EITC is a federal and state tax benefit for individuals and families who earn low-to-moderate incomes in NJ. It is a tax credit that may reduce the amount of taxes you owe, or provide you with a refund, even if you don’t owe any taxes.
To get the NJ state EITC, you must file a federal tax form, be eligible for the federal EITC and file a state income tax return. (If you are married but file separately, you may not claim the EITC.)
Am I Eligible?
Depending on your income and family size, you could receive a federal credit of as much as $496 to $6,143, and a state credit of as much as $99 to $1,228.
To qualify, your earned income and adjusted gross income (AGI) must be less than:
$46,997 ($52,427 if married and filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children;
$43,756 ($49,186 if married and filing jointly) with two qualifying children;
$38,511 ($43,941 if married and filing jointly) with one qualifying child;
$14,590 ($20,020 if married and filing jointly) with no qualifying children.
Get FREE tax help.
Free tax preparation is available at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. For the nearest locationon, call NJ’s resource hotline, 2-1-1 or visit www.nj211.org
To obtain more information on New Jersey’s EITC, call toll-free 1-888-895-9179 or visit www.njeitc.org. For more information on federal EITC, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) toll-free at 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov/eitc.
EITC and Other Benefits
EITC refunds won’t count as income when you apply for or renew benefits like SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, cash assistance, or public housing. If you save your tax refund, it will not count against the resource/asset limits of these federally-funded programs for 12 months after the refund is received.
Union County will once again join NJCounts, part of a national survey of the homeless.
Union County, NJ – Union County will once again participate in the national Point-in-Time Count and Survey of the Homeless. This national census of homeless persons takes place each January. In Union County, it will be conducted from Tuesday night, January 27 to the morning of Wednesday, January 28.
As in previous years, Union County will coordinate the survey with walk-in outreach events, in order to help homeless persons and others in need connect with resources that are available to help them.
“Especially in the winter months, it is important to do our best to ensure that every person in Union County has access to the basic and essential needs of food, shelter and warmth,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “I’d like to thank our volunteers in advance, for their help in conducting the survey and providing assistance to those in need.”
In Union County, the Point-in-Time Count is assisted by a corps of volunteers coordinated by the Union County Department of Human Services.
Other County agencies providing assistance are the office of Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan and the Union County Police Division, which will provide individuals with transportation to shelters as needed. The Plainfield Police Department also assists in Plainfield.
This year there will be two walk-in outreach events, in Elizabeth and Plainfield. The Elizabeth event is coordinated by the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless at 119 Division Street, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 28.
The Plainfield event is coordinated by Ruth Fellowship Ministries, 733 South Second Street, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 28.
In addition, a special Union County initiative called “Union County Street Count” will take place early Wednesday morning, January 28, from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. During these hours, Union County will provide shelter to anyone found homeless on the streets.
The Union County Street Count is an extension of the County’s nationally recognized Code Blue initiative. Code Blue calls for county and local agencies to coordinate their resources to seek out persons needing help and assist them in getting to a warm shelter during life-threatening cold weather alerts.
“Code Blue has proven to be effective since its inception in 2007, and the County will continue to make every effort to help those in crisis,” said Jalloh.
As mandated nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the annual Point-in-Time Count includes homeless persons in conventional shelters. Persons sheltering outdoors or in other unconventional locations are counted every two years under HUD requirements. New Jersey has opted to survey both categories each year, in order to help develop improved strategies to prevent homelessness and assist the homeless.
Homelessness in New Jersey is driven by many factors, including a shortage of rental housing and consequent upward pressure on the cost of renting. Other significant factors include the ongoing foreclosure crisis, a shortage of affordable or supportive housing, a shortage of jobs that pay a living wage, and the continuing effects of housing loss after Superstorm Sandy.
In Union County, the 2014 Point-in-Time Count revealed that a significant majority of homeless persons were members of homeless families.
The count included 353 homeless family households, totaling 1,164 persons. Another 517 individual homeless persons were also counted, for an overall total of 1,681 persons.
Persons interested in volunteering to assist with the 2015 Point-in-Time count in Union County can contact Maureen Segale-Glenn, mglenn@ucnj.org or 908-527-4838.
The Point-in-Time survey is being coordinated statewide in New Jersey as NJCounts by the nonprofit housing organization Monarch Housing Associates. Tweets about NJCounts can be found on Twitter at #NJCounts 2015.
For more information about Monarch Housing Associates visit monarchhousing.org.
Young gardeners show off their new skills at Kings Daughters Day School in Plainfield. Photo credit: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County.
Union County, NJ – It’s never too early to plan ahead for the best community garden ever, and with that in mind the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to invite educators, civic group leaders and other aspiring community gardeners to the third annual “Get Your Youth and Community Garden Growing” workshop on Saturday, February 28.
Presented by experts with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, the workshop will take place at the County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside. Pre-registration is required by February 20. Continuing Education Unit credits are available.
“Now more than ever, we want to help the next generation of Union County residents grow up with a hands-on appreciation for the connection between our health and the earth, air, and water that supports us,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “I encourage you to come to the workshop and get all the information you need to get started.”
Attendees can choose from sessions covering the fundamentals of growing a successful produce garden, such as how to pick a good site and how to keep pests out.
Other sessions cover integrating garden activities into health and nutrition lesson plans for youngsters in grades pre-K to 4, and for youth in grades 5, 6 and up.
Also included are two very popular specialty topics, how to grow strawberries and how to garden-in-a-hurry with containers.
“Strawberries are a popular school project because the fruits can mature while the school year is still in session, and container gardening is an easy, space-saving solution when you don’t have much room to work with,” said Jalloh. “Let our Extension experts show you some of the amazing things you can do with a few plastic buckets and a few minutes.”
The fee for “Get Your Youth and Community Garden Growing” is $25.00, which includes lunch and all materials. More details and a registration form are available at the Union County website, ucnj.org.
To register online visit tinyurl.com/schoolgardenconference by February 20. Registrations are also accepted by mail. To request a brochure and registration form by mail, call the Extension office in Westfield at 908-654-9854.
The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is a program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by the Freeholder Board, it is part of a national network organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foster youth development and community health. For more information on 4-H, Master Gardeners, Master Tree Stewards, and many other programs in Union County, visit ucnj.org/rce.
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension educational programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law. Rutgers Cooperative Extension encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you need special accommodations, have questions about physical access, or require alternate means for program information, please contact your local Extension Office. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 848-932-3584.
Snow and black ice are expected to impact the afternoon and evening commute today and tomorrow morning, as temperatures dip below freezing with a chance of snow. Please drive with extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel.
Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds eligible business owners and managers that they can still apply for a low-interest loan to help recover from the impacts of Superstorm Sandy.
The loans are offered through the non-profit Union County Economic Development Corporation (UCEDC).
“This loan program was an exemplary recovery initiative when UCEDC first launched it in response to Superstorm Sandy, and I’d like to thank the organization and its president, Maureen Tinen along with the private sector partner Investors Bank, for continuing to make this valuable service available to our small business community,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh. “If your business is still dealing with financial impacts related to Sandy, I encourage you to call UCEDC and find out more about the program.”
UCEDC’s Business Growth Working Capital loan program offers qualified small businesses up to $25,000 at 2% for five years with no collateral requirements.
The loan can be used as general working capital, to purchase new equipment or inventory, for renovation or expansion, or to retire more expensive debt.
The program is designed to be easily accessible to small businesses that are still trying to get back up to speed after a Sandy-related setback. Along with the two percent interest rate and no collateral requirement, the program has no prepayment penalties, application fees, or processing fees.
For businesses with larger needs, UCEDC continues to provide loans of up to $250,000 with conventional interest rates and processing periods.
For more information, call UCEDC at 908-527-1166 or visit ucedc.com.
(From left) Union County Freeholders Christopher Hudak, Bette Jane Kowalski, Vernell Wright and Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh presented a check from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to the 2015 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade General Chairman Tony Brennan, Grand Marshal Dr. Margaret McMenamin and Adjutant Kathleen Holmes during the parade committee’s Celebrity Bartenders fundraiser at the Kenilworth Veterans Center. The 2015 Union County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 on Morris Avenue in Union. For more information please visit www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
Young Athletes from Cranford, Linden & Westfield Also Will Be Honored
MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – Four local baseball legends – Jorge Comas of Elizabeth, Barry Kaverick of Kenilworth, Richard McCormack of Elizabeth, and Jack Shaw of Roselle Park – will be inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame during awards ceremonies at the 79th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8. The awards dinner begins at 1:00 p.m. at the L’Affaire Banquet Center, 1099 Route 22 East, in Mountainside.
The dinner is sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Tickets for the dinner are $45 each. Proceeds will help fund the Union County Summer Youth Baseball League for youngsters 8 to 15 years, and the Fall Teen League.
The special guest speaker at the dinner will be Roy White, the former New York Yankees All-Star outfielder and two-time World Series champion.
Jorge Comas played four years of varsity baseball at St. Mary’s High School in Elizabeth. His outstanding performance earned him All-Union County and Parochial All-State honors. At Ramapo College, he played for the 1984 NCAA Division III National Champions and he holds the all time Ramapo College school record for home runs.
Barry Kaverick made a name for himself as one of the best players in Roselle Catholic High School history. His talent as a pitcher, shortstop and hitter earned him First Team All-State honors. Barry passed up signing with the Yankees to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Later, he volunteered 17 years as a coach for the Kenilworth Little League.
Richard McCormack showed his versatility and passion for baseball from an early age. After graduating from the varsity at St. Mary’s in Elizabeth, he had a ten-year career in the Union County Baseball League and the Union County Industrial League, eventually becoming a player-manager. After his playing days, he coached in the Kenilworth Little League for a decade.
Jack Shaw grew up in Chatham and played in Morris and Essex leagues until the age of 30 – except for four years at Moravian College in Pennsylvania. Jack began coaching baseball at Roselle Park High School in 1976, retiring in 1999 with a 279-191 varsity record. He also coached at American Legion Post 60 for 13 seasons and was inducted into the NJ Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001.
Young athletes from Union County also will be honored for their achievements in 2014 at the 79th Annual Hot Stove League Baseball Dinner. Among the local athletes to be honored are:
Nick Christiani of Linden, the Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year as a senior at Seton Hall Prep, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2009 out of Vanderbilt and has pitched for the Reds in parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons, will receive the Chris Zusi Award for outstanding male athlete.
Chrissy Ferraro of Westfield, who led the Blue Devils to a second consecutive Union County Tournament Championship in 2014 with a .505 batting average and was named Union County Player of the Year, will receive the Banyasz Brothers Award for most valuable scholastic softball player.
Rebecca Rotola of Linden, whose pitching helped Kean University win the 2014 NCAA Division III Softball Union Regional Championship over number one seed Lebanon Valley College, and who finished the season with a 12-3 record, will receive the Joseph Lombardi Award for outstanding female athlete.
Tommy Trotter of Cranford, who led the Cougars to their third straight sectional title in 2014 with his .462 batting average out of the leadoff spot and his strong outfield defense, and was named Union County Player of the Year, will receive the Edward Cooper Award for most valuable scholastic baseball player.
“We’re delighted to honor so many deserving athletes from throughout Union County at this year’s Hot Stove Awards Dinner,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “I hope that family members, teammates and friends of all the honorees will enjoy the Sunday afternoon ceremonies and support youth baseball in Union County.”
Since 1937, the Hot Stove League Dinner has been the primary fund-raising effort for the Union County Baseball Association’s summer and fall programs. Over the years, the awards dinner has honored many local and national baseball luminaries – including Phil Rizzuto of Hillside, Don Newcombe of Elizabeth, Joe Collins of Union, Jeff Torborg of Mountainside, Willie Wilson of Summit, and Elliott Maddox of Union.
Tickets for the 79th Annual Union County Baseball Association Hot Stove League Dinner on Feb. 8th are available from the Union County Baseball Association by visiting www.UCBA-NJ.org. For more information, please call Jim Iozzi at 908-917-2523.
Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan advises residents to protect themselves from telephone scam artists masking their phone numbers so it appears they are with a local law enforcement agency.
The callers will present themselves as a member of law enforcement; claim there is an outstanding federal complaint against the resident and will then try to have the resident send money in order to avoid arrest. Many of the scammers falsely tell the resident they owe money to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and must pay immediately.
“The best way for people to protect themselves from these scams is to be aware they are happening,” Sheriff Cryan said. “Law enforcement does not demand money over the phone to avoid a criminal complaint.”
Any one of these five things is a sign of a scam. The IRS does not:
Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS does not call about taxes owed without first mailing a bill.
Demand that you pay taxes without offering the chance to question or appeal the amount they say is owed.
Require a certain payment method for paying taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.
Sheriff Cryan advises residents who receive calls they believe are a scam to hang up and call local police.
(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Mohamed Jalloh, Roselle Park Mayor Carl Hokanson, Freeholders Vernell Wright and Linda Carter joined Cranford Mayor Andis Kalnins and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Sergio Granados at the Cranford train station to mark the beginning of nighttime “one-seat,” or direct service on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line to New York City. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
