What is NJ SNAP

New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the public health crisis

The changes to SNAP listed below last as long as a public health state of emergency remains in place at the federal level.  Please check back each month to see if benefits will continue.

Emergency Supplemental Food Assistance Benefits

As of April 2021, a change was made that requires the temporary emergency supplemental food assistance benefit a household receives to be at least $95 in additional benefits. Before April 2021, only households who were not receiving the maximum SNAP allotment for their household size received a temporary emergency supplemental benefit. Going forward, households will receive at least $95 in emergency benefits or the maximum temporary benefit for your household size, whichever is greater.

For February, these additional emergency benefits will be available when your regular SNAP benefits are available.  The maximum SNAP benefit only continues while a state of emergency is in place. Check back every month to see if the emergency allotment supplements will continue.

College Students

More college students may be eligible for SNAP. You may be eligible if you are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education and:

  • are eligible to participate in a State or federally financed work-study program as determined by the institution of higher education; or 
  • in the current academic year, have an Expected Family Contribution of $0 as determined by the Higher Education Act 

This expanded SNAP eligibility for college students will be available as long as federal public health state of emergency remains in place and for 30 days after the federal public health state of emergency expires. 

For more information about eligibility for college students, visit our College Students page.

About NJ SNAP

New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, NJ SNAP, provides food assistance to families and individuals with low incomes to help them buy groceries through a benefits card accepted in most food retail stores and some farmers markets. Eligibility is set by several factors, such as income and resources.  You can use SNAP benefits to stretch your food budget and buy nutritious foods that can keep you and your family healthy.

Do I Qualify?

Your household must meet certain requirements to be eligible for SNAP and receive benefits, including meeting the maximum allowable income listed below. 

Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standard
(185% of FPL)
Figures Valid October 2021 - September 2022

Household Size Max. Allowable Income

1

$1, 986

2

$2, 686

3

$3, 386

4

$4, 086

5

$4, 786

6

$5, 486

7

$6, 186

8

$6, 886

Each Additional Member

+ $700

Meeting the maximum allowable income for your household size does not guarantee you are eligible for SNAP. You can screen for NJ SNAP in five minutes to find out if you are eligible for food assistance, cash assistance and more. Click here to screen and apply in 20 to 40 minutes.

Who Can Apply?

A SNAP household is anyone who lives and eats together. 

  • Any household member over 18
  • An authorized representative that can go food shopping and use SNAP benefits on your behalf (a friend, relative, neighbor)

SNAP Outreach

To increase awareness about SNAP and help more people apply for benefits, we work with certain local agencies who provide SNAP outreach.  You may find outreach representatives in your community at food pantries, senior centers, libraries, schools and other community events. 

These outreach representatives help teach you about SNAP availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures and the benefits of SNAP. They can also correct misconceptions about SNAP to help you make a decision about if you should apply.  Outreach representatives can answer your questions about applying and assist with your application, but cannot apply for you.  

Our current outreach partners are:

  • Community FoodBank of New Jersey
  • Fulfill
  • Food Bank of South Jersey

Be aware that there other agencies might claim to be “SNAP consultants,” asking you for personal information to complete a pre-approved SNAP application or telling you that an application was initiated on your behalf. If you think a letter or text is a scam, do not reply at all. If you do not know if a request for personal information is real, contact your county board of social services. 

What is NJ SNAP?