Gail A Burton, CLC

NJ ANCHOR Property Tax Relief — Deadline November 2, 2026

Gail A. Burton, CLC

If you own or rent your home in New Jersey, there is a state program that can put money back in your pocket — and the deadline to apply is coming up: November 2, 2026. The program is called ANCHOR, which stands for Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters. It is New Jersey’s property tax relief program, and it is open to homeowners and renters alike — you do not have to own your home to qualify.

The amounts are worth knowing about, especially for seniors. Homeowners can get up to $1,500 (up to $1,000 at higher incomes), and renters age 65 and older can get up to $700. If you are 65 or older, the Stay NJ program can add more on top — bringing your total relief toward half of your property tax bill — all on the same combined application. Property taxes and rent keep going up, and this program is one way the state gives some of that money back. If you have not applied before, this is a good year to look into it — before the November 2 deadline passes.

Here is some good news for many of my neighbors: if you are 65 or older, or you receive Social Security disability, you file one combined application — it is called the PAS-1 — and that single form covers three programs at once: ANCHOR, the Senior Freeze, and Stay NJ. One form, three programs. You can apply and check the status of your application online at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov, or you can call 1-888-238-1233 for help by phone.

One thing I want to say plainly: this is general information, not tax advice. I hold a current PTIN with the IRS as an income tax preparer — but ANCHOR is a state program, and I can't tell you what you qualify for from an article. What I can do is help you get ready — gather your papers, write down your questions, and feel steady about the steps in front of you.

If you would like some company while you sort it all out, I am here. I can sit with you and help you organize the paperwork, step by step, at a pace that feels comfortable. Just call or text 848-702-3632 or email [email protected].

Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026

Gail A. Burton, CLC

Every fall, Medicare opens a window — and this year it runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During these weeks, you can look at the coverage you have, compare it with what else is out there, and make changes for the year ahead. Please mark this down: December 7, 2026 is the firm last day. Once it passes, your choices are set until the next open enrollment comes around.

Plans change from year to year. A doctor who is covered now may not be covered next year. A prescription that costs a little today can cost more in January. That is why this window matters, even if you are happy with the coverage you have — it is worth a careful look before the deadline, not after.

If the letters and booklets piling up on the table feel like a lot, you do not have to sort through them alone. I am glad to sit with you — at your table or over the phone — and go through the paperwork together, step by step, at a pace that feels comfortable. Sometimes it just helps to have a calm set of eyes beside you and someone to talk it through with.

One thing I want to say plainly: I am not an insurance agent, and I do not give insurance advice. I will not recommend any plan or any insurer — that is not my place, and I would not steer you that way. What I can do is help you get organized, get your questions written down, and feel steadier while you make your own decision.

For guidance that is free and unbiased, there are two places worth knowing about. Your state’s SHIP program — the State Health Insurance Assistance Program — offers free counseling from trained counselors who do not sell anything. And Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder lets you compare your options side by side, with your own doctors and prescriptions in mind. Both are there to help you, at no cost.

A simple checklist to get started

• Find this year’s letter from your current plan — it tells you what is changing for next year.
• Make a list of your doctors, and check that each one is still covered.
• Make a list of your prescriptions, and check what each one will cost.
• Compare your options side by side on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder.

If you would like some company while you sort it all out, I am here. Just call or text 848-702-3632 or email [email protected].

Need a Notary? I’m here.

Gail A. Burton, CLC

As a commissioned Notary Public, I’m mobile — I meet you where you are. I can witness signatures and make your paperwork official: affidavits, power of attorney forms, and more, done carefully and correctly. Just call or text 848-702-3632 or email [email protected].

Reiki Healing Sessions

Gail A. Burton, CLC

Reiki is a gentle energy healing practice that invites deep relaxation and emotional balance — with no physical touch at all. You simply rest and receive. Sessions are in person, and if your spirit could use some tending, I’d be honored. Just call or text 848-702-3632 or email [email protected].

The Unfiltered Pause

Gail A. Burton, CLC

Today’s word, the unfiltered way — real life, real laughs.