$235 Million in Property Tax and Rent Rebates to Seniors and Disabled

Author: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Published: 28 Jun 2011

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Overview - Related Content

Synopsis

More than 498000 senior homeowners renters and people with disabilities will be issued rebates totaling $234.2 million starting July 1 through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

Overview

Deadline to Apply for Rebate Program Extended to Dec. 31

More than 498,000 senior homeowners, renters and people with disabilities will be issued rebates totaling $234.2 million starting July 1 through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

"Property tax and rent rebate checks should begin to arrive in mailboxes in the next day or so," said Secretary of Revenue Dan Meuser, who noted that, by law, rebates are distributed beginning July 1. "Homeowners and renters who opted to have rebates directly deposited into bank accounts - almost 120,000 - will receive their money tomorrow."

As of June 24, the Revenue Department had received more than 567,000 rebate applications. More than 600,000 older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities are expected to benefit from the program this year.

An estimated 120,000 senior homeowners will have school property taxes completely eliminated when rebates combine with $612.1 million in slots gaming-funded general property tax relief that all homeowners will see itemized on school district property tax bills this summer.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

The deadline to apply for the rebate program was extended to Dec. 31; rebates will continue to be distributed as claims are approved through the rest of the year.

Residents can obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of phone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators' offices.

Claimants who already applied for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may check the status of claims by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program's 1971 inception, older and disabled adults have received more than $4.8 billion worth of property tax and rent relief. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.