What is Work First New Jersey?
Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) is the state’s assistance program that provides cash and supportive services to eligible individuals and families in need. Work First New Jersey works to:
- provide monthly cash assistance to meet your basic needs.
- help you get child support payments to care for your dependent children.
- help you secure employment and work toward self-sufficiency through job training, education and work activities
- support you with child care, transportation and other support services, if needed.
- provide additional support when you are nearing the 60-month lifetime limit of cash assistance benefits
- support your transition to work by keeping your benefits the same the first month you get a job and phasing them out.
Before you can receive cash assistance benefits, you must meet the eligibility requirements, including:
Citizenship
You must be a United States citizen or qualified non-citizen and a resident of New Jersey.
- Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LPRs)
- LPRs are holders of green cards
- Asylees
- Granted asylum under Immigration and Nationality Act
- Parolees
- Paroled into the U.S. for at least 1 year
- Deportation (or Removal) Withheld
- Conditional Entrants
- Cuban or Haitian Entrants
- Cuban or Haitian entrant under the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980
- Battered Non-Citizens
- Under certain circ*mstances, a battered non-citizen spouse or child, non-citizen parent of a battered child or a non-citizen child of a battered parent with a petition pending
- Refugees
- Trafficking Victims
- Victims under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.
- Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants (SIV)
- Special immigrant status may be granted to Iraqi and Afghan nationals who have worked on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (DoDAA), provides that SIVs are eligible for all benefits to the same extent and the same period of time as refugees.
You and your family members must provide Social Security Numbers or apply for them.
Resources and Income
- Your resources (things with cash value such as bank accounts, bonds or property that is not your primary/main residence) must have a value of $2,000 or less.
- You must report all income from employment or from other sources including, but not limited to, child support, unemployment compensation, interest, Social Security
Child Support and Child Support Collections
- If you want cash assistance for a dependent child, you must cooperate with paternity and child support requirements, unless you have a good cause fornot cooperating. You will be asked to provide a case manager with information that will help locate the other parent, if he or she is not involved or doesn’t know about your dependent child. This includes his or her full name and address and at least three of the following items, if you know them or can reasonably obtain them:
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Employer
- Make and model of motor vehicle and license plate number
- While receiving cash assistance, any child support collected on behalf the parent will be given to the state to pay back the program. However, as a WFNJ recipient, you may receive up to $100 per month for the first child and up to $200 for two or more children for the child support payments that are collected.
- Once you are no longer receiving cash assistance, you will receive the full amount of child support collected.
Work Requirements
- You are required to look for a job or participate in an employment and training program. (Some people may be excused from the work requirements, for example, a person with a disability.)
Ways to Apply
Want to Screen Your Eligibility First?
Screening takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, and you will need to provide monthly income information.
Apply Online
It takes about 20-45 minutes to complete an application. You will need to provide details about your household income, resources and personal information.
Apply in Person or by Mail
To apply in person download and complete application and bring, mail or fax to yourCounty Social Service Agency.
Download Application
Download Application
Paper applications can be downloaded here and can also be mailed or faxed to your County Social Service Agency.
- English
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Chinese/Sim
- Dutch
- Gujarati
- Haitian/Creole
- Hindi
- Italian
- Korean
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Punjabi
- Russian
- Ukrainian
- Urdu
Did you know?
Seniors and individuals with disabilities can have a friend or family member (called authorized representative on the application) submit an application on their behalf either online or in person at the County Social Service Agency.
Application Process
- Fill out an application
- Have a phone or in-person interview
In most cases, the county has 30 days after you turn in your application to determine if you will get TANF or GA. During the 30 days, the county will interview you. The interview will be either over the phone or in person. During the interview, the county will go over your application with you. - Submit verification
You can upload your documents online at MyNJHelps.gov. If you apply online, you will see the option during the application process. If you applied in person, you can link your case and upload documents.
Proof Needed to Get Benefits
You will need the following for everyone in your household who is applying:
- A valid ID (i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate, government ID)
- Proof of where you live (i.e. lease, rental agreement, utility bill)
*Unless you are experiencing homelessness - Proof of earned income (i.e. paystubs, employer letter, recent tax records)
- Proof of unearned income (benefits award letter)
- Proof of resources (i.e. bank statements)
- Social Security Number
- Proof of immigration status(for non-citizens)
Even if you do not have everything on the list, you should still apply. An eligibility worker will send a letter with the documents you still need to submit for your family.
Who Can Apply
- Any household member 18 or over
- Minor parents (under 18 with dependent child)
- Seniors and individuals with disabilities can have a friend or family member (called authorized representative on the application) submit an application on their behalf either online or in person at the County Social Service Agency.
How soon are benefits available?
- For most households, benefits are available within 30 days.
- However, based on your application, if you need help sooner, you may qualify for “immediate need” at the time of application.
- Immediate need means that the household lacks shelter or is in imminent risk of losing shelter, essential utilities, food or clothing.
- All households will be evaluated for immediate need at the time of application.
Time Limits
Work First New Jersey is a time-limited program. You may receive up to 60 months of cash assistance during your lifetime.
When you get a job and stop receiving cash assistance, the “clock stops ticking” on your 60-month limit. Any time you have left will remain available to use for a future emergency. There are, however, certain situations in which you may qualify for continued cash assistance after 60 months.
Work Activities
Since WFNJ is limited to 60 months, it is important to take the steps to gain training, skills, and work that’s right for you. While you do that, you are eligible to receive help with expenses, such as transportation, child care, or other costs necessary for participating, such as uniforms, books or supplies.
- TANF recipients must participate in a work activity or job for 35 hours a week.
- GA recipients must participate in a work activity of a job for 30 hours a week.
You and a case manager will develop a plan to meet your needs and the requirement of the Work First program.
