Get Food Long-Term

Last Updated: 11/14/2023

Federal nutrition assistance programs are ideal for individuals and families, including college students and their dependents, who need help paying for groceries on a more ongoing basis. Programs are accessible to individuals and households based on income eligibility and other criteria and require you to go through an application process.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is a federal benefits program which provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. If you are eligible, you will be able to get SNAP anytime between seven and thirty days.

In the State of New Jersey, there is an online application you can fill out that informs you whether you are eligible or not for SNAP, as well as other NJ assistance programs. It's available as part of NJHelps and is called NJOneApp. Check what you will need to fill out the application here. (For example: you will need names and birthdates for your household members, as well as proof of household income like pay stubs, tax statements or a letter from your employer/s.)

If you can't fill out the online application, you can download the application here. You can then mail this to your county's SNAP office (called "County Boards of Social Services").

(For a copy of the application in other languages, go here and look at the section on the right side, called "Apply In Person or by Mail.")

Once you fill out the application, it's evaluated by your county's SNAP office. You may be given an appointment time for an in-person or telephone interview and will need to provide all the required information for your household.

Resources:

New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC)

WIC is a food benefit for women who are pregnant, recently had a child, or are breastfeeding as well as infants and children under five. WIC includes vouchers for foods on the Approved Food List, such as milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, etc. as well as cash vouchers for fresh, canned, or frozen fruits and vegetables at both stores and farmers' markets.

Note: A household may be eligible for both SNAP and WIC.

To apply for WIC, you make an appointment at a local WIC agency in your county.

At the appointment, you will need to ensure that all applicants in the family, including children, are present and have materials including proof of identity, pregnancy, income, and residency. Additionally, you may need to provide a health care referral form completed by your healthcare provider, your children's Universal Child Health Record, as well as your children's vaccination records.

Resources:

New Jersey Summer EBT
Summer EBT is a, nutrition program that aims to reduce hunger and food insecurity for children who lose access to free school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the summer.

Your child will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT and receive an EBT card if they are:

  • Certified as eligible for federal free or reduced-price school meals; and
  • Attends a school that participates in either the NJSLP or SBP.

Your child may also be eligible if they attend a school participating in NJSLP or SBP and:

  • Your child receives free meals at school AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
  • You applied for School Meals through your school district AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
  • Your household participates in SNAP or TANF; or
  • Your child is experiencing homelessness, a migrant, or in foster care; or
  • Your child attends a Head Start program administered by the school district.

Click here to find out more information related to applying, receiving benefits, and using Summer EBT benefits. You can also call your child's school to see if they are eligible.