NJ WIC and Utility Assistance for Kinship Caregivers — Extra Help Beyond Cash and SNAP

WIC for Children Under Five

If you're raising a grandchild or relative's child who is under five years old, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides free food packages, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support. A relative caregiver can apply on behalf of the child — you don't need to be the biological parent.

The fastest path to WIC eligibility is adjunctive qualification: if the child already receives NJ FamilyCare, NJ SNAP, or WorkFirst NJ TANF, they automatically meet WIC's income requirement. No separate income verification needed. Since most kinship households will have applied for at least one of these programs, WIC enrollment is usually straightforward.

WIC serves children from birth through their fifth birthday. The food packages include infant formula, cereal, fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, whole grains, and beans. Benefits are loaded onto an eWIC card that works at participating grocery stores.

LIHEAP — Heating and Cooling Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps households pay home heating costs and medically necessary cooling costs. New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs administers LIHEAP. For Federal Fiscal Year 2027, the applicant household must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs and have gross income at or below 60% of State Median Income.

The FFY 2027 application period runs from October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, while funding is available. The benefit amount depends on household size, income, fuel type, and heating region. Apply online at EnergyAssistance.NJ.gov or through an authorized local agency.

For help finding an agency, call the New Jersey utility assistance hotline at 1-800-510-3102 or NJ 211.

USF — The Universal Service Fund

New Jersey's Universal Service Fund provides a monthly credit on eligible natural gas and electric bills. For FFY 2027, household gross income must be at or below 60% of State Median Income, and the household must have a residential gas or electric bill in a member's name. The household must also spend more than 2% of its income on electric or natural gas service, or more than 4% on electricity if the home is electrically heated. USF credits are based on the household's income and energy costs, up to $200 per month; benefits generally last up to 12 months per benefit year and require annual recertification.

The USF application is available year-round through the DCAid portal or a local LIHEAP/USF agency, and the same application covers LIHEAP and USF. SNAP application information may also be checked for USF and LIHEAP eligibility, but that check does not guarantee enrollment.

Emergency Utility Shutoff Prevention

If you're facing a utility shutoff, contact your utility company immediately. New Jersey's Winter Termination Program can protect eligible residential customers from some service shutoffs from November 15 through March 15; eligibility depends on the household's program status and utility service. Call NJ 211 or DCAid for assistance referrals. The Kinship Navigator Program may also provide one-time utility stabilization payments as last-resort funds after other assistance resources have been exhausted.

Respite Care Through Area Agencies on Aging

Kinship caregivers aged 55 or older can access respite care through the National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III-E of the Older Americans Act). Your county's Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Connection coordinates these services, which include:

• Respite care reimbursement (so you can take a break while someone else watches the child)
• Caregiver support groups
• Case management
• Vouchers for summer camp or after-school programs

These are direct services, not cash payments. Contact your county ADRC or call NJ 211 for a referral.

Stacking It All Together

WIC, utility assistance, and respite care layer on top of the core kinship benefits — TANF, SNAP, FamilyCare, KCSP, and CCAP. A 63-year-old grandmother raising a 3-year-old grandchild could receive child-only TANF, SNAP, FamilyCare, WIC, LIHEAP or USF utility credits, and respite care through the ADRC — six separate programs, each from a different agency.

The New Jersey Kinship Financial Help Guide maps every one of these programs, including the supplemental ones most caregivers never hear about, with application steps and a benefits calendar in one place.

See more New Jersey guides →