Individuals who recently received rebates through Pennsylvania’s property tax and rent rebate program can soon expect a little more help in paying to keep a roof over their heads under the state budget that Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law on Friday.
The 2022-23 state spending plan totaling $45.2 billion when state and federal American Rescue Plan money are factored together, provides for a one-time 70% bonus rebate for income-eligible senior citizens or permanently disabled individuals 18 years or older.
The extra money will automatically be distributed to individuals who previously had filed applications for the 2021 claim year, said Jeff Johnson, a spokesman for the state Department Revenue.
“Anyone who has not yet applied for a rebate should simply fill out the application as they normally would. Importantly, the deadline to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2021 was recently extended until Dec. 31, 2022, so eligible applicants still have plenty of time to file their applications,” Johnson said.
To qualify for the property tax and rent rebate program, homeowners must have eligible incomes of $35,000 or less and renters $15,000 or less. Only half of Social Security income is counted in determining eligibility.
“Claimants will receive their bonus rebate through the same method that they elected on the original application,” Johnson said. “So if the claimant elected to receive a rebate through a paper check in the mail, that is also how they will receive the bonus rebate. If they elected a direct deposit payment, that is the method that will be used for the bonus rebate.”
The size of the bonuses vary based on income levels. Homeowners with eligible income under $8,000 would receive an extra $455; $8,001 to $15,000, an extra $350; $15,001 to $18,000, an extra $210; and $18,001 to $35,000, an extra $175. Renters with eligible incomes up to $8,000 would receive an extra $455 and those with incomes between $8,001 and $15,000, an extra $350.
As for when that extra money will arrive, Johnson would only commit to saying soon.
“The department will work as quickly as possible to ensure the bonus rebates are distributed in a timely manner,” Johnson said. “The governor and the department recognize the importance of moving quickly to help some of our most vulnerable residents in the commonwealth.”
Wolf in sharing his initial vision for spending the $2.2 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan money wanted to see $204 million of that money go toward doubling the rebates that current program users received. Instead, the budget agreement that makes other investments in home repairs and affordable housing whittled the investment in the rebate program down to $140 million.
According to the House Republican Appropriations Committee, more than 444,000 claims were paid out of this program in 2020 for a total of more than $213 million. The average rebate for homeowners was $442 while the average rebate for renters was $554.
Jan Murphy may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.