The state of New Jersey has begun distributing the first round of payments under Stay NJ, a new property tax relief program for eligible seniors and disabled residents, state officials announced today.

The Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation has started mailing paper checks to about 430,000 taxpayers who qualified for the program and applied through the PAS-1 combined application used for Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze benefits.

Stay NJ benefits are being issued in equal quarterly installments rather than a single payment. The average first installment is about $637. The next payment is scheduled to be mailed in mid-May.

State officials said benefit amounts are calculated using a formula that considers a taxpayer’s property tax bill as well as eligibility for other state property tax relief programs, including ANCHOR and Senior Freeze.

Applicants received letters in fall 2025 outlining the benefits they qualified for under the three programs. Senior Freeze payments were distributed in summer 2025, followed by ANCHOR payments in the fall.

The current Stay NJ payments cover the 2024 tax season. Meanwhile, the application period for the next round of benefits – covering tax year 2025 – is already underway. Eligible residents can apply using the PAS-1 combined application online through the state’s property tax relief system. The deadline to apply is Nov. 2, 2026.

State officials noted that funding for New Jersey’s property tax relief programs remains subject to annual state budget appropriations.