Welcome!
The Division of Social Services provides assistance to the needy in Union County by administering a variety of programs including:
- Free Vaccinations for children
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- General Assistance
- Food Stamps
- Emergency Assistance
- Family Care
- Nursing Home Care
- Medical Assistance
- Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD)
- Child Support Services
Federal Changes to NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid
The federal government has changed the rules around who is eligible for NJ FamilyCare starting Fall 2026.
Learn about these changes by selecting your preferred language:
Plainfield Temporary Closure
The Union County Division of Social Services Plainfield location is temporarily closed due to building renovations.
To ensure continued access to services, all clients should visit the DSS Elizabeth Office located at:
- 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth
- Monday – Friday
- 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Services Available Include:
- Initial Applications
- Recertifications
- Interviews
- Case Support
- Immediate Need Assistance
- All Other Social Service Inquiries & Assistance
We encourage all clients to bring all required documentation to avoid delays in processing.
Locations
The Division of Social Services has two offices on the East and West ends of Union County. Residents are welcome to visit both.
Elizabeth
342 Westminster Avenue
Elizabeth 07208
Phone: 908-558-2288
Fax: 908-965-2752
Monday through Friday
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Plainfield
Temporally Closed
200 West Second Street
Plainfield 07060
Need Assistance?
NJ Helps is designed to give consumers a “one-stop” shopping resource for the wide range of programs, information and services provided by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
Find out if you qualify for more than 28 state and federal programs that can help you find housing, employment, child care, health insurance, prescriptions, pay for food and much more.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.