05 Sep Where is the ANCHOR benefit for 2022 and 2023?

Q. I need clarity about New Jersey skipping the ANCHOR benefit years 2022 and 2023. If a person has been a New Jersey resident during those years, he/she is entitled to those benefits. How can you claim the benefits? Is there another form to submit?
— Taxpayer

A. Let’s try for the clarity.

Years ago, before the ANCHOR benefit was created, New Jersey had a similar tax rebate program called the Homestead Rebate. Like ANCHOR, this was funded every year in the state budget.

Except for two years, that is, when Gov. Chris Christie twice delayed the benefit because of state budget issues.

This was a political move. No lawmaker would want to admit to outright canceling the benefit for a year, so that’s why it was called a delay instead.

Because the benefit was delayed rather than canceled, the benefit year name got behind.

Fast forward to now. We now have the new Stay NJ benefit, which is calculated along with the ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits. When the Stay NJ law was written, lawmakers saw how confusing it would be to have each of those benefits use a different benefit year.

So to simplify it, they renamed the current ANCHOR benefit year 2024 — to match where Senior Freeze and Stay NJ would be.

As long as the benefit is paid every year, it doesn’t really matter what year the benefit is called, supporters argue.

So to answer your question: the 2022 and 2023 ANCHOR benefits do not exist, and you cannot apply for them.

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This story was originally published in September 2025.

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