The state of New Jersey administers the ANCHOR initiative, a stimulus checks program designed to offset the financial burden of property taxes for a significant portion of its residents. This measure provides direct refunds to eligible individuals and families, whether they own or rent their homes, who use the property as their primary residence.
The cycle corresponding to fiscal year 2024, with baseline data from that same year, provides economic relief to low- and middle-income groups. Active distribution of funds began on September 15, 2025, and is being carried out on a rolling basis. The application period closed on October 31, 2025, and the initiative is projected to benefit more than two million people in the state.
ANCHOR Stimulus Checks: Step-by-Step Guide to Know the Program
Benefit amounts are determined by pre-established formulas that consider tenure status, income levels, and the applicant’s age. These benefits are not a future tax credit but a direct cash transfer.
The program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Revenue, which is responsible for data verification, application processing, and final payment disbursement. Eligibility is assessed annually, requiring applicants to confirm their status or submit a new application each cycle, unless they qualify for automatic archiving.
Why Some People Receive Their ANCHOR Stimulus Check as Late as December
A considerable number of beneficiaries receive their payment corresponding to the 2024 cycle during the month of December 2025. This phenomenon is due to foreseeable administrative and circumstantial factors.
The application period saw numerous applications submitted in its final days. Those submitted near the deadline will enter later processing phases, with dispatch windows scheduled for the following weeks.
For cases where direct deposit is selected, transactions are usually scheduled between December 1 and 15, with the expectation that most will be completed around December 20.
Physical applications submitted by mail experience additional costs inherent in manual handling, digitization, and the subsequent issuance and mailing of a physical check. This method results in a substantially longer delivery cycle compared to electronic applications.
Some Applications Need to Be Closely Verified
When the system detects inconsistencies or requires confirmation of specific documentation—such as an NJ-1040 tax return to validate gross income or documents proving ownership—the application undergoes manual review. This scenario extends beyond the estimated 90-day period from the initial filing.
Furthermore, exceptions are made for hardship, such as medical issues, tax filing delays, or other serious setbacks that justify an extended application or special processing, potentially resulting in payments in December or even January 2026.
Those Eligible to Receive ANCHOR Stimulus Checks
The program’s primary purpose is to alleviate the cost of a primary residence; therefore, it expressly does not apply to second homes, vacation properties, commercial real estate, or units with more than four dwellings. The residence must be located in New Jersey and have been occupied as the primary residence since at least October 1, 2024.
For owners, this means owning and having lived in the dwelling, which includes condominiums, cooperative housing, and mobile homes of their own property. Those who are exempt from paying all property taxes or whose properties are under P.I.L.O.T. (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) agreements do not qualify.
For tenants, the requirement is to have rented and resided in the unit, which also includes residents of parks of mobile homes and certain cooperatives. The lease must be for a dwelling subject to property tax payments by the landlord.
Now, Let’s Look at the Specifics of Income
For homeowners, New Jersey gross income—equivalent to line 29 of form NJ-1040—must not exceed $250,000. The program establishes two income brackets: up to $150,000 and between $150,001 and $250,000, which determines the final amount.
For renters, while there are no explicit income brackets in the same way, eligibility is tied to filing form NJ-1040 and is geared toward low- and middle-income individuals and families.
Regarding age, applicants who are 65 or older as of December 31, 2024, or those receiving Social Security disability benefits, are eligible for higher amounts and have specific filing procedures. For them, the process is often not automatic and requires manual confirmation or application action.
Special Cases That Require Extra Steps
The program addresses atypical situations. In the event of the death of a qualified applicant after October 1, 2024, the surviving spouse or the estate executor may submit the application, attaching the death certificate, and the benefit will accrue to the deceased’s estate. Those who have moved their permanent residence to an institution such as a nursing home lose their eligibility.
Many applicants, particularly those under 65 without disabilities, may be automatically included in the process if their tax and property details are up-to-date and were verified in the reference base year (2021 for this cycle). Those who do not qualify for this automated process must submit their application through the online portal or the paper form, a process that includes an identity verification phase through the platform.ID.me.
Maximum Amounts per Category
The refund amounts are fixed by category. Homeowners under 65 with incomes up to $150,000 receive $1,500; if their income is between $150,001 and $250,000, the amount is $1,000. Homeowners 65 and older in those same income ranges receive $1,750 and $1,250, respectively, with an additional $50 credit if they did not claim a specific senior tax credit.
For renters, the amounts are fixed regardless of exact income within the eligibility limit: $450 for those under 65 and $700 for those 65 and older. The latter group can also access a $250 age supplement and the aforementioned $50 credit. Remember the total ANCHOR benefit, combined with other programs such as Senior Freeze or Stay NJ, cannot exceed the total amount of property taxes actually paid in the year.
