Cape May County WFNJ & SNAP Benefits

Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson wants to ensure all Cape May County residents who are receiving WFNJ and SNAP benefits during this ongoing coronavirus concern that the processing of those benefits is a top priority.

 In an effort to make it easier for you to apply or receive your benefits, a number of temporary changes have been put in place regarding social services that are administered at the Cape May County Division of Social Services.

We are encouraging county residents who want to apply for SNAP food assistance, or cash assistance under the Work First New Jersey program to do so online at NJHelps.org.  During this public health crisis, we can do interviews by phone, so you do not need to come into the office to apply for benefits.

Work First New Jersey cash assistance clients who are due for their case to be reviewed in March or April automatically will get a 60-day extension.  You do not need to come into the office.

If you are a SNAP food assistance or a Work First New Jersey cash assistance client, you are not required to attend your work activity, unless you want to and the program is operating. This includes people who are applying for Work First New Jersey General Assistance and are in a work activity for 28 days while their application is being reviewed.  No penalty will be assessed to you if you do not attend your work activity. 

When you need to bring paperwork to the office, you can fax, mail or look for the drop box located in the front of the building with a red sign. 

The Cape May County Division of Social Services can be reached at 609-886-6200.  If you are experiencing homelessness and it is after 4:30PM, please call 2-1-1. 

Benefits for Workers from NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development

NJ Department of Labor FAQ during Coronavirus Emergency

NJ Expanded Unemployment Benefits may hit temporary hiccups... read more

Resources for Small Businesses & Individuals

New Jersey Launches Job Portal to Connect Out-of-Work Residents to Opportunities in Critical Industries

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy today announced the launch of a new online portal to connect New Jersey residents with jobs in critical industries responding to COVID-19. The jobs portal is available here:https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov. Employers in critical industries should submit information about openings with urgent hiring needs related to COVID19 here: https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/intake.

“My Administration’s top priority is helping New Jersey residents and businesses overcome the unprecedented disruptions COVID-19 is causing while staying healthy and safe,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The jobs portal will give residents who have lost their jobs or seen their hours reduced an opportunity to get back to work while also providing crucial support to the industries that are on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic.”

The jobs portal already has more than 12,000 openings and more are being added every day. These openings are in industries that are critical to New Jersey’s COVID-19 response, such as grocery stores, shipping and logistics, healthcare, janitorial services, human services, and warehousing. By connecting workers to these new openings, the tool will allow New Jersey residents to get back to work while increasing these key industries’ capacity to perform their essential duties.

“Helping workers who have seen their jobs disappear or had their hours reduced because of COVID-19 is one of our most pressing responsibilities,” said Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “The jobs portal is a central component of our efforts to help these New Jersey residents get back to work and connecting them with openings in industries that play a vital role in fighting this virus will contribute to keeping us all healthy and safe.”

The State has created a special intake tool for employers seeking to have openings posted on the portal. Employers can access the intake tool directly via https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/intake.

“COVID-19 presents a variety of new challenges for businesses throughout the state, but our employers are stepping up, and we’re doing everything we can to support their efforts to go above and beyond for our safety,” said New Jersey State Chief Innovation Officer Beth Simone Noveck. “Providing an easily-accessible online resource that will help essential businesses fill staffing shortages benefits everyone and contributes to a safe, effective response to the virus"

Job openings currently available through the portal are primarily in industries that are central to the State’s COVID-19 response, but going forward the portal will expand to include any businesses that need to tap into New Jersey’s talent resources.

“COVID-19 is directly impacting New Jersey’s physical and economic health in ways we have never seen before, but we are up to the challenge,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The new jobs portal launched today takes on three of our most pressing challenges at once: putting residents who lost jobs or had hours reduced back to work, supporting businesses that provide crucial services, and ensuring we can all stay safe and healthy through this challenging time.”

Additional information about New Jersey’s COVID-19 response is available at https://cv.business.nj.gov.

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to CARES Act

COVID-19 Family Guidebook

ACENDA Blog

Those experiencing stress and anxiety related to the many changes happening in response to the Coronavirus may find this blog to be a comforting resource. Visit http://acendahealth.org/blog for recommendations and coping skills.

NJ Support Hotlines

Listing of Cape May County Food Pantries