Treasury Begins Distributing Second Round of Stay NJ Benefits to Eligible Seniors

(TRENTON) - The second installment of Stay NJ benefits is on the way to eligible seniors who qualified for the State’s newest property tax relief program for tax year 2024.

Treasury’s Division of Taxation has begun mailing the second round of payments to taxpayers who applied last season through the PAS-1 combined application for Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze. Stay NJ benefits are paid in quarterly installments; not as a lump sum. The first installments were distributed in February, with the average benefit totaling $600. The average second payment totals $645.58.

Benefits are calculated using a formula based on a taxpayer’s property tax bill and eligibility for the State’s other property tax relief programs, ANCHOR and Senior Freeze. Stay NJ payments are distributed as paper checks.

Eligible applicants received explanatory letters in the fall of 2025 with a breakdown of benefits they will receive from each program for which they qualified. Applicants may have been eligible for one, two, or all three programs depending on their household income and other criteria. Taxpayers who qualified for Senior Freeze received those benefits in the summer of 2025, and ANCHOR payments were distributed in the fall of 2025.

While qualifying taxpayers are receiving Stay NJ benefits now for the 2024 tax season, it’s important to note that the next Stay NJ filing season is currently underway for tax year 2025. Eligible seniors and disabled residents can apply through the PAS-1 combined application at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov. The deadline for that application is November 2^nd, 2026. The availability of New Jersey’s property tax relief programs is subject to State Budget appropriations.

Taxpayers seeking assistance can take advantage of a number of resources:

·         Visit one of the Division of Taxation’s Regional Information Centers for immediate, in-person assistance: NJ Division of Taxation - Office Locations;

·         Schedule a telephone appointment to speak to a representative: Home - TeleGov;

·         Access the Division of Taxation’s chatbox, which connects users with a virtual agent for general Stay NJ inquiries; the chatbox tool is embedded at the bottom right of all Taxation webpages: State of NJ - Department of the Treasury - Division of Taxation

·         Visit propertytaxrelief.nj.gov to check the status of a benefit, view frequently asked questions, and detailed information on each program, and;

·         Call the Property Tax Relief Hotline: 1-888-238-1233.