NJ SHARES Municipal Customer Assistance Program (MCAP) provides water, sewer and electric assistance grants to income qualified households experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Eligibility is based on household size and income. Households who have municipal utility services and income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level can receive up to $200 per utility per calendar year. Grants will be used for consumption charges only – not for deposits, reconnection fees, repairs, etc. All grant payments are issued directly to the utility company on the customer’s behalf and no customer will receive a credit balance.
Eligibility Guidelines
Households MUST:
- Have an active residential municipal utility account
- Reside at the service address listed on the utility bill
- Be experiencing a temporary financial crisis, such as job loss or illness
- Be in arrears on their municipal water, sewer and/or electric bill
Households MAY:
- Receive one grant of up to $200 for water service between January 1 and December 31 of a given year
- Receive one grant of up to $200 for sewer service between January 1 and December 31 of a given year
- Receive one grant of up to $200 for electric service or electric heating source, if the household is heated with electric, once between January 1 and December 31 of a given year
Income Eligibility
- Household income must be at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. See Chart.
Income Eligibility for Seniors and the Disabled
- Applicants 65 years of age or older, with households of one or two members only, will be eligible for NJ SHARES MCAP if the maximum household income is $99,735 gross annually or $8,311 gross monthly. Applicants must show proof of age.
- Applicants receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, with households of one or two members only, will be eligible for NJ SHARES MCAP if the maximum household income is $99,735 gross annually or $8,311 gross monthly. Applicants must show proof of SSD benefit.
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