IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE OCEAN COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES REGARDING THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

Please be advised that the Ocean County Board of Social Services is open to the public.

Ensuring you receive your benefits is a top priority, so in an effort to make it easier for you to apply or receive your benefits, a number of changes will remain in place regarding social services that are administered here at the Ocean County Board of Social Services.

We encourage our county residents to continue to utilize our online application systems whenever possible. Anyone wishing to do so can apply for SNAP food assistance or cash assistance under the Work First New Jersey program online at NJHelps.org. We will continue to conduct interviews and other business in person and by phone. We can also be contacted via mail, fax and email (please see below). You do not need to come into the office to apply for, renew or provide documentation for benefits.

If you need emergency housing assistance, e.g. temporary shelter, back rent, back utilities, security deposit, or first month's rent, you can apply in person or please call our main number at (732) 349-1500 and ask the operator for the Special Response Unit.

Business hours for all Board of Social Services locations will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Please remember that if you are sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or are required to quarantine, do not come to the Agency; instead, contact us at 732-349-1500 so we may assist you. We thank you and appreciate your cooperation.

Program Information and Updates:

If you are a SNAP recipient, you are not required to attend your work activity, unless you want to, and the program is operating.

Effective July 1, 2023 the General Assistance 28-day work activity protocol has been suspended for all individuals applying for General Assistance. All individuals who become eligible for General Assistance and are required to participate in the work activity will be required to do so in order to maintain General Assistance eligibility.

If you are a Medicaid or New Jersey FamilyCare recipient, the flexibility that was afforded during the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. All recipients will be receiving program renewal applications prior to your scheduled renewal month. Once received, please complete the application, and return it to the Ocean County Board of Social Services.

If you need to provide information or verification to the social service offices, please use the following fax numbers, mail and email addresses:

Work First New Jersey program (TANF/GA) and SNAP Food Assistance program
Fax: 732-244-4080 (Toms River)
732-370-3451 (Lakewood)
609-597-5731 (Manahawkin)

Email: snaptr@ocbss.ocean.nj.us (Toms River)
snaplk@ocbss.ocean.nj.us (Lakewood)
snapsc@ocbss.ocean.nj.us (Manahawkin)

Housing
Fax: 732-914-2064
Email: housing@ocbss.ocean.nj.us

New Jersey Family Care Medicaid
Fax: 732-914-5164
Email: njfc@ocbss.ocean.nj.us

Aged, Blind Disabled Medicaid (ABD)
Fax: 732-244-5689
Email: abd@ocbss.ocean.nj.us

All other programs:
Fax: 732-244-8075

Mail:
Ocean County Board of Social Services
1027 Hooper Avenue
P.O. Box 547
Toms River, NJ 08754-547

Drop boxes are still available and located in the vestibule at all agency locations when dropping off paperwork for your convenience:

Lakewood
225 4th Street
Lakewood, NJ 08701

Manahawkin
333 Haywood Road
Manahawkin, NJ 08050

Toms River
1027 Hooper Avenue
P.O. Box 547
Toms River, NJ 08754