26 Nov I got a second ANCHOR payment. What do I do?

Q. I got a second ANCHOR payment. What do I do?
— Homeowner

A. You’re not the only one.

We’ve received several reports from readers who said they received two ANCHOR benefits.

In each case, the first came through direct deposit and the second was a check.

“Several issues contributed to the duplication but it primarily resulted from our anti-fraud measures,” the Treasury Department said.

We reported about those anti-fraud measures in late October, when the agency said it clawed back an unknown number of direct deposits of ANCHOR benefits that were made to bank accounts after it noticed “suspected fraud in a number of accounts.”

It said it won’t tell us more, such as how many people were affected or how many people got a second payment, until sometime after the application deadline, which was extended to Dec. 7.

If you received a duplicate payment, the agency asks you to return the check, without cashing it, to: NJ Division of Taxation, PO Box 266, Trenton, NJ 08695-0266. You should include a note explaining that you received a second payment.

If you already cashed the check, you can send a personal check to Treasury at the same address. Include the note, too.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published in November 2024.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.