
the institution. In addition, each member of a credit union, no matter how small his or her holdings,
often has a voting share in the credit union's affairs. This ensures the organization's policies match up
with what members really want. In practice, credit unions offer the same services as banks and are
subject to federal regulations that are similar to those under which banks operate. However, because of
the democratic organization of these institutions, they are often able to offer higher interest rates and
lower fees than their corporate peers. Also, because credit unions are smaller--and often local-institutions, they may offer more personal customer service.
The Downsides to Credit Unions
That said, there are also drawbacks to banking with a credit union, which are largely related to these
institutions' smaller size. This includes fewer branches and ATMs, as well as a lack of or lower-quality
online banking options. In addition, although service at a credit union may be more personal, it will not
be as robust as the 24-hour customer service many big banks provide.
The Big Banks
While it's important to compare rates and fees between banks and credit unions when you're looking to
take out a loan or open a new account, what banks can provide over credit unions is more...of
everything. Banks are often much larger than credit unions, which allows them to offer much more
variety to account holders. Generally, a larger chain or national bank will have more loan and account
options. Plus, virtually all major banks offer excellent online banking and investment options, and as
mentioned previously, a very robust customer service department that can be reached at any time of
the day.
Are Credit Unions or Banks Better?
If you're looking for a loan or want to buy a certificate of deposit, it definitely makes sense to shop
around and include credit unions in your search. Whether you settle on a bank or a credit union
depends on your needs and what you value. For those who are looking for a checking and savings
account, a few money market investments and a simple loan or two, a credit union may suit them just
fine. Those with more high-powered portfolios may require the horsepower a bigger bank can provide,
like high-yield savings and money market accounts.
College/Savings 529 Plans
The difference between bank and credit union/savings’ bank/college savings plans: In a college savings
plan--529 Plan--your investment grows, is tax-deferred, and distributions to pay for beneficiary’s college
costs come out federally tax free. This gives a say in how the investment is used (more so than the
uniform transfers to Minor’s Act). Once you decide on what plan to use, complete a simple enrollment
form and make a contribution. Ongoing investment is handled by the plan, not by you. Plan assets are
professionally managed either by the state treasurer’s office or by an outside investment company hired
as the program manager. You won’t receive a form 1099 to report taxable or non-taxable earnings until
the year you make withdrawals.
NORWESCAP INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDA)
Families under 200% of poverty are eligible for this savings program that provides match dollars to
individuals enrolled that are saving for an approved asset goal. Please call 908-859-1777 or 800-4008662.
VOLUNTEER BILL PAYER PROGRAM FOR SENIORS
The Division of Senior Services, in coordination with AARP, offers a Volunteer Bill Payer Program to
seniors who need help with financial paperwork. If you are 60+ or disabled, with low income, and need
assistance with check writing, record keeping, and/or budgeting, call the Hunterdon County Division of
Senior Services at 908-788-1358 for more information on being partnered with a Bill Payer Volunteer.
ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT INSURANCE ESTIMATOR (EDIE)
Is all of your money protected? Visit EDIE The Estimator and find out today! EDIE is easy to use and
find and can help you make sure that all of the money you have in bank deposit accounts is 100%
FDIC-insured. If your money is fully insured, you cannot lose a penny because your deposits are
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. To save time, have with you a list of your
deposit accounts at your bank and the amount you have in each account. If you have joint accounts, or
trust accounts that name beneficiaries, have those names, too. Go to www.FDIC.gov/EDIE and click on
the “Use EDIE Now” button. Enter your information into EDIE; it is secure. In just a few moments, you
will know if you are safely within the FDIC coverage limits. If not, EDIE can guide you to information that
will help you. If you do not have online access, call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC for assistance.
$HOPPING AND $PENDING TIP$
At the store
*Resist impulse buying! Ask yourself:
-Do I really need it?
-Do I need it today?
-What if I don’t buy it now?
-Can I do this at a lower cost?
*Limit the cash you carry
*Shop with your budget in mind
*Avoid ATM fees
*Watch for sales, coupons and rebates
*Shop for value!
Food shopping
*Save money by eating at home
*Make a shopping list before you go!
*Watch for sales and coupons
*Buy products you use frequently in large
sizes or bulk quantities
Cell phone tips
*Shop for a package deal/ask questions
*Read the contract BEFORE you sign
*Understand the features and prices
*Watch out for high text messaging charges!
*Keep track of your usage!
*Pay your bill on time and in full
When making a major purchase
*Consider your needs/determine your budget
*Research before you buy:
-Try and inspect
-Product claims and return policy
-Warranty
-Comparison shop/ask family and friends
*Watch for sales, coupons and rebates
*Find the best overall value/confirm full price
*Speak to the manager to negotiate or if you have a
problem
Credit cards
*Get a credit card with a low annual fee and low
interest rate
*Don’t use a credit card if you can’t afford the price
*Pay your credit card bills on time
*Avoid cash advances
Keep track of your spending
*Keep your receipts
*Check receipts against statements
*Check statements against your budget
Take advantage of membership discounts
You may be eligible for discounts if you have a valid
student, military, or insurance ID, or other
organization memberships. Research the benefits
and ask stores what cards they honor for discounts.
Some grocery and drug stores offer savings cards for
customers.
Skip the rest to save for the best
Consider skipping a few low-cost purchases you
could do without in order to save for one item you
really value. For example, trade-off your next few
purchases of jeans and t-shirts to save for one nice
work outfit, or skip your visits to fast food restaurants
in order to afford one dinner at a top restaurant.
Bypass small luxuries (like fancy coffees and movie
rentals) for a few months and use the money to help
you afford one great travel experience (or pay a bill!).
Comparison shop online
Doing your research on the Web can save you time,
effort, and transportation costs.
Ask about employee discounts
Some stores and businesses offer their employees a
special discount on merchandise. You might consider
getting a seasonal job at a store where you plan to do
you holiday shopping, for example.
Find a creative way
Think about ways you might be able to obtain something
you want at a lower cost or even for free. For example,
you might be able to see a play or hear a concert by
volunteering to usher. Or you might get some friends
together in order to qualify for a volume or group
discount. Share a magazine subscription with a friend
rather than buying single issues off the rack. Read your
local newspapers for listings of free activities (movies,
concerts, events, etc.)!!!
DOLLAR$ AND $EN$E MAKES CENT$…
THAT ADD UP!!!!!
MONEY $AVING TIP$
Consider needs vs. wants. Think about the items you purchase on a regular basis. These add up. Where can you
save?
If you use check-cashing stores regularly, you might pay $3-$5 for each check you cash. This can easily add up
to several hundred dollars in fees every year. Consider opening a checking account at a bank or credit union.
If you get a raise or bonus from your employer, save that extra money.
If you have paid off a loan, keep making the monthly payments to yourself. You can save or invest the money for
your future goals.
If you receive cash as a gift, save at least part of it.
Avoid debt that does not help build long-term financial security, for example: a vacation, clothing, and dinners out
in restaurants. Debt that helps building long-term financial security includes: paying for education, buying or
remodeling a home, or buying a car to get to work.
Save change at the end of the day and deposit it into the bank (every week or month).
When you get a tax refund, save as much of it as possible.
Avoid refund anticipation loans.
Be sure to claim all your eligible tax credits and get your taxes prepared for free through a VITA tax preparation
site. You could save hundreds in tax prep fees and receive your return in only 7-10 days through direct deposit.
Dial 2-1-1 for the nearest VITA site.
MONEY $AVING TIP$ FOR TEEN$
8 IMPORTANT THINGS TO TEACH YOUR TEENS ABOUT FINANCES
BEFORE THEY LEAVE FOR COLLEGE OR LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.
Manage and balance a checking account.
You can use a checking account for managing day-to-day finances. Take cash or a check made out to the bank
or credit union to open an account and make your first deposit. Remember to take your social security number
and two or more forms of picture ID. You’ll receive a box of checks in the mail, preprinted with your name and
address, along with a check register to record your transactions. You’ll receive monthly statements. Get into the
habit of recording each check you write in your register, along with deposits and withdrawals. (You can also
record debit card use in your check register.) Write checks in ink. Store account information and checks in a safe
place. It’s your responsibility to keep track of your balance and make sure you have enough money to cover the
checks you write.
The consequences of misusing a checking account can be far greater than paying fees. If the bank decides you
have an excessive number of overdrafts, it may close your checking account. This could be reported to the credit
bureaus. A history of checking account abuse can prevent you from obtaining another checking account and
damage your credit history. Intentionally writing checks without enough funds to cover them is considered check
fraud--a serious crime.
Learn to use a debit card. Manage it like a check.
Sometimes called “check cards,” debit cards have credit card logos on them but are very different. Debit cards act
like a check, deducting the amount of your purchase from your checking account. There’s usually no interest
charged. You’ll be asked if you want one when you open your checking account.
You’ll receive the card in the mail. Your personal identification number (PIN) will come in a separate letter. On the
back of your debit card is a black magnetic strip. This is where the card stores your name, account number, PIN,
and financial limits. If you damage the strip, your card may not work anymore. Debit cards can be used in an
Automatic Teller Machine to withdraw cash. They can be used in a store to make a purchase. You can even get
cash back with many debit card transactions--a handy way of making a withdrawal along with a purchase.
Accurate record keeping is key. Whether you use the card to deposit, withdraw, or make purchases, make sure
you record what the transaction was and how much it was for. Your responsibilities with a debit card are virtually
identical to those of a checking account. If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately. Even without your PIN,
someone can steal and use your debit card. To prevent someone from attempting to use your card to make an instore purchase, simply write “photo ID required” instead of signing your name on the back of the card. If you
report it missing within two business days of noticing it’s gone, you’ll only be responsible for up to $50 of
unauthorized charges. Wait longer and you could lose more. Wait more than 60 days to report and you could be
liable for the entire amount.
Understand fees.
Banks and credit unions charge fees for providing services. It’s your responsibility to understand fees and when
they are applied to the services you use. Some savings and checking accounts have fees if minimum monthly
balances are not maintained, or on use of checks in excess of a certain number provided free with the account.
You may pay a fee if you exceed a certain number of withdrawals from a savings account. You will be charged to
use an Automatic Teller Machine, unless you use your financial institution’s own machines or those in a network
to which your bank or credit union belongs. If a check deposited into your account is returned for insufficient
funds, you will pay a fee. If you purchase your own checks from a commercial printer, you pay a fee. If you write a
check but don’t have enough money in your account to cover it, you pay a fee. If you ask your financial institution
to stop payment on a check, you will pay a fee. If you go over your spending limit, your credit card company will
charge you a fee. Many credit card companies charge annual fees for the use of their cards. If you fail to make
your loan payment on time (within the grace period), you will pay a late fee.
Create a budget.
A spending plan or budget is a plan for managing your money during a given period of time. It’s about making
smart choices so you can get the stuff you really want. It will help you find more money for the important things.
Keeping a spending log can tell you how you are currently spending your money.
$tep one: Identify all your income--any money you receive. Note: money from a job will have several
deductions taken out of it before you receive it. The amount after these deductions is called net income.
$tep two: Identify expenses. You may have fixed expenses, variable ones, and periodic or occasional
expenses. Savings, or paying yourself first, is an important part of your expenses.
$tep three: Use the information you’ve collected to build a budget. Set your financial goals. Are you
saving for something special? Subtract total expenses from total income. If the number is negative, go
back and adjust. If it’s positive, think about adding to your savings.
Are you set up to meet your goals? Budgets are not meant to be written in stone. Things change. Update your
budget as needed to keep pace with your changing income, goals and spending habits.
Save and invest--pay yourself first!
Right now, your biggest financial goal could be a new car. Later, you might want to think about saving for your
own home or graduate school. Then there is the huge financial goal of saving for retirement. Saving is what
people usually do to meet short term goals. Investing means setting money aside for longer-term goals. Saving
and investing for your financial goals makes you less tempted to spend your money! It’s not just sitting there
burning a hole in your pocket. The best reason to invest is that your money is actually making money for you. Any
interest or investment gains you earn get you that much closer to your financial goals. There are lots of free
resources available from which to learn the basics of saving and investing. Also, most financial institutions have
staff who are certified investment planners. You can make an appointment for a free consultation with one of
these professionals. They will talk with you about your goals and about the options available for investing in
yourself.
About Credit Cards
No one card is right for everyone. As a general rule, the right card for you is one that is accepted where you shop
and charges you the least amount of money (for example, in interest and fees) for the services you use. The
terms and conditions for credit cards vary, so it is important to educate yourself about the costs for any credit card
offer you are considering. Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions, legal disclosures, and credit card
agreement. To be a smart money manager, compare credit card offers just as you would car loans or home
mortgages. There can be a lot of features and fees to compare.
Use credit cards wisely
Good credit can be crucial to achieving your financial goals. While a debit card can give you access to your own
money, a credit card is a separate supply of money. When you use a credit card, you are taking a loan from the
company that issued the card. Your purchases are totaled and sent to you in a monthly bill. In most cases, if you
pay your bill in full and on time, you will owe no interest. Your current bank or credit union and retail stores are the
best place to get your first credit card. You will have to provide some basic information on an application,
including employer and annual income. Some stores will make a decision on the spot. Banks and credit unions
may make you wait a few days to learn if your application is approved. Every credit card has a credit limit--the
maximum amount you can charge on the card at any one time. As suggested with debit cards, simply write “photo
ID required” instead of signing your name to prevent fraudulent in-store purchases. If the card allows you to
withdraw cash, you’ll receive a PIN in the mail. You will pay interest immediately on credit card cash withdrawals-sometimes a higher rate of interest than for purchases.
When you make a purchase, your card is swiped through an electronic terminal. The charge is added to your
account, reducing the available credit left on your card. You are given a receipt for your purchase. Use the receipt
to reconcile your monthly statement. When you get your monthly bill, check to see that your previous month’s
payment has been credited to your account. Review all listed charges for accuracy. If you have a balance from
the previous month, your bill will display a finance charge added to your balance. Any payment is then deducted
from the total balance. Your credit card company won’t necessarily deny a charge that puts you over your credit
limit. It may accept it and then charge you an over-the-limit fee.
How long will it take me to pay off my credit card balance if I make only the minimum payment?
Visit the Federal Reserve Credit Card Repayment Calculator at
http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcardcalculator/. Based on the information you provide, the calculator will give
you an estimate of how long it will take you to pay off your credit card balance. The calculator assumes that you
make no more charges and that you make only the minimum payment each month. A second calculation can help
you develop a plan for paying off your balance sooner. Please use your most recent credit card bill. You may get
a more accurate estimate from your credit card issuer’s website.
Safeguard your identity
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, social security number, credit card number, or other
personal information without your permission. It can cause big trouble for you if your personal information ends up
being used for identity theft. Thieves can open credit card accounts in your name, write bad checks on the
account, forge your signature on blank checks authorizing electronic transfers that drain money from your
accounts, file for bankruptcy in your name, buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name, give your name to
police during an arrest, and change the billing address on your credit card account. And that’s just a start!
Protect your credit rating
A credit report tracks your success in managing money. Your financial habits can carry over and affect your ability
to get credit as an adult. That’s because a credit history follows you for the rest of your life. A credit report is a
record of your personal financial transactions. Lenders look at it to see how well you’ve managed credit in the
past. A credit score is a number that reflects your credit worthiness. To build a good credit history always pay your
bills on time, make regular deposits into a personal savings account, be choosy about applying for credit cards
and loans, and regularly pay off your credit cards so that your ability to do so is reflected in your record.
Credit reporting agencies, known as credit bureaus, sell credit report information to businesses interested in
finding out your credit worthiness. Lenders, apartment owners, cell phone companies, even employers look at
your credit history to evaluate you. Building a good credit history can smooth the way in many areas of financial
life.
MONEY $AVING TIP$ FOR $ENIOR$
IF YOU'RE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, EVERY PENNY COUNTS!
USE THIS CHECKLIST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE SAVING MONEY WHERE YOU CAN.
Current Expenses
Take the time to compile all of your current obligations (supplemental health insurance, prescription drug
insurance, life insurance, etc.) and examine if you have the most cost-effective plan for you and/or if all plans are
still relevant. Consult with a trusted information source before terminating plans. When assessing your
prescription drug plans, consider reaching out to your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP),
where you can get free information about Medicare, including applying for and selecting plans. Find your local
SHIP counselor for assistance.
Health Insurance
If you're enrolled in Medicare and have limited income and assets, you may be able to put over $100 back into
your monthly social security check and minimize your premiums and co-pays by learning more about Medicare
savings programs. There are four different Medicare savings programs that can help with Part B premiums and
other costs. Each program has a different income and resource eligibility limit.
Prescription Drugs
If you qualify, Medicare's Extra Help and local prescription drug assistance programs can help you cut your
medicine costs.
Property Taxes
Legally whittle down your annual tax bill with help from local abatement, circuit rider, or work-off programs. On
average, you can save $500–$2,000 annually with this assistance.
Phones
In many states, individuals over a certain age qualify for a free cell phone plan. Consider switching from a land
line to a free mobile phone. Lifeline also offers a discount on local phone services for qualified individuals.
Volunteering/Community Service
Get paid to give back--Senior Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provide
paid stipends for service.
Use Your Home to Stay at Home™
If you own your home, it's your biggest asset. Learn about timely and appropriate ways to leverage your home
equity to stay independent.
Senior Discounts
Many retailers offer discounts to older customers on certain days of the week. Consider making all your
purchases on that day, so you can receive an additional discount.
Estate Planning
“Must have” legal documents include a will for property distribution decisions, a living will for health care
decisions, and a durable power of attorney to designate a personal representative in the event of incapacity. Also,
consider a written plan for distributing untitled personal property (e.g., jewelry, furniture, and collectables) to heirs
or charitable organizations to reduce confusion and family conflicts.
TIPS TO BUILD YOUR CREDIT HISTORY
Loan Applications
Apply for a small loan at the bank, thrift, or credit union where you have checking and savings accounts.
Making a down payment
Make a large down payment on a purchase and negotiate credit payments for the balance. If you do not have
credit history but have a large down payment, there is less risk you will not make the payments. For example, if
you are buying a used car for $5,000 and have enough cash, you might consider making a down payment of
$1,000--$3,000. Although the loan will be very small, it can prove you make your payments on time. You might
ask a friend or relative, with an established credit history, to be a co-signer for you. A co-signer promises to repay
the loan if you don’t.
Bill Paying
Pay your bills on time. This will help establish a good credit history, so you can get credit in the future. You might
ask the lender to review your history of making rent and utility payments to demonstrate your ability to pay.
DAILY $PENDING DIARY
DAY
SUNDAY
WHAT DID I SPEND MY MONEY ON TODAY?
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER – SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON IS THE KEY TO MANAGING IT.
DEBT TO INCOME RATIO WORKSHEET
MONTHLY DEBT PAYMENTS
Monthly mortgage payment (include property taxes and insurance) or rent
$
Monthly home equity line of credit or loan payment
$
Monthly car payments
$
Monthly revolving credit payments (furniture, appliance loans, etc.)
$
Monthly student loan payments
$
Monthly minimum credit card payments times two
$
Other monthly loan amounts
$
Monthly child support payments
$
TOTAL MONTHLY DEBT PAYMENTS
$
MONTHLY INCOME
Monthly net (take-home) pay
$
Annual bonuses and overtime, divided by 12
$
Other annual income, divided by 12
$
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME
$
DEBT TO INCOME RATIO
Total Monthly Debt Payments Divided by Total Monthly Income =
Debt to Income Ratio
%
MONTHLY BUDGET
Item
Rent/Room and Board
1st Mortgage Payment
2nd Mortgage Payment/Equity Line
Real Estate Taxes/Local Taxes
Association/Condo Fees
Homeowner’s/Renter’s Insurance
Home Security System
Routine House Maintenance
Utilities – Gas
Utilities – Electricity
Utilities – Fuel/Oil/Propane
Utilities – Water and Sewer
Utilities – Phone
Utilities – Cell Phone/Pager
Utilities – Trash/Rubbish
Cable TV/Satellite
On-Line Computer Service Fee
Infant: Supplies/Diapers/Formula
Food Cost/Groceries
Lunches/Meals/Job/School
Dinners Out/Fast Food
Personal Items/Toiletries
Pet Food/Care/Vet
Auto Loan Payment 1
Auto Loan Payment 2
Auto Insurance (average monthly
cost)
TOTALS:
Amount
Paid
Monthly
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Item
Gasoline
Vehicle Maintenance/Oil
Public Transportation
Tolls/Parking
Alimony/Child Support
Child Care/Babysitter/Day Care
School Tuition/Fees/Books
Student Loans
Books/Magazines/Newspapers
Clothing
Dry Cleaning/Laundry
Insurance – Hospitalization
Insurance – Life and Disability
Doctor/Dentist/Nurses
Drugs/Medication/Eye Care
Personal Grooming/Hair/Nails
Contributions – Donations
Gifts/Holidays/Birthdays
General Recreation (i.e. movies)
Vacations/Trips/Lessons
Tobacco/Cigarettes/Alcohol
Emergency Savings
Family Allowances
Other
Other
Other
Amount
Paid
Monthly
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
PERSONAL BALANCE SHEET
ASSETS
Cash
If you have a checking account, what is your balance?
If you have a savings account, what is your balance?
What is the value of your primary residence?
If you have any other properties, what is the value?
Value of Automobile(s)
Value of Retirement Plan /401K
Cash Value of Life Insurance
Value of Investments: Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds
Value of Furniture/Jewelry/Computers/Tools
LIABILITIES
Balance on Mortgage Primary Residence
Balance on Second Mortgage Primary Residence
Balance on Mortgage – Other Residences
Balance on Auto Loans
Balance on Loans Against Insurance Policy
Total Balance on All Credit Cards
Loans to You From Your Family Members
Balance on Personal Loans
Balance on Any Taxes Owed
Balance on Student Loans
Balance on Collection Accounts
Balance on Medical/Dental Bills
Balance on Back Alimony or Child Support Owed
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
CHECK OUT THESE WEBSITES…
www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml
Federal poverty guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS). Visit this Website for current poverty guidelines.
www.mymoney.gov
MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's Website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial
education. Whether you are buying a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401K, the resources
on MyMoney.gov can help you maximize your financial decisions. Throughout the site, you will find important
information from 20 federal agencies and bureaus designed to help you make smart financial choices. Content
is organized by where you are in life ("Life Events"), who you are ("My Resources"), and by specific hands-on
tools ("Tools"). Popular Topics are also highlighted. This site provides summaries of resources available at other
official government sites and allows you to open those pages in a new window ("Learn More").
www.nfcc.org
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
As the nation's largest financial counseling organization, the NFCC member agency network includes more than
700 community-based offices located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. More than 3 million consumers annually
receive financial counseling and education from NFCC member agencies in person, over the phone, or online.
To locate an NFCC member agency in your area call 1-800-388-2227.
www.fdic.gov/consumers
The Consumer Protection section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers resources
including the quarterly FDIC Consumer News, which offers practical guidance on how to become a smarter,
safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to
protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.
www.njhelps.com/
The NJ Helps Department of Human Services home page is designed to give consumers a one-stop shopping
resource for the wide range of programs and services provided by DHS and its partners, to assist individuals,
families and communities in New Jersey.
www.mint.com
Personal Finance, Budgeting, Money Management ...It’s easy to understand what’s going on with your money.
Get a handle on your finances the free and fast way. Mint does all the work of organizing and categorizing.
HIGHER EDUCATION
TRANSITIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS
WORKFIRST NEW JERSEY (WFNJ)
New Jersey's welfare reform program, WorkFirst New Jersey (WFNJ) emphasizes work as the first step
toward building a new life and a brighter future. The goal is to help people get off welfare, secure
employment and become self-sufficient, through job training, education and work activities.
New Jersey's welfare program for families is known as WorkFirst New Jersey Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (WFNJ/TANF). WFNJ limits assistance to a maximum of five years over a participant's
lifetime, with certain exceptions. To receive assistance you will need to cooperate with child support
requirements if you have dependent children. You will have to work, actively look for work or participate
in an approved work activity. Note: the law provides that victims of family/domestic violence may be
granted waivers from certain requirements.
The Greater Raritan One-Stop employs two case managers to provide intensive services to customers
on public assistance. It also contracts with Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission to
provide job search/job readiness and community work experience to TANF recipients and supported
work to GA and SNAP customers.
WFNJ works:
 To help children by helping you get child support payments to care for your dependent children;
 Toward self-sufficiency by allowing you to keep more of your paycheck when you get a job;
 To keep you on the job by helping with child care, health care, transportation, housing and other
support services, if needed;
 For a brighter future for parents and children by keeping teen parents at home and in school.
HUNTERDON COUNTY POLYTECH CONTINUING EDUCATION
Polytech Career Academy is the county high school for career and technical education. Open to all
Hunterdon County students, the school has two campuses in Raritan Township: Bartles Campus off
Bartles Corner Road and the Central Campus next to the Hunterdon Central High School Field House.
Students attend their home high school for all academic requirements and are bussed to Polytech for
half-day programs. Polytech courses run for a full year and are 20 elective credits. Most students come
to the school beginning their sophomore/junior year due to the scheduling requirements necessary for
graduation.
The 11 core program areas allow students to explore technical and career options in a hands-on
environment. All programs offer college credits, licensing, credentials, skills or certifications. For more
information please contact Dan Kerry, Principal, at 284-1444, Ext. 2101. The programs at each campus
include:
Bartles Campus:
Education (Early Childhood and Teacher
Academy), Law Enforcement (Law Enforcement
and Criminal and Crime Scene Investigation),
Health Sciences (6 college courses/17 college
credits UMDNJ), Visual Communications
(Graphic Arts, Digital MultiMedia, Commercial
Arts--Advertising and 3D Computer Animation),
and Nursing (Nursing--Anatomy and Physiology).
Central Campus:
Automotive (Auto Tech, Auto Body Restoration
and Repair, Auto Services and Auto Services-Off Road), Career Exploration, Cosmetology
(Intro, 1, 2 and Completer), Culinary (Culinary
and Baking and Pastry), Building Technologies
(Construction Trades and Electrical/Energy
Technologies), and Pre Vet (Large Animals) and
Pre Vet (Small Animals).
GREATER RARITAN ONE-STOP CAREER TRAINING SERVICES CENTER WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA) AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (WDPP) TRAINING GRANTS
One-Stop Training Grant Orientation, which is the first step towards a customer securing a training
grant to help offset the cost of further training, is offered on a monthly basis at the public library in
Clinton (and on a weekly basis at the One-Stop in Somerville). After attending a Training Grant
Orientation, customers make an appointment with a career/vocational counselor who provides intensive
services, including support and career/vocational counseling. Once a customer has submitted required
documentation and has been determined eligible, paperwork is prepared for a contract for a training
grant. Funding for training grants is provided through either WIA or WDPP funding. WIA funding is for
adults, defined as unemployed or underemployed low-income individuals; and dislocated workers (DW)
defined as displaced workers that are from company closings, laid off, displaced homemaker or selfemployed with unlikely possibility of regaining employment. Training grants funded out of WDPP
monies are for customers who are dislocated workers in need of upgrading their skills or transitioning
into a new career.
WIA Youth Programs: The Career Center also procures contracts to fund youth programming under the
WIA. To qualify for the WIA Youth Programs you must be:
 a resident of Somerset or Hunterdon County
 a United States citizen or eligible alien
 Age 16-21
 Resident of low-income household based on 70% of the lower living standard who possesses
certain challenges such as basic skills deficient (literacy and/or math), school drop-out,
homeless, runaway, foster child, pregnant or youth with a disability, who requires additional
assistance to complete an educational program or secure and hold employment.
GREATER RARITAN ONE-STOP CAREER TRAINING SERVICES CENTER PHARMACEUTICAL NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANT (Pharma NEG)
TRAINING GRANT
The greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center, being one of two local areas selected, received a
Pharmaceutical (Pharma) National Emergency Grant (NEG) to serve displaced Pharma workers from
specific companies and locations. In addition to seeing Pharma customers in the office, Greater OneStop staff has been involved in outreach and marketing efforts with BIO NJ and Bio Space in order to
connect with prospective Pharma customers at locations such as Johnson & Johnson and Merck. OneStop staff has attended career information sessions and job fairs at various locations in an effort to get
information out about the grant and the services available to eligible customers. No customer has been
turned away for training due to lack of funding.
GEAR UP
(Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)
www.nj.gov/highereducation/gearup/
GEAR UP is administered by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and aims to increase
the number of low-income students who are entering and succeeding in postsecondary education. The
focus of the project is to work with middle and high school students, families, and teachers in order to
encourage students to obtain college degrees while providing a variety of support services such as
tutoring, summer programs, mentoring, counseling, test preparation, and college visits.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
HUNTERDON COUNTY POLYTECH
www.hcpolytech.org/hcpoly/
8 Bartles Corner Road
908-806-3855
THE COLLEGE BOARD
www.collegeboard.com
SAT I and II standardized tests
STUDENTS.GOV
www.students.gov
Career development advice, planning, and paying for higher education, U.S. government services for
students, and more….
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES (YES)
www.YEStoWORK.org
Career assessment and exploration; hands-on employment training; adult mentoring, guidance and
counseling; independence and leadership development.
SAVING FOR COLLEGE - HELPFUL WEBSITES
www.savingforcollege.com/financial_aid/
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
www.ed.gov/programs
Federal education initiatives and student financial aid programs, including federal grants
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY (HESAA)
www.hesaa.org/Pages/ApplicationsandFormsList.aspx
For information on grants, loans, scholarships, economic hardship, federal loan forgiveness and other
valuable resources.
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
COLLEGE ANSWER
www.collegeanswer.com
Steps in the financial aid process
FASTWEB
www.fastweb.com
Scholarship database
TUITION ASSISTANCE
FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
How to complete a free application for federal student aid
TUITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (TAP 529) EDUCATION TAX CREDITS
www.collegesavings.org/index.aspx
Qualified Tuition Programs (529 plans) - Earnings grow tax-deferred and distributions are tax-free when
used for qualified post-secondary education costs.
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
www.studentaid.ed.gov
Information on federal student financial aid programs and a link to the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.irs.gov
Visit this Website for more information on tax incentives for education (IRS Publication 970, Tax
Benefits for Higher Education).
SENIORNET
SeniorNet's mission is to provide older adults education for and access to computer technologies to
enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.
SeniorNet has benefited millions of seniors since its founding in 1986; supports Learning Centers
throughout the U.S. and in other countries; creates and publishes an extensive curriculum used in their
learning centers and a variety of other instructional materials; offers discounts on computer-related and
other products and services; holds regional conferences; and collaborates in research on older adults
and technology.
The SeniorNet website community at www.seniornet.org is a dynamic community of older adults who
are interested in exploring the uses of computer and communications technologies to enrich their own
lives and contribute to others. SeniorNet values the unique individual contributions that website
participants make in building the community.
TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
HART
Hunterdon Area Rural Transit - Promoting Sustainable Transportation
HART Commuter Information Services is a 501 (c)(4) non-profit corporation. HART is funded, in part,
by the Federal Highway Administration, NJ TRANSIT, Safe Routes to School, NJ Division of Highway
Traffic Safety and private funding sources. HART is dedicated to promoting sustainable transportation
in Hunterdon County by working with commuters, employers and communities. HART is governed by
an independent Board of Directors. For additional information, please visit their Website at
[email protected].
CARS/CARPOOLS - most often a reciprocal arrangement/shared responsibilities--not just
“giving someone a ride”
Volunteer Driver Program - Hunterdon County Department of Human Services
Available to seniors or people with disabilities--medical appointments only (in county, out of
county). Please call 908-806-4194 for more information.
BUSES
TRANSBRIDGE BUS - 908-730-6552
2 Commuter Services to NYC
 Doylestown/Frenchtown/New York
o Lambertville, Frenchtown,
Baptistown, Flemington, Three
Bridges
 Allentown/Clinton/New York
o Union Twp., Clinton
FLEMINGTON SHUFFLE - 800-842-0531
Designated routes serving Flemington/Raritan
 Route 19 – Weekday
 Route 20 – Evening
 Route 21 – Saturday
 No service Sundays
Fare: $2.00 per day, unlimited boardings
No need to schedule in advance unless you are a
first time rider. Discounted fares are available for
seniors, people with disabilities, or income eligible.
THE LINK - 800-842-0531
Hunterdon County’s Transportation System
Please visit www.ridethelink.com for
schedules/fares/inclement weather procedures
and rider tips.
CROSS COUNTY SERVICE - 800-842-0531
Serving all Hunterdon municipalities
All service is offered on a time, space and bus
availability basis.
 7:00am-7:00pm Monday-Friday
 No service Saturdays or Sundays
You must call by 12:00 noon the day before
travel is needed.
TRAINS
NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley Line
973-275-5555
www.njtransit.com
Weekday service to Newark Penn Station and to New York Penn Station.
No accessible rail service in Hunterdon County. On the NJ TRANSIT Raritan Valley Line, the
nearest accessible rail station is Plainfield.
Hunterdon County Stations
High Bridge
Annandale
Central Avenue and Bridge Street
End of East Street and Main Street
Free Parking at nearby NJ TRANSIT Lot
North of Routes 78 and 22
Info: High Bridge Borough 908-638-3455
Free Parking at station
Info: NJ TRANSIT 973-275-5555
Lebanon
Whitehouse
Cherry and Central Ave., ½ mile south of Route 22 Main Street, ½ mile south of Route 22
Info: NJ TRANSIT 973-275-5555
Info: Readington Township 908-534-4051
Connections from Raritan Valley Line
NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Morris and Essex Line Connects at Newark Penn Station.
Connects at Newark Penn Station.
Serving: Trenton, Princeton Junction, New
Serving: Hackettstown, Dover, Morristown,
Brunswick, Metuchen, Metropark, Elizabeth,
Gladstone, Summit, The Oranges, Newark,
Newark Int’l Airport, Newark, Secaucus Junction,
Hoboken, Secaucus Junction, New York.
New York.
PATH Rapid Transit System AMTRAK 1-800-234-PATH (7284)
1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245)
www.panynj.gov
www.amtrak.com
Connects at Newark Penn Station to Hoboken,
Connects at Newark Penn Station, Newark Airport
World Trade Center and Manhattan.
to Philadelphia, Boston, Virginia Beach,
Washington. See schedules for additional stops.
TAXIS
Although there are numerous taxi services in the Flemington/Raritan area, only three have been
verified/documented by HART.
Sample costs:
Flemington Taxi and Limousine
Day Time Rates (6:00am-9:59pm)
Minimum $5.00 for the first 2 miles of service. Each additional mile $2.00 per mile.
Night Time Rates (10:00pm-5:59am)
Minimum $8.00 for the first 2 miles of service. Each additional mile $4.00 per mile.
MEDICAL TRANSPORT
Able Medical Transportation: 800-323-ABLE (2253)
Eagle Medical Transportation: 908-730-8000
Logisticare of New Jersey Medicaid Transport: 866-527-9933 or visit facilityinfo.logisticare.com.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION - HOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS:
ANITA’S ANGELS
908-788-9390
www.anitasangels.com
COMFORT KEEPERS
908-806-2220
www.comfortkeepers.com
RIGHT AT HOME
908-281-7961
www.rightathome.net
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
908-788-6705
www.homeinstead.com
NJ FIND A RIDE
Go where you need to go!...whether it be work, school, grocery shopping, fresh air at the park, the
bank, church, or a haircut at the salon. Accessible transportation options are available to people with
disabilities in New Jersey that don’t have easy, reliable access to transportation. Please visit
www.njfindaride.org, or call 2-1-1.
GET THE PICTURE?…ABOUT BICYCLING AND WALKING, THAT IS!.... (Please visit these
Websites for safety tips.)
bicyclesafe.com
walking.about.com
MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE - SPECIFIC TO SENIORS
All participants of the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), Lifeline, or
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs are eligible for discounted registration fees. To claim
the exemption, present a copy of your current PAAD card, SSI card or proof of Lifeline eligibility. The
card must be in the name of the vehicle owner. If you need assistance, or have further questions about
this program, please call Motor Vehicle Services at 1-888-486-3339 or 609-292-6500 for general
customer information.
NEW JERSEY REDUCED FARE PROGRAM - SPECIFIC TO SENIORS AND DISABLED
People with disabilities and senior citizens age 62 and older are allowed round-the-clock discounts on
bus fares and trains. The fares are no more than one-half the regular one-way fare on all intrastate bus
and rail routes and most interstate bus and rail routes into adjacent states (e.g., New York,
Pennsylvania). Excluded are those not accepting the NJ TRANSIT round-trip excursion fare.
In order to be eligible for a reduced fare, elderly or people with disabilities must present either a valid
Medicare card or a Reduced Fare Program ID card upon boarding a bus or purchasing a train ticket.
Applications for a Reduced Fare Program ID card may be obtained from your Area Agency on Aging. At
age 65, all persons not possessing a Medicare card must submit an application to NJ TRANSIT for a
(new) Reduced Fare Program ID card whether or not they had one previously. Senior citizens 65 or
older must reapply every four years for an ID card.
People with disabilities under age 62 who do not have a Medicare card should write to the Reduced
Fare Program, NJ TRANSIT, 180 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040, for an application. This form
must be completed by the applicant and a physician and returned to NJ TRANSIT.
People with disabilities who require the assistance of a travel attendant or guide in order to use public
transportation in New Jersey may now have their travel attendant/guide accompany them without
additional charge. To be eligible, one must first obtain a special identification card which will state that
the holder requires the assistance of a travel attendant/guide in order to use public transportation. This
application must be certified by a physician. To apply for this card, write Reduced Fare Program, NJ
TRANSIT, 180 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040, or call 973-378-6401 or 1-800-772-2287.
For rail passenger service, presentation of a valid Medicare card or Reduced Fare ID card, together
with the proper reduced fare, is all that is required. NOTE: Not all rail service honors the Reduced Fare
Program.
For bus service, program participants must present to the bus operator or ticket agent a valid Medicare
card or Reduced Fare ID card for each ride, together with the proper reduced fare. On interstate private
buses (most buses not marked NJ TRANSIT), you must also present a Reduced Fare Ticket each time
you ride. Individuals 62 or over may contact his/her Area Agency on Aging.
Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP)
The Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP) is an initiative to help make auto insurance available
to drivers who are likely to go uninsured because of limited financial resources. People who are
currently enrolled in federal Medicaid with hospitalization are eligible for SAIP, which currently costs
$365 per year. Not all Medicaid programs qualify for the SAIP policy. An insurance producer can
determine if you are eligible from the number on your Medicaid ID card.
The SAIP can be obtained at most insurance agencies. If you're not sure how to get one, you can call
the Personal Automobile Insurance Plan (PAIP) customer service number at 1-800-652-2471. Effective
01/01/2011, National Continental Insurance Company is the carrier that writes SAIP policies. For
additional information, please visit: www.state.nj.us/dobi/division_consumers/insurance/saip.htm.
COUNTY/STATE HELP CHART
2-1-1 provides free and confidential information and referral. Call
2-1-1 or 877-652-1148 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. (Fax:
973-887-4680/E-mail: [email protected].)
American Financial Solutions
www.myfinancialgoals.org
1-888-282-5844
Consumer Federation of America
www.americasaves.org
e-mail: [email protected]
202-387-6121
National Consumer Law Center
www.nclc.org
617-542-8010
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of NJ Inc.
www.cccsnj.org
1-888-726-3260
Hunterdon County Office of Consumer Affairs
www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/consumeraffairs.htm#about
908-806-5174
NJhelps.org
www.njhelps.org
Free and easy way for you to prescreen for 8 programs: Food Stamps, Medicaid (Health Insurance); NJ
FamilyCare (health insurance for kids); Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); WorkFirst
New Jersey (temporary assistance for needy families and general assistance); New Jersey Care for Kids
(child care assistance); Kinship Navigator Program (assistance for relative care), that are available to help
you and your family. NJHelps is private. NJHelps will tell you where to go for help and what to bring with you,
after you have answered all the questions.
Hunterdon County Office on Aging
908-788-1361
BenefitsCheckUp
www.benefitscheckup.org/
BenefitsCheckUp is a free service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a nonprofit service and
advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Many adults over 55 need help paying for prescription drugs,
health care, utilities, and other basic needs. There are over 2,000 federal, state and private benefits
programs available to help. But many people don’t know these programs exist or how they can apply.
BenefitsCheckUp asks a series of questions to help identify benefits that could save you money and cover
the costs of everyday expenses. After answering the questions, you will get a report created just for you that
describes the programs you may get help from. You can apply for many of the programs online or you can
print an application form.
New Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry (NJEASE)
NJ EASE is an easy way for seniors and their families to get information about, and access to, senior
services by calling toll-free 1-877-222-3737.
New Jersey Housing Resource Center
www.nj.gov/njhrc/consumers/index.html
NJHRC provides an online tool for:
 Finding and listing affordable housing;
 Helping people with disabilities find housing options;
 Obtaining housing information and links;
 Vacancy information is updated continuously.
Community Resources For People With Disabilities (CRPD) Waiver
www.state.nj.us/health/seniorbenefits/haaad.shtml
Freecycle.org™
my.freecycle.org
An organization whose mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious
resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling its members to benefit from the strength of a
larger community. To sign-up, please visit the Website.
Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program, Inc. (NORWESCAP) Food Bank
www.norwescap.org
[email protected]
908-454-4322
All qualified 501(c)3 needy feeding programs may apply for membership. The NORWESCAP Food Bank
encourages and assists local groups, schools, churches, clubs and corporations to conduct food drives to
help end hunger.
Take Charge America
www.takechargeamerica.org
For 25 years, Take Charge America has been committed to helping people around the country improve their
financial futures. They work with individuals and families facing a variety of financial challenges to help them
achieve self-reliance, financial stability and financial independence. Services include:
 Financial education
 Credit counseling
 Debt management
 Pre-bankruptcy counseling
 Housing counseling
 Foreclosure prevention counseling
 Pre-purchase counseling
 Reverse mortgage counseling
www.stretcher.com
This Website offers tips for frugal living and thriftiness.
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS:
3 Important Telephone Numbers To Know If You Lose Your Wallet
If your wallet or pocketbook is stolen or lost, the first thing you want to do is NOT cancel your credit cards.
That of course is extremely important; however, it comes second on the list of things to do. The first thing
you should do is call the three (3) national credit reporting organizations and the Social Security
Administration (Fraud Line) to place a fraud alert. You want to prevent anyone from establishing any new
accounts, or altering your present credit, using your identity. The numbers are:
 National Credit Reporting Organizations:
o Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
o Experience: 1-888-397-3742
o Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
 Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-680-7289
If your purse or wallet was stolen you also need to notify the local police in the area where it happened to file
a report (call 9-1-1). Some of the things you can do to make this process easier are:
 Make a copy of all credit cards you carry (copy both sides of the card) and keep them with your
important papers.
 Keep a list of telephone numbers you would need to call if you were in this situation.
HELPFUL FRAUD PREVENTION LINKS
Comptroller of the Currency - Consumer Protection News
www.occ.treas.gov/Consumer/phishing.htm
News from a federal agency dedicated to a safe and
sound U.S. banking system
Fraud Reporting
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Report all suspicious or fraudulent activity to the Federal
Trade Commission
Identity Theft Fact Sheet
www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm
Helpful links related to identity theft provided by the Social
Security Administration
Online Fraud Prevention
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/index.htm
Don’t be an online victim: Information from the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
U.S. Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/internet/
Internet and telemarketing fraud prevention
U.S. Postal Service Inspection
www.usps.com/postalinspectors/id_intro.htm
Collection of helpful tips and links related to identity theft
Anti-Phishing Working Group
www.antiphising.org/index.html
A global law enforcement association focused on
eliminating fraud and identity theft
Fight Identity Theft
www.fightidentitytheft.com/index.html
Website dedicated to raising awareness of the risks and
presenting clear steps consumers can take to protect
themselves
National Consumers League Fraud Center
www.fraud.org/
Information and tips for avoiding fraud
ScamBusters.org
www.scambusters.org/
Website dedicated to protecting consumers from scams
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
www.ftc.gov
Consumer protection laws/fraud prevention
STATE OF NJ
SUMMARY OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Hearing Aid Assistance (HAAAD)
Alzheimer's Adult Day Services Program
Adult Protective Services
Assaults upon Institutionalized Elderly
Bill of Rights
Board of Public Utilities
Congregate Housing Services Program
Crime Injuries Compensation
CITGO/Citizens Energy
Division of Elections
Domestic Violence
Fresh Start Program
Global Options for Long-Term Care (GO for LTC)
Global Options Nursing Facility Transition
Grandparent Rights
Heating Oil Assistance
Homeland Security and Preparedness
Homelessness Prevention Program (NJ Dept. of Community Affairs)
Identity Theft - Information and Assistance
Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC)
Kinship Navigator
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) for Predatory Lending
Lifeline Assistance Program
Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare
Medically Needy
Motor Vehicles
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Jersey Division of Aging and Community Services
New Jersey Easy Access (NJ EASE)
New Jersey Gross Income Tax (Division of Taxation)
New Jersey Natural Gas Co.
New Jersey Parks and Forestry
New Jersey Predatory Annuities Prevention Law
New Jersey Shares
New Jersey Transit
NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
NJ Property Tax Deduction/Credit Program
Nursing Home Lists
Nursing Home Facility Services
Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly
1-800-792-9745
1-800-792-8820
1-800-792-8820
1-877-582-6995
1-877-582-6995
1-800-624-0241
1-800-792-8820
1-877-658-2221
1-800-JOE-4-OIL or 1-800-563-4645
1-877-658-6837
1-800-572-7233
1-866-240-1347
1-877-222-3737 or 1-800-792-8820
1-877-222-3737
1-800-792-8820
1-800-464-8465
1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365)
1-866-889-6270
1-800-242-5846
1-877-222-3737
1-877-816-3211
1-888-576-5529
1-800-792-9745
1-800-356-1561
1-800-356-1561
1-888-486-3339
1-800-464-8465
1-800-792-8820
1-877-222-3737
1-877-225-1312
1-800-221-0051
1-800-843-6420
1-800-446-7467
1-866-657-4273
1-800-772-2222
1-888-865-8387 (1-888-8NJ-VETS)
1-888-238-1233
1-800-367-6543
1-800-792-9770
1-877-582-6995
PACE
Personal Assistance Service Program
Pet Ownership
Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)
Predatory Lending
Reduced Fare Program
Rent Grace
Responsibilities to Nursing Home Residents
Safe Housing and Transportation
Selection/Evaluation
Senior Citizen Park Pass
Senior Citizens/Disabled Property Tax Deduction
Senior Dent
Senior Housing
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Universal Service Fund
Utility Service-Residential
Verizon Information Line
Victims of Crime Compensation
Voting
Wellness and Family Support
1-877-222-3737 or 1-800-792-8820
1-888-285-3036
1-800-792-8820
1-800-792-9745
1-800-446-7467 or 1-888-576-5529
1-800-772-2287
1-800-792-8820
1-877-582-6995
1-800-792-8820
1-800-367-6543
1-800-843-6420
1-877-225-1312
1-800-792-8820
1-800-792-8820
1-800-792-9745
1-800-792-8820
1-877-222-8387
1-866-240-1347
1-800-221-0051
1-800-409-8773
1-877-658-2221
1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837)
1-800-792-8820
We hope that you have found this resource guide helpful in locating area services that you, or someone
you know, may need. Always remember, if you need help…..
THINGS I WANT TO REMEMBER…
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dollars and sense - United Way of Hunterdon County

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