Shapiro Visits Centre County to Tout Expanded Relief from Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Philipsburg on Thursday to discuss Pennsylvania's expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program that will provide more money to a greater number of older and disabled adults.

Speaking at Philipsburg Towers senior living community and Philipsburg Senior Resource Center, Shapiro announced that the first checks since an expansion of the program was signed into law last year will go out beginning July 1.

Passed with bipartisan support, the legislation marked the first update of the program since 2006.

"It’s been really effective. The problem is, it hadn’t been updated in 20 years," Shapiro said. "So every time a senior would get a slight cost of living increase in their social security, it would actually knock them out of getting their property tax relief. Or, as things began to cost more over time, it made the dollars you were getting from the property tax relief really not go very far. Consequently, we have failed to help our seniors over two decades."

The program is open to income-qualified individuals 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older and disabled individuals 18 and older. Prior to this year, the household income limit was $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 a year for renters.

Under the expansion, the income limit is now $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, and the maximum rebate has increased from $650 to $1,000. Households earning $8,000 or less can get the maximum rebate. For $8,001 to $15,000 the rebate is $770; $15,001 to $18,000 is $460; and $18,000 to $45,000 is $380.

Applicants can exclude half of their Social Security income from their total household income

"We worked incredibly hard to bring Democrats and Republicans together to significantly expand the property tax rent rebate program," Shapiro said. "Now as a result of that new bipartisan law, I wanted to come here to Philipsburg today to tell you that the check is literally in the mail, and seniors should get their relief next week by mail or if they filed to get their property tax relief electronically it will be hitting their bank starting on Monday. That is a big deal for seniors across Pennsylvania.

More than 442,000 people will receive $266 million in rebates in the first wave — up from 283,000 receiving $132 million at the same time last year. About 125,000 are still eligible but have not applied, and Shapiro urged them to sign up before this year's deadline, which has been extended to Dec. 31.

In Centre County, about 3,300 people will receive rebates from the program next week, but Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins said more than 9,000 are eligible and encouraged those who haven't already to apply.

"Centre County is seen as being demographically dominated by college students, but the reality is that we have a rapidly expanding number of seniors," Higgins said. "Projections estimate that our 60+ population will increase by 25% and our super-senior population at 85+ will double by 2050. It’s a breath of fresh air to bring additional attention to our senior population, which is one of the goals of the rent rebate program."

Brian Meader, who works with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program supported by the Centre County Office of Aging, said he and fellow volunteers have helped 800 people apply for the rebate so far this year, up from 400 last year.

He was pleased to see the increase in income limits, especially for renters.

"Let’s face it, renters are paying property tax one way or another," Meader said. "It was a big gap of people that were left out of the program. We really feel all good about that, that that has changed under the governor and this legislature."

One first-time recipient of the rebate is Philipsburg Towers resident Darlene Harper, who was now eligible thanks to the increase in the renter income limit. The rebate will bring her and other Philipsburg Towers residents some "peace of mind," she said.

"This will relieve some of the pressure of my financial burden and improve the quality of my life," Harper said. "I will use the money for groceries and medicine. It will relieve the stress of any emergencies that may come up. Also I will use some of the money on my two grandchildren for Christmas."

In traveling around the state, Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich said he has found housing is "overwhelmingly" the number one concern among older adults.

"Whether it be their taxes or their roofs, this is what they told us we need to focus on," Kavulich said. "The PTRR expansion is a big step in getting things done for our older adults."

Shapiro, too, said that during his campaign and in his first 18 months as governor, he has heard many stories from older adults who struggle with increased costs.

"This is a big deal. We want seniors to get the help they deserve," Shapiro said. "…This is your money and we want you to get it. I’m mindful that there are rising costs and we want to help you be able to deal with that, stay in your home, stay in your apartment and live out your golden years with dignity and respect."

Older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older can apply online at revenue.pa.gov/ptrr .

Centre County residents who need assistance with the application can contact the VITA program at (814) 355-6816.

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