Haven't Received Your ANCHOR Money? Here's What To Know

Note: As of Wednesday evening, Oct. 16, the online tool to check your ANCHOR benefit status is under maintenance and residents are unable to access it. Click here for more information.

NEW JERSEY — Payments have started arriving for New Jersey residents signed up for the ANCHOR program, with the state saying they have issued checks or direct deposits to about 1 million people.

But, there are still applicants waiting to receive their property tax refund from ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters), which could pay up to $1,750.

If you are one of those people, here's what to know:

When did the first round of payments go out?

The New Jersey Division of Taxation said that more than 900,000 people were scheduled to get their payments through direct deposit as of Thursday, Oct. 10. Another 100,000 checks were mailed out on Friday, the 11th. The majority of these benefits went to people who were automatically enrolled this year.

Payments will be issued on a rolling basis until all eligible applicants are paid, the state said — usually within 90 days of a completed application. But if the state needs more information or clarification from any applicants, the process could take longer.

The application period officially opened in late August, and officials said they've received 225,000 new applications as of Oct. 11.

How many homeowners and renters will receive a benefit this year?

The state expects 2 million people to get a property tax benefit this year, and payment amounts range from $450 for renters to $1,500 for homeowners. There is an extra $250 available to eligible senior residents.

Overall, the state sent benefit confirmation letters to 1.5 million residents who were already in the ANCHOR system, and another 2 million application mailers went out in late August. If you didn't get a mailer or happen to lose yours, you can still check eligibility and sign up at anchor.nj.gov.

How can I see my application status and check when my payment will arrive?

You can go to the "Check Benefit Status" page on the Division of Taxation website, and select the 2021 tax year from the list of options. To do so, you'll need a valid Social Security Number/ Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and your ZIP code.

The benefit status check tool is updated twice a week, per the state.

Is it too late to apply for ANCHOR?

New applicants have until Nov. 30 to submit their information online or by mail.

Eligibility and payments for this year's ANCHOR program are based on your 2021 residency, income, and age. For that year, homeowners must have had an annual gross income of $250,000 or less, and renters must have had an annual income of $150,000 or less to be eligible.

The deadline has passed for previous recipients who changed their personal information, such as their address, name, or bank account information, to submit a new application.

This year, the state partnered with the ID.me network, which allows people to provide proof of their identity virtually, as an extra security measure.

First-time applicants, those who are looking for their ANCHOR ID and PIN, those who did not receive an ANCHOR benefit confirmation letter or application mailer, and those who no longer have their letter/mailer and the accompanying information will have to complete these extra steps.

The Division of Taxation said that as of Oct. 16, 97,000 homeowners used ID.me to recover their ID and PIN info, along with 225,000 people who used the tool to file their applications.

Who can I contact if I have further questions?

For more information about the program, go to anchor.nj.gov. Applicants may also call the ANCHOR hotline at (609) 826-4282 or 1-888-238-1233, get in-person assistance at a Regional Information Center, or stop by one of the in-person ANCHOR help events scheduled around the state.

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