Stay NJ Benefits Could Pay You Thousands: 3 Ways to Track Your Status

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What’s better than two property tax relief programs? Three. And New Jersey residents have recently received their third through Stay NJ.

The new program is designed to assist eligible homeowners age 65 or older (or those with disabilities) with their property taxes. Payouts are rolling out February 9, 2026. The relief might just be in the nick of time.

A recent AARP report shows that 41% of New Jerseyans age 50 or older have considered leaving the state, with 83% of respondents stating they’d likely do so for lower state taxes and cost of living elsewhere.

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Stay NJ is supposed to encourage older homeowners to maintain roots in New Jersey. Will it motivate you to “stay?" Read on for eligibility requirements, the application process, and how much you could receive in 2026.

Key Points

The New Jersey Stay NJ program is designed to provide property tax relief for eligible homeowners.
The first round of Stay NJ payments will be disbursed starting February 9, 2026.
You can apply for next year's Stay NJ with the PAS-1 application (PDF).

FAQs

Stay NJ program: Who is eligible for property tax relief in New Jersey?

New Jersey’s Stay NJ property tax relief program is intended to help eligible homeowners with their property tax bills.

Here are the eligibility requirements for residents to meet for Stay NJ:

Homeowners must be at least age 65 (mobile homeowners and renters don't qualify).
You must have owned and lived in your home for 12 months of the tax year.
Your income can’t be more than $500,000.

Suppose you made Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax (PILOT) (PDF) (payments made when the property is partially or fully tax-exempt) to your municipality. Those would also count toward eligibility for the Stay NJ benefits.

Stay NJ status: When will I receive my property tax relief payment?

The first installment of Stay NJ checks (for those who applied last year) are going out beginning Monday, February 9, 2026, according to a recent announcement by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.

Stay NJ payments will be issued on a rolling basis.
Successive installments of the Stay NJ benefits are scheduled for May, August, and November.
All payouts will be mailed (Stay NJ is not eligible for direct deposit).

To check the status of your Stay NJ payment or for general New Jersey property tax relief questions, call 1-888-238-1233.

Alternatively, you may check your Stay NJ benefit status using the state's Division of Taxation online tool. You will need your zip code and your Social Security Number (or individual taxpayer identification number) to use the tool.

Finally, you can also visit one of the state’s Regional Information Centers in person for more information on New Jersey property tax relief.

How much is Stay NJ?

Stay NJ reimburses eligible applicants up to 50% on their property tax bills, with a maximum of $13,000. This means you could get a rebate worth up to $6,500 for your property taxes paid during the tax year.

However, there’s one important caveat to the Stay NJ benefit amount:

Stay NJ payouts are determined after calculating ANCHOR and “Senior Freeze” benefits.
This means the amount you could receive is the net of any relief you already gained from other New Jersey property tax programs.

How do you submit the Stay NJ application for 2026?

While 2026 Stay NJ payouts are a result of last year's application deadline, New Jersey residents may begin applying for the next round of property tax benefits. The application deadline is November 2, 2026.

Eligible homeowners must fill out the PAS-1 application to receive a Stay NJ payout.

PAS-1 is the new streamlined process for applying to various New Jersey property tax relief programs (if you are 65 or older or on Social Security disability).

Here are the steps for applying to Stay NJ using the PAS-1 application:

Go to the New Jersey State Division of Taxation website to fill out an application online.
You’ll need to verify your identity using your driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
Have on hand your latest property tax bill or property information from the state Tax Assessor’s office.
Have your gross income from your most recent state income tax return.
If you prefer to complete the application process by mail, you can print a paper PAS-1 application and mail it to the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

New Jersey residents who are eligible for PAS-1 might use the application for ANCHOR, “Senior Freeze,” and Stay NJ in 2026.

However, applicants under age 65 or those who aren’t receiving Social Security Disability benefits (PDF) can't use PAS-1 and are not eligible for Stay NJ.

More on New Jersey

Kate is a CPA with experience in audit and technology. As a Tax Writer at Kiplinger, Kate believes that tax and finance news should meet people where they are today, across cultural, educational, and disciplinary backgrounds.