N.J. Stat. § 54:4-8.44
Every fact essential to support a claim for a deduction hereunder shall exist on October 1 of the pretax year, except as in this section otherwise provided. Every application by a claimant therefor shall establish that he is or will be on or before December 31 of the pretax year 65 or more years of age or on that date was permanently and totally disabled, and that he was, on October 1 of the pretax year, (a) a citizen and resident of this State for the period required, (b) the owner of a dwelling house which is a constituent part of the real property for which the deduction is claimed, the owner of a dwelling house which is assessed as real property but which is situated on land owned by another or others, or residing as a tenant shareholder in a cooperative or mutual housing corporation, (c) residing in said dwelling house. Said application shall also establish that his anticipated income, including the income of his or her spouse, for the tax year will not exceed the applicable annual income limitation set forth in section 2 of P.L. 1963, c.172 (C.54:4-8.41). In the case of a claim for a deduction by a person who is permanently and totally disabled, said application shall include a physician's certificate verifying the claimant's permanent and total disability. The Director of the Division of Taxation may promulgate rules and regulations prescribing the form and content of the certificate.
In the case of claims for a deduction authorized by section 4 of this amendatory and supplementary act every application by a claimant therefor shall establish that he is or will be on or before December 31 of the pretax year 55 or more years of age and was 55 or more years of age at the time of the death of the decedent and unmarried and that he was, on October 1 of the pretax year, (a) a citizen and resident of this State for the period required, (b) the owner of a dwelling house which is a constituent part of the real property for which the deduction is claimed, or the owner of a dwelling house which is assessed as real property but which is situated on land owned by another or others, or residing as a tenant shareholder in a cooperative or mutual housing corporation, (c) residing in said dwelling house. Said application shall also establish that his anticipated income for the tax year will not exceed the applicable annual income limitation. The collector or the assessor of the taxing district as the case may be shall establish whether the deceased spouse of the claimant received a deduction.
N.J.S. § 54:4-8.44