These programs receive no state or federal funds but are provided
as a service by the private sector. Eligibility guidelines are determined
by the sponsoring agency, not by any state or federal agency.
Senior Dent
Sponsored by the NJ Dental Association, Senior Dent affords
eligible seniors the opportunity of obtaining comprehensive oral
health treatment from participating dentists at a minimum courtesy
discount of 15 percent. To qualify, persons must be 65 years of
age or over and meet the guidelines of the PAAD program.
To obtain a list of participating dentists for your area, please
contact the NJ Senior Citizens Information and Referral Assistance
at 1-800-792-8820 (toll-free within NJ) or 609-943-3437. Staff at
this number will take your name, address and certain other information
and forward it to the NJ Dental Association. The Dental Association
will then forward you a list of participating dentists. LISTS ARE
NOT AVAILABLE OVER THE PHONE.
The NJ Dental Association, One Dental Plaza, North Brunswick, NJ
08902, telephone 732-821-9400, sponsors this program.
The Verizon Telephone Company has a program to enable
residents of subsidized senior housing to obtain phone service.
Verizon will waive the deposit fee (typically $100) for elderly
and other tenants living in subsidized senior housing. Those eligible
must have a good credit record with the phone company and must be
a new customer, i.e., the person has not been a phone customer recently.
Individuals receiving the waiver will be responsible for all other
telephone costs, including purchase of a phone, installation costs
and monthly service charges. In order to enable low-income people
to afford phone service, Verizon offers three basic service plans,
including two low-cost options. These plans will be discussed when
the individual calls to apply for phone service.
Through the Verizon Telephone Company discounted residential telephone
service is available for households who make less than three local
calls per day which last five minutes or less, or that spend less
that one and a half hours a week on local calls. To be eligible
for this program you must receive benefits from one of the following
programs:
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Work First New Jersey (TANF/WFNJ),
Lifeline Utility Credit/Tenants Lifeline Assistance, Pharmaceutical
Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD),General Assistance (GA),
Food Stamp Program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Medicaid,
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and you must not be dependent
for Federal Income Tax purposes unless you are 60 years of age or
older.
For eligibility and enrollment information call NJ SHARES at 1-888-337-3339.
Verizon Communications makes residential telephone service more
affordable by offering Link Up America for qualified, low-income
customers. Link Up America provides a 50% discount on telephone
connection charges for persons meeting the eligibility criteria
for certain telephone service programs. Those persons receiving
benefits from PAAD, Lifeline Utility Credit, or Medicaid/SSI should
call 1-800-792-9745 for details. Persons receiving benefits from
HEAP or Food Stamps please contact your County Board of Social Services/County Welfare Agency.
For additional communication and eligibility information please call NJ SHARES at 1-888-337-3339.
If you are an elderly customer having financial problems paying
your electric or gas bill, you should request the utility company
to enroll you in a budget plan in accordance with your ability to
pay. You are required to make good faith payments of all reasonable
bills for service. A utility may not shut off
residential service on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or a holiday or
the day before a holiday, or if a valid medical emergency exists
in your household. Residential Service May Be Shut Off After Proper Notice.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities manages the Winter Termination Program whereby your residential gas or electric service shall not be discontinued during the period of November 15 through April 1 or later if extended by the BPU as long as you make good faith payments if you have the ability to do so.
If you have questions about your rights as a utility customer,
please call New Jersey Natural Gas Company, toll-free, at 1-800-221-0051
or 1-908-938-7977. For unresolved issues, you may call the Board
of Public Utilities at 1-800-624-0241.
The New Jersey Comfort Partners Program is a free energy saving and energy education program sponsored by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. The program is designed to improve energy affordability for income eligible households through direct installation of free energy efficiency measures and education about steps everyone can take to save energy. Participants are asked to partner with the program to develop and carry out a household energy savings Action Plan.
For information customers may call 1-866-NJSMART (1-866-657-6278). Program Oversight Provided by New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 44 South Clinton Avenue, Post Office Box 350, Trenton, NJ 08625-0350.
American Water’s H2O Help to Others Program is designed to provide aid to New Jersey American Water’s most economically challenged customers. To qualify for this program, the total monthly household income may not exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and the client must show a good faith payment of $100 on their account within 90 days of applying. Customers who qualify may receive a grant to help pay their water bill.
NJ SHARES administers the New Jersey American Water’s Assistance Programs. Customers may call 1-877-652-9426 (1-877-NJAWH2O) for more information or contact NJSHARES at 1-866-657-4273 or visit them at www.njshares.org.
New Jersey Citizen Action's Oil Group (NJCAOG) is comprised of thousands of heating oil consumers who have joined together to negotiate a lower price with local dealers. After joining, members are assigned a supplier. They then call that supplier and make arrangement for fuel delivery but at the Oil Group's discounted price. Generally, the prices members pay are 10-30% less than average retail prices. The annual membership fee for persons aged 60 and older is $15.
For more information call New Jersey Citizen Action, toll-free, at 1-800-464-8465, or visit their website at http://www.njcaoilgroup.com.
In partnership with CITGO, Citizens Energy works with thousands of oil heat dealers and local fuel assistance agencies to provide deliveries of home heating oil to those in need. The Oil Heat Program provides eligible families a one-time delivery of 100 free gallons of home heating oil.
For information on this program call: 1-800-JOE-4-OIL or 1-800-563-4645, www.citizensenergy.com.
The Underground Storage Tank Program provides loans and grants to eligible applicants to help finance project costs for the closure and replacement of a non-leaking residential underground storage tank (UST).
If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, please contact the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), Customer Support Administrator at 609-777-4898 or email
.
