22 May What’s the latest on the next Stay NJ payment?

Q. What is the status of the next two Stay NJ payments, for August and November? I know it was up in the air.
— Homeowner

A. It’s still up in the air.

Here’s why.

The Stay NJ funding for Fiscal Year 2026 — which was the budget passed last July — only covered half a year of Stay NJ payments.

That’s because New Jersey’s fiscal years don’t match the calendar year. It goes from July 1 to June 30.

It’s even more complicated because of the tax year the benefit covers.

What you have been receiving this year was for tax year 2024. That’s what was funded in the budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

So the next installments of Stay NJ, which would be paid in August and November, are subject to the new budget — for Fiscal Year 2027 — and that’s the budget that’s still being negotiated in Trenton.

If the benefits are cut — word out of Trenton is that lawmakers are planning to lower the income eligibility to $250,000 and lower the total benefit under ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ to a maximum of $4,500, or maybe $5,000 — it’s unclear where all the numbers will land.

Even though the future benefit is unclear at this point, you can still apply for benefits for the 2025 tax year — the benefit that’s now being negotiated.

The state says on its website: “While qualifying taxpayers are receiving Stay NJ benefits now for the 2024 tax season, it’s important to note that the next Stay NJ filing season is currently underway for tax year 2025. Eligible seniors and disabled residents can apply through the PAS-1 combined application at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov. The deadline for that application is November 2nd, 2026. The availability of New Jersey’s property tax relief programs is subject to State Budget appropriations.”

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This story was originally published in May 2026. 

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