Inside Harrisburg
by state Rep. Dan Frankel
Are you leaving your share of $50 million on the table?
At least $50 million is sitting in the state treasury unclaimed, and much of it is intended for Allegheny County residents. Thanks to a law I voted for in 2006, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been expanded to include hundreds of thousands of more people. However, in Allegheny County alone, nearly 19,000 of those projected to be eligible -- about 34 percent -- still haven’t applied.
Many homeowners may not be aware that they qualify under the new guidelines. The old income limit was $15,000 – it is now $35,000. In many cases, households with incomes of $40,000 can qualify -- when determining income eligibility, applicants only have to include half of their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or federal Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits.
To qualify for the program, a resident must be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or 18 or older with a permanent disability. The rebate program is funded entirely by the state lottery, not tax dollars.
The 2006 expansion I supported also raised the maximum rebate amount by $150 to $650. The minimum rebate is $250, so it is definitely worth calling or visiting my office to see if you qualify.
There’s still time to come in or call my office – Dec. 31 is the deadline to apply for a rebate on rent or taxes paid in 2006.
To apply for the rebate, property owners will need to bring along a driver’s license or other form of identification, a Social Security statement, dividend statement, pension statement, statements for any earned interest or income, and a property tax paid receipt. Additionally, renters will need a rent certificate and rental occupancy affidavit filled out by the landlord. Blank rent certificates are available from my office.
Constituents in the 23rd Legislative District with state-related concerns or questions may call Rep. Dan Frankel’s office at 412-422-1774 or visit the office at 4225 Murray Ave. His Web site is www.pahouse.com/Frankel.
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