New Jersey has begun mailing Senior Freeze property tax reimbursement checks to more than 188,000 eligible seniors and disabled residents, the state Treasury Department announced Thursday.

The first round of payments for the 2025 tax year, totaling more than $220 million, was mailed Tuesday. Additional payments will be sent on a rolling basis as more eligible applications are processed.

The Senior Freeze program reimburses qualifying homeowners and mobile home park residents for increases in property taxes or site fees on their primary residences by refunding the difference between a property's base-year taxes and subsequent increases.

State officials said efforts to streamline the application and review process resulted in a 75% increase in approved applications at this point in the season compared with last year.

Residents can apply for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ through a single PAS-1 application. The deadline to apply for 2025 benefits is Nov. 2.

To qualify for the 2025 Senior Freeze program, applicants must have been at least 65 years old by Dec. 31, 2025, or receive qualifying federal disability benefits, have owned and lived in their home since at least Dec. 31, 2022, and meet income limits of $172,475 or less in 2025 and $168,268 or less in 2024, among other eligibility requirements.

Eligible residents can apply online through the state's property tax relief portal or call the Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line for assistance.