|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Chris Sainato |
  
|
Sainato: Pa. Property Tax/Rent Rebate deadline extended to Dec. 31
NEW CASTLE, June 12 – State Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence/Beaver, wants senior citizens and other constituents to know that the deadline to apply for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2008.
Sainato said to be eligible for the program, a person must be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or 18 or older with a permanent disability. Based on the property taxes or rent they paid in 2007, eligible Pennsylvanians can receive rebates of up to $650.
"I am encouraging qualifying senior citizens and people with disabilities to take advantage of this program," Sainato said.
To qualify, household income cannot exceed $35,000; the income limit is $15,000 for renters. However, applicants may exclude half of their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or federal railroad retirement benefits when determining eligibility, which allows some people with higher incomes to still qualify.
Sainato said this year, qualifying seniors may receive an even larger rebate. Senior citizen homeowners who are eligible for the program and whose income is less than $30,000 will receive an additional 50 percent rebate if the property taxes they paid in 2007 were at least 15 percent of their income. That means those seniors may qualify for a property tax rebate of up to $975.
Lawrence and Beaver County residents can contact the Department of Revenue FACT and Information Line at 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937) after July 1 to check the status of a claim. Touchtone telephone service is required. Callers will need their Social Security number and the amount of their rebate. People without touch-tone service may call 1-888-222-9190 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for assistance.
Sainato is asking constituents to contact his New Castle office at 724-656-1112 for more information or for help with applying for the program.
###rrc/2008/jma
l:'print'releases'proptaxdeadline.009