TRENTON, NJ—New legislation has been introduced establishing two significant welfare programs aimed at supporting low-income residents in New Jersey. The bill introduces the State Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and the State WFNJ Diaper Benefit Program, allocating $2.5 million to aid these initiatives.
The State WFNJ Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program will provide a monthly benefit of $14 to menstruating individuals aged 18 to 50 who are enrolled in WFNJ. Additionally, the State WFNJ Diaper Benefit Program is set to offer a monthly allowance of $30 per dependent child under 36 months to WFNJ participants.
Benefits under both programs will be distributed using the WFNJ electronic benefits card, aligning with the issuance dates of standard WFNJ benefits. Participants must utilize these funds specifically for purchasing menstrual hygiene products or diapers.
The bill also stipulates that any unused funds from the monthly benefits can be rolled over to the subsequent month. Menstrual hygiene products have been defined in the bill as tampons, menstrual cups, or sanitary napkins.