The Role We Play
The Office of Temporary Assistance provides temporary financial assistance to families and individuals facing a loss of income due to unemployment or inability to work due to illness or disability. Financial assistance is time limited and requires the family/individual to pursue alternative income sources such as employment or disability benefits.
Child Support and Paternity (CSP)
973-326-7800
Promotes financial and medical security for all New Jersey children in need of support. For the general public, it helps to locate non-custodial parents and to review all existing child support orders. Together with Family Court, it provides for genetic testing in all contested paternity matters. For TANF and AFDC Medicaid applicants, cooperation with CSP is required as a first step for eligibility unless the applicant is a victim of domestic violence. CSP provides a full range of services including establishing paternity, locating absent parents, establishing support orders, making information available to consumer credit agencies regarding delinquent parents, and the imposition of liens against real and personal property. It also provides genetic testing, and complaint initiation in local and out-of-State courts. Collection and enforcement of established orders are referred to the appropriate County Probation Department.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
General Assistance (Welfare)
973-326-7800
A state funded cash assistance program for single individuals and childless couples. Like TANF recipients, individuals may also receive Food Stamps and limited medical services. The Office of Temporary Assistance handles GA from all Morris County municipalities.
Kinship Care Subsidy Program
973-326-7800
Provides monthly cash subsidies for children living with individuals who are kinship legal guardians raising a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so. Kinship Caregivers may also receive help with childcare costs and other services.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
The Home Energy Assistance Program helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.
Find out if you’re eligible for the program, fill out an application or locate a Local Agency at State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
Medicaid
The Office of Temporary Assistance administers both Community and Institutional Medicaid programs, providing benefits to financially and medically eligible families and individuals.
- Office of Temporary Assistance (government division)
Rental Assistance
973-829-8264
One Month Back Rent, First month’s Rent or Security Deposit may be provided to clients who present at the agency homeless or in danger of homelessness and with financial hardships. Assistance is based on future affordability and proof that there was a hardship within the home that prohibited the client from paying the rent. Clients will be seen by a social worker in the office to better assess their needs. Currently, OTA does not have funding to assist clients with ongoing rental assistance.
Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families (SAIF)
For those who have reached the 5-year limit for cash assistance
1-800-870-3478 / 973-285-6880
For individuals who have reached the 5-year limit for cash assistance and do not qualify for an exemption, SAIF provides cash assistance and support services such as child care and transportation for up to 24 months.
To qualify, individuals must:
- Cooperate with all WorkFirst NJ requirements
- Have experienced family/domestic violence
- Be medically incapable or deferred from participating in work-related activities for 12 months or longer
- Be deferred due to illness
- Be six (6) or more months pregnant
- Have lost job through no fault of your own, or due to problems with child care or transportation
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
973-326-7800
Provides financial assistance to parents and/or relatives or legal guardians who meet the income guidelines caring for a child up to age 18, or age 19 if graduating high school by their 19th birthday, or age 21 if in a specialized education program. Many recipients are also eligible for Food Stamps and Medicaid.
- Unemployment Insurance
Utility Assistance
973-829-8264
Emergency Utility Assistance is available to clients who are in need of a one-time payment to their utility company and have received a shutoff notice. There is a maximum dollar amount that OTA can assist with, but the ultimate goal is to avoid shut off or restore service when possible. Clients will be seen by a social worker in the office to better assess their needs.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
VITA Sites
2017 Tax Year
Boonton Senior Center
126 North Main St.
Boonton, NJ 07005
Tel: 973-544-8293
Open: TU, W 9:30AM-2:30PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Gujarati and Hindi is spoken, Hindi on TuesdayChatham Library
214 Main St.
Chatham, NJ 07928
Tel: 973-635-0603
Open: Feb 1–Apr 12, W 10:00am-2:00pm
Special instructions: By appointmentChatham Senior Community Center
58 Meyersville Rd.
Chatham, NJ 07928
Tel: 973-635-4565
Open: TH 9:30AM-2:00PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessibleChester Library
250 West Main St.
Chester, NJ 07930
Tel: 908-879-7612
Open: TU 9:30AM-1:30PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu is spokenDenville Municipal Building
1 St Mary’s Place
Denville, NJ 07834
Tel: 973-627-6555
Open: W 10:00am-2:00pm
Handicap Accessible; Vietnamese is spokenFirst Memorial Presbyterian Church
51 W. Blackwell St.
Dover, NJ 07801
Tel: N/A
Open: Feb 2-Apr 13, TU 11:30am-3:00pm; TH 11:30am-3:00pm; 6:30pm-9:00pm
Special instructions: Walk-inMount Olive Library
202 Flanders Drakestown Rd.
Flanders, NJ 07836
Tel: 973-691-8686
Open: Feb 2 – Apr 11; TH 11:00am – 3:30pm; SA (Feb 18, Mar 18 & Apr 15) 9:00am – 1:00pm (Last appointment 12 Noon)
Special instructions: By AppointmentKinnelon Volunteer Fire Department
103 Kiel Ave.
Kinnelon, NJ 07405
Tel: 973-838-1321
Open: TH 10:00AM-2:00PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessibleLake Hiawatha Library
69 Nokomis Ave.
Lake Hiawatha , NJ 07034
Tel: 973-334-0952
Open: Saturdays, Feb 11 – Apr 15; 10:00am – 4:00pm (Last appointment at 2:30pm)
Special instructions: By AppointmentParsippany Community Center
1130 Knoll Rd.
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
Tel: 973-263-7351
Open: TU 9:00am-2:00pm
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Gujarati and Hindi are spokenMadison Senior Center
28 Walnut St.
Madison, NJ 07940
Tel: 973-593-3095
Open: W 9:00AM-2:00PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Hindi, Punjabi, German, Mandarin, and Chinese are spokenJefferson Senior Center
54 Schoolhouse Rd.
Milton, NJ 07438
Tel: 973-208-8272
Open: Feb 10 – Mar 31, F 10:00am – 2:00pm
Special instructions: By AppointmentInterfaith Food Pantry
2 Executive Drive
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Tel: 973-993-1160 ext. 521
Open: Appointment Only (Make appointment)
Special instructions: By AppointmentPresbyterian Church
57 East Park Place
Morristown, NJ 07960
Tel: 973-538-3451
Open: Feb 2 – Apr 13, M 4:30pm – 8:30pm; TU, TH 9:30am – 1:30pm
Special instructions: Appointment Preferred; Walk-in AllowedMorristown Senior Center
200 South St.
Morristown, NJ 07960
Tel: 973-292-6690
Open: M 9:30AM-1:30PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Hindi, Punjabi, Mandarin Chinese, Chinese, and Tagalog are spokenJefferson Township Library
1031 Weldon Rd.
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
Tel: 973-208-6244
Open: W 9:30AM-1:30PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessibleParsippany-Troy Hills Public Library
449 Halsey Rd.
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Tel: 973-887-5150
Open: F 9:30AM-2:30PM; SA 9:30AM-1:30PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; German, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese spoken on Fridays; Vietnamese spoken on SaturdaysPequannock Municipal Bldg.
Town Hall Court Room, 530 Newark-Pompton Turnpike
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
Tel: 973-897-0411
Open: Feb 7 – Apr 4; TU 10:00am – 2:00pm
Special instructions: By appointmentRockaway Township Senior Center
19 Mt. Hope Rd.
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Tel: 973-366-5327
Open: Feb 15 – Apr 12; W 10:00am – 2:00pm
Special instructions: By appointment and walk-inRoxbury Public Library
103 Main St.
Succasunna, NJ 07876
Tel: 973-584-2400
Open: M, TH 10:00am-2:00pm
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Tagalog, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and German spoken on Mondays; Tagalog, Hindi, German spoken on ThursdaysWharton Public Library
15 South Main St.
Wharton, NJ 07885
Tel: 973-361-1333
Open: M, TU 10:30AM-3:00PM
Special instructions: Appointment Required
Handicap accessible; Bengali and Hindi spoken on Mondays and TuesdaysMorris County Library
30 East Hanover Ave.
Whippany, NJ 07981
Tel: 973-538-3451
Open: Feb 4 – Apr 15; SA 9:00 am – 1:30pm; Mar 8 – Apr 12; W 9:00am – 1:30pm
Special instructions: By appointment; Walk-ins if space available