New Jersey's Stay NJ program returns up to half of property taxes, with a maximum of $6,500, to homeowners 65 and older. Applicants must have an income of $500,000 or less and must have lived in a home they owned for at least 12 months of the relevant year. Applications are filed on a single PAS-1 form together with ANCHOR and Senior Freeze, and the deadline is Nov. 2. This year's payments have followed February, May and August, with the November installment still to come.
Korean Americans 65 and older who own a home in New Jersey should know about a program called Stay NJ. It returns up to 50% of property taxes, with a maximum of $6,500. The application deadline is Nov. 2.
The program covers homeowners 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities who receive Social Security Disability benefits. Applicants must have actually lived in a home they owned for at least 12 months of the relevant tax year, and their annual income must be $500,000 or less. Mobile home owners and renters are not eligible.
Apply for Three Programs at Once With One PAS-1 Form
Applications can be submitted online at propertytaxreliefapp.nj.gov or by mailing in the PAS-1 form. This one form can be used to apply for Stay NJ, ANCHOR and Senior Freeze together. However, the Stay NJ payment is determined after the ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits are calculated first, based on the amount that remains. The combined cap for all three programs is $13,000.
When applying, it helps to have your ID, property tax bill and most recent state income tax return ready. Payments are sent as checks by mail rather than deposited into a bank account, so anyone who has moved should make sure their address is up to date. You can check the status of your application online using your ZIP code and Social Security number, or by phone.
The program is especially meaningful for older Korean American residents who have lived for many years in high-property-tax areas such as Bergen County. If your parents are eligible but English-language paperwork is a burden, it is faster for their children to help them apply online. Anyone who misses the deadline cannot receive this year's payment.