Stay NJ 2026 Update: What Seniors Need to Know Before the November Deadline

by Robert O'Keefe

New Jersey seniors have an important property tax relief deadline approaching.

The deadline to file the 2025 PAS-1 combined property tax relief application is November 2, 2026.

The PAS-1 allows eligible seniors and certain disabled residents to apply through one application for three major New Jersey property tax relief programs:

Stay NJ
Senior Freeze
ANCHOR

But there is an important change seniors need to understand before filing.

New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2027 budget changed the Stay NJ rules for benefits associated with the 2025 tax year. The income limit is now $200,000, and the maximum Stay NJ benefit varies depending on household income.

If you have not filed yet, now is the time to review the updated rules.

The Deadline Is November 2, 2026

The New Jersey Division of Taxation lists November 2, 2026 as the filing deadline for the 2025 PAS-1 application.

Senior homeowners and qualifying disability-benefit recipients are not automatically filed for these programs.

They must complete the PAS-1 themselves, either online or by paper.

That is an important distinction because some younger ANCHOR applicants may have had applications automatically filed based on prior information.

Seniors using PAS-1 should not assume the State has filed on their behalf.

What Is the PAS-1?

PAS-1 is New Jersey's combined Application for Property Tax Relief.

Instead of filing separate applications for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ, qualifying applicants submit one PAS-1 application.

The Division of Taxation then determines which programs the applicant qualifies for and the applicable benefit amounts.

This is especially useful because the programs have different eligibility rules.

Someone may qualify for:

All three programs
Two programs
Only one program

Filing PAS-1 allows the State to evaluate the applicant across the programs.

The Stay NJ Income Limit Changed

This is one of the most important updates for the 2026 filing season.

Earlier Stay NJ materials referenced an income ceiling of $500,000.

However, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget signed June 30, 2026 changed the program for benefits associated with the current 2025 tax-year application.

Under the final rules, Stay NJ eligibility is limited to qualifying homeowners with income of $200,000 or less.

That means seniors relying on earlier information should review the updated requirements rather than assuming the original $500,000 limit still applies.

Stay NJ Now Has Tiered Maximum Benefits

The maximum Stay NJ benefit also depends on income.

Under the current 2025-tax-year rules:

Income	Maximum Stay NJ Benefit*
$100,000 or less	Up to $6,500
$100,000.01–$150,000	Up to $5,000
$150,000.01–$200,000	Up to $4,000
Over $200,000	Not eligible

The benefit is generally based on 50% of the qualifying property tax bill, subject to the applicable maximum benefit and coordination with other property tax relief programs.

*The Division of Taxation describes these maximums on an annualized basis and notes that benefits remain subject to future State Budget appropriations.

Who Is Eligible for Stay NJ?

For the current application, the Division of Taxation says a Stay NJ applicant—or their spouse—must generally:

Have been 65 or older during 2025
Have owned and lived in the home for the full 12 months of 2025
Have used it as the principal residence
Have lived in a property subject to property taxes or qualifying P.I.L.O.T. payments
Have income of $200,000 or less

Stay NJ is for qualifying homeowners.

Renters and mobile home owners are not eligible for Stay NJ, although they may qualify for other property tax relief programs depending on their circumstances.

Stay NJ, Senior Freeze, and ANCHOR Are Different Programs

It is easy to confuse these programs because they are now included on one application.

But they do different things.

Stay NJ

Stay NJ is designed to provide eligible senior homeowners with property tax relief based partly on their property tax bill, subject to income-based maximums and coordination with other benefits.

Senior Freeze

Senior Freeze reimburses qualifying seniors and disabled residents for increases in property taxes above their established base-year amount.

For the 2025 application, Senior Freeze income must generally be:

$168,268 or less for 2024
$172,475 or less for 2025

Additional residency, ownership, age or disability requirements apply.

ANCHOR

For 2025, homeowner ANCHOR eligibility extends to New Jersey gross income of up to $250,000.

Current homeowner benefit amounts are:

Income of $150,000 or less: $1,500
Income from $150,001 to $250,000: $1,000

Because the eligibility requirements differ, someone who does not qualify for Stay NJ could still potentially qualify for ANCHOR.

That is one reason filing the PAS-1 is important.

The Programs Work Together

Stay NJ should not simply be viewed as an additional check automatically stacked on top of every other benefit.

The State coordinates Stay NJ with other property tax relief programs.

The Division of Taxation states that the total amount of property tax relief benefits cannot exceed the property taxes paid on the principal residence for the same year.

Applicants will receive a benefit statement showing the amounts calculated for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ.

That means two homeowners with similar property tax bills could receive different benefit combinations depending on income, Senior Freeze history, ANCHOR eligibility, and other factors.

What Happened to Stay NJ Payments in 2026?

There are actually two Stay NJ timelines being discussed during 2026, which can create confusion.

The Stay NJ payments distributed during calendar year 2026 are tied to the 2024 tax year and last season's PAS-1 filing.

Those recipients began receiving Stay NJ installments in February 2026.

After passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the State changed the remaining 2026 payment structure.

The payment recipients were scheduled to receive in the third quarter was split into two parts:

Half in August 2026
Half in November 2026

The Division of Taxation states that this change means recipients will ultimately receive a lower overall Stay NJ benefit for calendar year 2026 than previously anticipated.

This is separate from the PAS-1 application currently due November 2.

When Will the Current Stay NJ Benefits Be Paid?

The PAS-1 being filed now is for the 2025 tax year.

The Division of Taxation currently lists Stay NJ payments associated with that application for:

February 2027
May 2027

The State notes that property tax relief programs remain subject to State Budget appropriations, so applicants should continue checking official information as future budgets are finalized.

This is another reason the terminology can be confusing:

You are filing in 2026 for benefits based on the 2025 tax year, with Stay NJ payments scheduled into 2027.

Do Not Wait Because You Already Received ANCHOR

Senior homeowners should not assume that receiving ANCHOR previously means their PAS-1 has automatically been completed.

The Division of Taxation specifically states that homeowners age 65 or older and qualifying Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability recipients must file PAS-1 themselves.

The State will not automatically file PAS-1 on their behalf.

Even if you received benefits in the past, confirm that your current application has actually been submitted.

What Should You Have Ready?

When preparing the PAS-1, it can help to gather relevant documents before starting.

Depending on your situation, that may include:

Property tax information
New Jersey income information
Property identification information
Prior Senior Freeze information
Banking information if applicable
Age or disability documentation if requested
Documentation related to ownership or residency if required

The Division of Taxation may request supporting documentation later to verify eligibility.

If filing online, completing the application before the final day also leaves more time to address questions or missing information.

How Can You Check Your Status?

New Jersey provides an online benefit-status system for its property tax relief programs.

Applicants can check the status of their Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ benefits through the State's property tax relief resources.

The State also offers assistance through Division of Taxation Regional Information Centers, telephone appointments, online resources, and the Property Tax Relief Hotline.

If you believe you already filed but are unsure, checking the status is better than assuming the application went through.

Why This Matters for NJ Seniors

Property taxes are one of the largest continuing housing expenses for many New Jersey retirees.

Programs such as Stay NJ, Senior Freeze, and ANCHOR can affect the real cost of staying in a longtime home.

For someone deciding whether to:

Remain in their current home
Downsize
Move to a 55+ community
Relocate to another New Jersey town
Reduce monthly housing expenses

property tax relief should be included in the larger financial picture.

However, benefits can change through the State Budget.

That is exactly what happened with Stay NJ in 2026.

Planning should therefore be based on the current rules, not an older benefit estimate.

The Most Important Things to Remember

Before the November deadline, seniors should remember four key points:

PAS-1 must be filed by November 2, 2026.
The current Stay NJ income limit is $200,000—not the earlier $500,000 threshold.
Maximum Stay NJ benefits now range from $4,000 to $6,500 depending on income.
PAS-1 evaluates eligibility for Stay NJ, Senior Freeze, and ANCHOR through one application.

If you have not applied, do not assume previous participation means you are automatically covered.

Final Thought

Stay NJ remains an important property tax relief program for qualifying New Jersey seniors, but the rules changed significantly during 2026.

The final Fiscal Year 2027 budget lowered the Stay NJ income eligibility ceiling to $200,000 for the current 2025-tax-year application and established tiered maximum benefits of $6,500, $5,000, or $4,000, depending on income.

Most importantly, eligible seniors should remember the application deadline:

November 2, 2026.

The PAS-1 is the single application used to determine eligibility for Stay NJ, Senior Freeze, and ANCHOR.

If these programs could apply to you, review the current rules, gather your information, and make sure your application is submitted before the deadline.

Because when it comes to property tax relief, missing the filing date can be far more costly than taking the time to review the application now.

What’s Next?

Property tax relief can be an important part of deciding whether staying in your current home, downsizing, or moving to a 55+ community makes financial sense.

You can visit the About Page to learn more about the planning-first approach and how thoughtful preparation helps homeowners make informed real estate decisions.

When you're ready, you can schedule a conversation through Book a Call to talk through your housing goals, timeline, and next steps.

You can also reach out directly at (732) 201-3765 or rob@rokrealty.com.

Property tax relief rules and benefit amounts are subject to State Budget appropriations and may change. Verify current eligibility and filing requirements directly with the New Jersey Division of Taxation. This article is for general informational purposes and is not tax, legal, or financial advice.