If you’re a New Jersey homeowner age 65 or older — or you’re helping a parent sort out their property tax paperwork — you’ve probably seen headlines about a new benefit called “Stay NJ” promising up to $6,500 a year. What those headlines usually leave out is that the $6,500 figure is a maximum, not a guarantee, and that the amount you actually receive depends on your income. Stay NJ was expanded and funded through the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Act, signed on June 30, 2026, and the state is now actively encouraging residents to file the combined PAS-1 application before the November 2, 2026 deadline.
Here are the seven things you need to know before you apply.
1. What Is Stay NJ? (And How It’s Different From ANCHOR & Senior Freeze)
Stay NJ is a property tax credit for New Jersey homeowners age 65 and older. Unlike a reimbursement or a rebate check, it’s applied as a credit against your property tax bill, and the amount is based on your income.
If you already receive ANCHOR or Senior Freeze, it’s easy to get confused about how the three programs relate to each other:
- ANCHOR has broader eligibility (homeowners and renters of many ages) but pays a smaller, mostly flat amount.
- Senior Freeze reimburses you for property tax increases above a fixed “base year” — it doesn’t pay a flat dollar amount, it reimburses the increase.
- Stay NJ is a new, separate credit specifically for seniors, with a tiered benefit based on income and capped at 50% of your property tax bill.
The good news: as of 2026, all three programs are now applied for through one combined form — the PAS-1 — so you don’t have to fill out three separate applications.
2. Who Qualifies: Age, Residency & Homeownership Rules
To qualify for Stay NJ, you generally need to meet all of the following:
- You must be 65 or older as of December 31 of the base year for the benefit you’re claiming.
- You must have owned and occupied the home as your principal residence for the entire applicable tax year — not just part of the year.
- The property must be subject to New Jersey property taxes (or, in some cases, P.I.L.O.T. — Payment In Lieu Of Taxes — arrangements).
Important expectation-setting point: renters and mobile home owners are not eligible for Stay NJ. If you rent your home, or you own a mobile home rather than a traditional residence with a property tax bill, this particular program does not apply to you — although you may still qualify for ANCHOR.
3. Income Limits & How Much You Actually Get (Tiered Benefit Table)
Stay NJ has an income cap of $200,000. Above that, you’re not eligible for any Stay NJ credit, regardless of age or how long you’ve owned your home.
Within that cap, the benefit is tiered — this is the part most headlines skip over. Here’s how the tiers break down for the 2025 tax year:
| Household Income | Maximum Stay NJ Credit |
|---|---|
| $0 – $100,000 | Up to $6,500 |
| $100,000.01 – $150,000 | Up to $5,000 |
| $150,000.01 – $200,000 | Up to $4,000 |
| Over $200,000 | Not eligible |
Two things to keep in mind when you look at that table. First, these are maximum amounts — the actual credit is also capped at 50% of your total property tax bill. So if your property tax bill for the year is $8,000 and your income puts you in the top tier ($0–$100,000), your Stay NJ credit would be capped at $4,000 (50% of $8,000), not the full $6,500, even though your income tier technically allows up to $6,500.
Second, the credit is not a flat “everyone gets $6,500” benefit. A homeowner earning $180,000 and a homeowner earning $40,000 will likely receive very different amounts, even if their property tax bills are similar.
4. How to Apply: The PAS-1 Combined Application
Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze are now all covered under one form: the PAS-1 (Property Tax Relief Programs Application). You do not need to file three separate applications.
Where to File
You can file the PAS-1 either online through the NJ Division of Taxation’s portal or by paper form, depending on your preference and prior filing history. Some homeowners who filed in prior years may be mailed a pre-filled form to verify and return.
What Documentation to Have Ready
- Proof of age (such as a driver’s license or birth certificate)
- Proof of homeownership and principal residency for the applicable tax year
- Income documentation (tax returns, Social Security statements, pension statements, etc.)
Deadline
The application deadline for the 2025 benefit year is November 2, 2026. Filing after this date may delay or disqualify your payment, so it’s worth gathering your documents well ahead of time rather than waiting until the final week.
5. Payment Schedule: When the Money Actually Arrives
One of the most common sources of frustration with Stay NJ is timing — the payment schedule runs well behind the tax year it covers. Here’s the realistic timeline:
- 2024 benefit year: payments are being issued in August and November 2026.
- 2025 benefit year: payments are scheduled to go out in quarterly installments starting in February 2027 and continuing through May 2027 and beyond.
Why the delay? Stay NJ payments depend on verified income data and are processed alongside ANCHOR and Senior Freeze through the same combined system, which takes time to reconcile across hundreds of thousands of applications. If you’re used to faster-turnaround rebate programs, it’s worth mentally budgeting for Stay NJ money to arrive many months — not weeks — after you file.
6. Common Mistakes That Delay or Disqualify Your Stay NJ Application
A few avoidable errors account for most of the delayed or rejected Stay NJ applications the state sees each cycle:
- Missing the November 2 deadline. Late applications are the single most common reason for a missed benefit year.
- Filing separate forms instead of the combined PAS-1. If you’re used to filing ANCHOR and Senior Freeze separately from past years, remember that’s no longer how the process works — one PAS-1 covers all three.
- Confusing Stay NJ’s income-tiered credit with Senior Freeze’s flat reimbursement model. These are calculated completely differently, and assuming your Senior Freeze amount tells you your Stay NJ amount will lead to inaccurate expectations.
- Renters mistakenly assuming they qualify. Stay NJ is homeowner-only; renters should look into ANCHOR instead.
7. FAQ
Can I get Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze all at the same time?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility requirements for each program, you can receive benefits from all three. They are calculated and paid separately, even though you apply for all of them through the same PAS-1 form.
Do I need to reapply every year?
In most cases, homeowners who previously qualified will receive a form to verify their information each year rather than starting from scratch, but you still need to confirm and submit it by the deadline. If your situation changes (for example, you move or your income changes significantly), you should file a new, complete application.
What if my income changes mid-year?
Stay NJ eligibility and benefit tier are based on your income for the applicable base year, as reported on your application. If your income changes significantly from one year to the next, your tier — and therefore your credit amount — can change for the following benefit year.
Is Stay NJ taxable income?
Stay NJ is a property tax credit issued by the State of New Jersey. As with other state property tax relief programs, it is generally not treated as federal taxable income, but homeowners with questions about their specific tax situation should consult a tax professional or the NJ Division of Taxation directly.
Bottom Line
Stay NJ can mean real money back for eligible New Jersey homeowners 65 and older — but the amount depends heavily on your income tier and is capped at 50% of your property tax bill, so don’t assume you’ll automatically get the full $6,500. If you own and occupy your home as your principal residence and your income is under $200,000, gather your age, homeownership, and income documentation now and file the combined PAS-1 application before the November 2, 2026 deadline. Waiting until the last minute is the single biggest reason eligible homeowners miss out on this benefit.
Related program: NJ Senior Freeze: the older property tax reimbursement program and how it differs from Stay NJ