NJ Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and StayNJ payments: What to know for 2025
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Eligible New Jersey senior citizens may start to see some of the state's property tax relief efforts coming their way soon.
.....
The state started sending out Senior Freeze program payments on July 15 [2025] and those payments will continue to be mailed on a rolling basis as applications are processed.
..... As for the popular ANCHOR program, benefits for seniors are expected to start being sent to eligible recipients on September 15. [2025] For non-seniors the wait on that one is a little bit longer, October 1. [2025]
..... And the oft discussed but still not in effect StayNJ program will start getting paid out quarterly beginning February 15. [2026]
Can I still apply?
..... There is still time to apply for all of these programs. There is a combined application, known as the PAS-1 for seniors to apply for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and StayNJ. The deadline to submit that is October 31. [2025]
..... Eligible senior applicants will also receive a notice toward the end of the year [2025] explaining which program and benefit amounts they qualify for.
.....
As for non-seniors, those who have received ANCHOR in the past should not have to complete a new application because the previous recipient will be auto-filed. Those that have Not received payment will be able to apply mid-August. [2025]
How do StayNJ, Senior Freeze and Anchor work?
..... StayNJ: Geared toward keeping seniors in New Jersey during their golden years., StayNJ will cut property taxes for those 65 and older with incomes of up to $500,000. It is projected that 90% of eligible recipients have incomes of less than $200,000.
..... Senior Freeze: Senior Freeze is open to seniors and disabled homeowners that made up to $168,268 last year [2024] and $163,050 in 2023. they are required to have owned and lived in their home since at least December 31, 2020, and still owned-and lived in that home on December31, 2024.
..... ANCHOR: ANCHOR is one of the most popular tax relief programs ever implemented in the state. There are no age restrictions on eligibility. Instead it's open to homeowners making up to $250,000 annually and renters making up to $150,000 annually
..... Last year [2024] the program paid out more than $2.2 billion to more than 1.9 million people throughout the Garden State during its third round.
..... In all, more than 5.3 million recipients have received payouts totaling more than $6.2 billion. Payouts will continue to range from $450 to $1,750.
.....
New Jersey's state budget for fiscal year 2026, which runs from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, includes $2,431,572.00 for ANCHOR, $239,300,000 for Senior Freeze and $280,000,000 for StayNJ.
..... That isn't the only money dedicated for StayNJ though. It's actually the third and final tranche of funding needed to cover just the start
of the program.
..... Including this third year of funding, the state has set asided $600 million for the program and is expected to cover payments to eligible recipients from January through June 2026.
..... State treasury officials confirmed in February there is no "buildup plan" for fiscal year 2027, which is estimated to cost $1.2 billion annually
.... Katie Sobko covers the new Jersey Statehouse. Email:sobko@northjersey.com