Union County residents who receive food assistance or Medicaid can sign up for two free Zoom webinars explaining how federal benefit cuts affect their coverage.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Human Services Advisory Council announced the sessions on the New Providence municipal website Tuesday, Sept. 15. The first, "Navigating Federal Changes to SNAP for You and Your Family," is set for Monday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. The second, "Medicaid 101: How It Works and an Overview of Federal Changes," follows Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.

The webinars come as federal changes reduce enrollment in New Jersey's safety-net programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) lost 35,588 participants statewide, a 4% drop, as of April 2026, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Child participation fell by 21,815, or 7%, after Congress enacted the 2025 reconciliation law.

Medicaid changes are also approaching. The Jersey Vindicator reported that starting Jan. 1, 2027, roughly 540,000 adults on NJ FamilyCare's Alternative Benefit Plan will need to renew coverage every six months instead of annually and complete 80 hours per month of work, education or other qualifying activities. The state Department of Human Services estimates more than 300,000 participants could lose coverage under the new eligibility rules.

Separate changes starting Oct. 1 could also end eligibility for some noncitizen immigrants enrolled in NJ FamilyCare, including refugees, asylees and humanitarian parolees.

"Residents should not have to navigate complicated policy changes on their own," Commissioner Stanley J. Neron, liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council, said in the county's announcement. "These sessions will break down the information in a practical, easy-to-understand way and connect participants with resources that may help them and their families."

Debbie-Ann Anderson, director of the Union County Department of Human Services, said the sessions aim to help residents understand how their benefits may change and where to find support.

Union County is also running separate morning sessions for nonprofit staff and service providers on the same dates at 10 a.m. Those partner-agency webinars use the same registration page.

Both sessions are free and run on Zoom. Advance registration is required at ucnj.org/dhs-webinar. Residents with questions can call the Department of Human Services at 908-527-4842.