Kessler: Some seniors eligible for 50 percent higher Property Tax/Rent Rebate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. David Kessler D-Berks
www.pahouse.com/Kessler

Kessler: Some seniors eligible for 50 percent higher Property Tax/Rent Rebate

OLEY, June 17 – State Rep. David Kessler is calling attention to a change in the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program that will help many seniors, and he's reminding anyone who may qualify for the rebate that the deadline to apply has been extended to Dec. 31, 2008.

The change takes effect this year for senior homeowners who are eligible for the program, whose income is less than $30,000 and whose property taxes paid in 2007 were at least 15 percent of their income. For those senior homeowners, their Property Tax/Rent Rebate will be raised 50 percent automatically, making their maximum rebate $975 instead of $650. No additional paperwork is required to receive the higher rebate amount.

The program is funded entirely by the state lottery. It provides rebates on the previous year's property taxes or rent to income-eligible residents who are 65 or older, 50 or older and widowed, or 18 or older with a permanent disability.

The income limit for homeowners is $35,000; the income limit for renters is $15,000. Applicants only have to count half of any Social Security or federal railroad retirement Tier I benefits when calculating their income.

For more information, or for help applying for the rebate, residents of the 130th Legislative District may contact or visit Kessler's constituent service offices:

• Boyertown: 53 Warwick St., open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; phone 610-369-3010;

• Oley Township: 2 Scholl Drive, off Route 73, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; phone 610-987-0980;

• Fleetwood Community Center, 110 W. Arch St., open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday;

• Birdsboro Borough Building, 202 E. Main St., open 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Kessler also is continuing to work for elimination of the school property tax on primary homes and farms, as well as legislation to control school costs.

He represents the 130th Legislative District, which includes Birdsboro, Boyertown and Fleetwood boroughs, part of Exeter Township and all of Amity, Colebrookdale, Douglass, Earl, Oley, Pike, Rockland, Ruscombmanor and Union townships.

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