Next Steps

Tax Help

• New Jersey Citizen Action offers free tax preparation services for households earning $54,000 or less in its Economic Security Center in Newark and (by appointment only) at satellite sites in Essex and Middlesex counties
• United Way of Northern New Jersey provides free tax preparation during the tax season for low-income residents with simple tax returns (1040, Schedules A & B)
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) centers help people file their taxes for free. Find a local VITA center or call 1-800-906-9887.

Benefits and Legal Help

For legal advocacy services for people with disabilities, call Disability Rights New Jersey at 1-800-922-7233 (in New Jersey only), 1-609-292-9742, or 1-609-633-7106 (TTY).

ABLE Accounts

New Jersey's ABLE account program is NJ ABLE. Learn more about ABLE accounts and compare different state ABLE programs at the ABLE National Resource Center.

Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

Each IDA program has its own application process. Get started by finding an IDA program through the New Jersey Individual Development Account Program or the Assets for Independence Resource Center (AFI).

Plans to Achieve Self-Support ( PASS)

The PASS application is complex. Get help with it from a PASS specialist. To contact the New York Region PASS Cadre, which serves New Jersey, call 1-866-348-5403 extension 23648 (A-M) or 23645 (N-Z).

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

IRS Publication 596 is a comprehensive guide to the EITC. The IRS EITC Assistant can help you see whether you qualify for an EITC and how much you might get.

The New Jersey Department of the Treasury has more information about the state EITC.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC)

Get information about the CTC from the IRS.

Special Needs Trusts

The Special Needs Alliance can help you find an attorney who specializes in Special Needs Trusts.

The Social Security Administration has excellent information about Special Needs Trusts and SSI eligibility.

See the answers to New Jersey Special Needs Trust frequently asked questions.

New Jersey Property Tax Credits/Exemptions

For details about the state's Property Tax Credit (for seniors, people with disabitilies, or veterans) or its Property Tax Exemption for veterans with disabilities, or to download claim forms, contact the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program helps people with disabilities who get Social Security benefits re-enter the workforce and become more independent. The Ticket to Work Program offers free access to employment-related services, such as training, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation.

If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or CDB benefits, and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid complications when you are working on a job plan for your future. For questions or guidance specific to your situation, you can speak to someone at the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM EST.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.