|
|
State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. (D-Westmoreland) Recently, I announced that I am co-sponsoring legislation that would double the current maximum rebate amount under the state's lottery-funded Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program. The program, which offers state rebates to income-eligible senior citizens and other Pennsylvanians based on their property tax or rent payments, has a maximum rebate amount of $500. In the 22 years since that maximum rebate amount was set, property taxes and rents have increased many times over. Currently, there are about 48,000 people in Pennsylvania who are eligible for the maximum rebate under the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program, either because of very low incomes or very high property taxes or rent. For most of these people, many who are senior citizens, property taxes and rent have skyrocketed since 1983 while their incomes have remained relatively the same. The $500 rebate simply is not enough anymore. The bill I am co-sponsoring would increase the maximum rebate amount under the program to $1,000. Since less than 20 percent of seniors and others receiving rebates qualify for the maximum amount, the increase would not have a dramatic effect on the cost of the program, and the increase would be going only to those who are most in need. The General Assembly has taken steps in the past to make the program more effective. Most recently, it amended the program to allow applicants to count only half of their Social Security, Supplemental Security or federal railroad pension income when qualifying for the program. This change has helped by allowing more people to qualify for the rebates, but it did little for those who already qualified and who were most in need of the rebate to help offset the high costs of their rent or property taxes. With school property tax relief stalled in most of the state right now, and with rents continuing to rise, we need to take this step to help our fixed- and low-income seniors and others who qualify for this program and who are burdened the most by the high costs of property taxes and rent. Residents who are 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or 18 or older with a permanent disability are eligible for the program as long as their household in come is less than $15,000. Applicants may exclude half their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits when determining their income. The amount of an applicant's rebate is based on income and the property taxes or rent paid the previous year. The deadline to apply for a property tax or rent rebate on tax or rent paid in 2004 is Dec. 31, 2005. More information about the Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program, along with applications and assistance is available from my constituent service offices: North Huntingdon -- 8981 Norwin Ave., CapNews Guest Speaker: Archives |
