North Allegheny News

A group of state House lawmakers in Pennsylvania has introduced a package of bills aimed at reforming and streamlining the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The proposals are designed to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the program, which provides vital assistance to senior citizens, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals across the Commonwealth.

State Rep. Bud Cook, one of the sponsors of the bills, highlighted the need to simplify the application process for rebate recipients. Cook's proposal would allow individuals to apply for rebates when filing their annual state Personal Income Tax returns, streamlining the process and reducing administrative burdens.

In a statement, Cook emphasized, “This program provides a great benefit, but the current process is unnecessarily burdensome for both the applicants and Department of Revenue staff who process the rebate applications.”

Another lawmaker, Rep. Rob Mercuri, put forth a bill that would establish mandatory processing timelines for property tax and rent rebate applications. The aim is to ensure that completed applications are decided upon within 10 days of receipt, providing residents with a more efficient and reliable timeline for receiving their rebates.

Mercuri stated, “Establishing a mandatory timeline for property taxes and rent rebates to be processed within a 10-business-day window will allow residents to rely on the rebate timeline for budgeting and personal finance, increasing the total value of the program for PA residents.”

Rep. Jack Rader also introduced a proposal to set a firm deadline of December 31 for applying to the program each year. The current law allows for an extension of the deadline to June 30 if additional funds are available, causing uncertainty for applicants. Rader's bill aims to provide consistency and clarity for those relying on the program.

Rader emphasized, “Those who rely on this program should not have to play a guessing game to see if they have until Dec. 31 to apply each year.”

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program in Pennsylvania benefits eligible residents aged 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and individuals with disabilities aged 18 and older. The program has income eligibility limits of $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, with 50% of Social Security excluded when calculating income. The maximum rebate available is $1,000.

Since its inception in 2006, the program has assisted 8.7 million applicants and returned $4.1 billion to low-income individuals. It is funded through proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery and gaming in the Commonwealth.

For more information about the proposed bills, individuals can visit the Pennsylvania House of Representatives website. The sponsors of the bills include Representative Bud Cook, Representative Robert Mercuri, and Representative Jack Rader. Media contacts for each representative are available for further inquiries.