What Is Considered Low Income for Seniors in New Jersey?

To be considered a low-income senior in New Jersey, a single individual who is 65 years old or above must have a gross monthly income of $1,215 or less, which is equal to the Federal Poverty Level. A person’s financial assets must not be in excess of $4,000. For a senior couple, the monthly income limit is $1,643 per month or less, with a maximum of $6,000 in allowable resources. Older citizens in New Jersey, however, may be entitled to certain benefits even if their incomes are higher than those listed, depending on their needs and each program’s eligibility requirements.

Older New Jersey residents with lower incomes can apply for a variety of statewide health-related programs, including Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), which includes health care at home. New Jersey’s Medicaid managed care program is called NJ FamilyCare, which delivers home and community-based services to seniors who are either living at home or in a facility. The income limit for an individual senior applying for NJ FamilyCare is $1,215 or less per month.

Seniors who need home health care in New Jersey can also apply for services through the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides a variety of home care services to residents wishing to avoid or delay nursing home living.

Low-income programs for seniors who need support at home offset the costs of home health care costs in New Jersey, which average $1,950 a month, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021.

Some of the other health- and medical-related programs for low-income seniors living in New Jersey include:

• Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), with an annual income limit of $42142
• New Jersey Medicare Savings Programs, which help pay Medicare premiums and other payments to those who qualify