Trending
The state Department of Revenue will pay out millions of dollars in rebates through the Taxpayer Relief Act to certain low-income homeowners and renters.
Those eligible for the payouts have to submit a claim by Dec. 31 for rent or property taxes paid in 2015.
The 2016 report includes data on claims submitted by Sept. 1.
According to those preliminary numbers, the department will pay for close to 550,000 claims this year so far, representing a decrease of about 1.5 percent over 2015.
In addition to the claims, another 120,000 applicants will receive supplemental rebates because they met income and other requirements.
The state program was established to help those 65 and older, widows and widowers as well as people with disabilities age 18 and older. Rebates are calculated based on a person's rent payments or levied property taxes and was designed to help low-income people keep their homes.
Homeowners are eligible if they make under $35,000 annually, and renters must make under $15,000. Half of Social Security and/or Railroad Retirement benefits are excluded from income totals.
According to the department's website, the maximum rebate is $650 but can reach $975 through supplemental rebates.
Family members or relatives also can file claims on behalf of those who passed away during the claim year. Property tax rates are pro-rated based on how many days during the previous year the person was alive, while rent claims are based on rent paid during the claim year.
According to the department, about 4 percent of claims are denied annually for not meeting the law's requirements.
Linda Clawson, intake coordinator for Blair Senior Services Inc., said the rebate program is extremely useful.
"This program is a great program. I hope it never is not funded," she said. "I see so many seniors … and I know it's going to be big next year because of this reassessment going on
and the taxes have been raised."
The organization, which serves as the county's Area Agency on Aging, only helps people 65 and older with program applications. Those who are under age 65 can go to a local state representative's office for help, she said.
Clawson said a lot of seniors hold onto the rebate and use it to help pay the next year's taxes. Others use it to pay medical bills or cover food.
"The rebate is there for whatever need they have to meet at that time. It's their choice," she said. "The money is given back to them, and when they are on a budget that gets tighter and tighter each year, they have to pick what they need the rebate money for most."
Clawson said she routinely assists seniors from other counties with filling out applications for the program.
Data released by the department show rebates worth more than $4.3 million have been approved for Cambria County so far for 2015, with $3.5 million approved so far for Blair County and about $1.2 million for Bedford County.
When broken down by city, department records show that about half of all claims and rebates for Blair are for claimants living in the Altoona area.
By contrast, only about one-third of claimants and rebates paid out in Cambria County cover those living in the Greater Johnstown area.
The rebate program is one of five supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
—
A closer look
The data below show applications received for tax and rent rebates by the Department of Revenue through Sept. 1. Eligible applicants have until Dec. 31 to submit an application for rent or property taxes paid for 2015.
County Blair Cambria Bedford
Number of claimants 8,421 10,726 2,996
Rebate value (in millions) $3.52 $4.33 $1.18
Number of supplements 434 754 192
Supplement value $112,685 $192,670 $50,998
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
—
Rebates
Here are the maximum rebates available for income groups for both homeowners and renters:
Income Maximum
For homeowners
$0 to $8,000 $650
$8,001-$15,000 $500
$15,001-$18,000 $300
$18,001-$35,000 $250
For renters
$0-$8,000 $650
$8,001-$15,000 $500
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue