(TRENTON) – Today, New Jersey State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio and Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman, announced that a one-time benefit of $500 per eligible resident will be mailed this month under the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Direct Assistance Program (ITIN) to income-eligible New Jersey individuals and families who were ineligible for federal stimulus payments and file taxes using an ITIN.

Eligible individuals do not need to apply for this benefit. If an individual's tax return meets the eligibility requirements, a check from the State of New Jersey will automatically be mailed to them later this month.

The Tax Division of the Treasury Department will send the checks to the address used by the person when they filed their taxes for the year 2021.

The Department of Human Services Office of New Americans has developed education and outreach materials and will publicize this benefit in collaboration with the Department of Treasury.

“This program is designed to provide assistance to hard-working, tax-paying residents who have been equally impacted by the pandemic, but have not received similar assistance from the federal government,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “We are working hard with our partners at DHS to ensure this much-needed benefit reaches all eligible beneficiaries, particularly those who may not owe taxes, but still need to file a 2021 return to receive this benefit.”

“Through this program, tens of thousands of households will benefit from this direct financial boost. Eligible residents can expect one-time financial assistance of up to $500 for each ITIN-holding household member listed on the resident's tax return. Because this is a one-time benefit, it will not be considered under the public charge rule nor will it impact eligibility for public benefit programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP or TANF,” said Commissioner Adelman. "With the holidays approaching, we're glad this help is coming to low-income ITIN filers this month."

It is estimated that the program will provide assistance to more than 68.000 households.

For more information visit: https://nj.gov/treasury/taxation/itinfaq.shtml.

For questions please call the Customer Service Center at 609-292-6400.