EMERGENCY SNAP BENEFITS EXPIRED END OF FEBRUARY

February 2023 was the last month households enrolled in the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could receive emergency SNAP benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided additional financial support to SNAP recipients. That support expired on March 1.

Starting in March 2023, enrolled households will receive only their regular monthly benefit amount. Those whose regular monthly SNAP benefit is less than $95 will receive a supplemental payment from NJ SNAP to bring their total benefit to $95.

SNAP households are encouraged to check their benefits before the next trip to the grocery store. SNAP recipients can check their benefit details at any time by logging into the online portal, with the Connect EBT mobile app, or by calling 800-997-3333. For more information, visit https://NJSNAP.gov.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL SUPPORT

Did you lose a loved one to COVID? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. To find out if your are eligible, visit the FEMA site at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

How to Apply

Call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at (844) 684-6333

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

Call this dedicated, toll-free phone number to complete your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application with a FEMA representative. Multilingual services are available.

If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide the specific number assigned to you for service. It is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

COPING WITH STRESS

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed due to COVID-19, help is available to provide emotional support, guidance and mental health referrals as needed. Among the resources available are the following:

• Capital Health Emergency Mental Health Services 24/7 hotline at 609-396-HELP (4357)
• Child in Crisis 24-hour hotline  services for children and young adults struggling with mental health concerns
• COVID-19 Pandemic Response Resources -- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
• Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233) -- 24/7 hotline provides bilingual service and is accessible to hearing impaired
• Essential Healthcare Workers Support Group -- free, online, clinician-led support group for health care professionals
• Jewish Family & Children Service of Greater Mercer County
• Living With Mental Illness During COVID-19 Outbreak -- Mental Health America
• Managing Stress and Anxiety Related to COVID-19 -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Mental Health: Managing Fears and Anxiety Around COVID-19
• Millhill Child & Family Development in Trenton
• Mobile Response and Stabilization Services – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton En Español
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide
• New Jersey Hopeline at 1-855-654-6735 -- 24/7 peer support and suicide prevention hotline 
• New Jersey MentalHealthCares Helpline at 1-866-202-HELP (4357) or njmentalhealthcares.org
• NJVet2Vet at 1-866-838-7654 -- 24/7 support to NJ National Guard members, active military personnel, veterans, their families and caregivers statewide
• ReachNJ at 1-844-ReachNJ -- 24/7 hotline staffed by trained addiction experts
•  Rise First Responders provides crisis counseling, virtual support and webinars for COVID-19 first responders
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517)

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NJ’s Drug Monitoring Initiative (DMI) has created a “New Jersey Resource Guide” to provide all partners and the public with a comprehensive directory/list of programs, links, and information to relevant resources for a variety of topics.  COVID-19_Resource-Guide and NJ COVID-19 Guía de recursos en Español

FAMILY AND CHILD-RELATED RESOURCES

• Child care - Emergency Childcare Assistance for Essential Employees
• Child care information – Visit https://acnj.org/
• COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families – Program for Parents
• COVID-19 resources for families -- National Autism Association
• How to talk to your anxious child or teen about coronavirus -- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Mobile Response and Stabilization Services – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton En Español
• Talking with Kids about the Corona-19 Virus -- New Jersey Hope and Healing
• Tips for Families: Coronavirus -- Zero to Three

NUTRITION AND FOOD-RELATED RESOURCES

• Food Assistance – Mercer County Board of Social Services
• Food Assistance -- NJ SNAP. Many New Jerseyans who receive food assistance through the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (NJ SNAP) will receive additional benefits in May.
• "Food Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic" -- US Department of Agriculture
• "Healthy Eating in the Time of COVID-19" -- NJ Agriculture Experiment Station
• "Maintaining Good Nutrition is More Important Than Ever for Older Adults" -- Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
• New Family Meals web page featuring recipes, tips, videos and many other resources to help make family meals easy, healthy and affordable. -- Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
• "Teaching Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Plan, Cook and Enjoy Meals" -- free webinar with Michelle Brill, Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
• Trenton Area Free Food Resources -- Trenton Health Team
• "Using Non-Perishable Items to Build a Healthy Plate" -- University of Georgia Extension

RESOURCES FOR OLDER ADULTS

• Consumer Fraud Alert: COVID-19 -- Senior Medicare Patrol
• COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Grandfamilies and Multigenerational Families – Program for Parents
• People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness: Older Adults – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Resources for Older Adults during COVID-19 -- National Council on Aging
• Virtual SHIP Mercer County -- State Health Insurance Assistance Program
• Virtual SHIP Mercer County (Español)

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