News

July 5, 2009

There’s still time for residents to get tax rebate

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

HAZLETON – State Rep. Todd A. Eachus, D-Butler Township, has announced that the state will begin mailing rebate checks to residents of the 116th Legislative District who applied for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

Earlier this year, Eachus encouraged residents to schedule appointments with his Hazleton office staff to receive assistance with the program’s application process. Four hundred and fifty residents visited and applied for the program, amounting to more than $187,000 in rebate checks.

“We have hundreds of local residents who will soon be getting as much as $650 back from the state,” Eachus said. “We are currently facing one of the most difficult economic situations since the Great Depression. These rebates will be a welcome relief to so many of our seniors and older citizens.”

Eachus said there is still time for eligible homeowners and renters to apply for the program. The deadline to submit Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms has been extended to Dec. 31.

To qualify, homeowners must have a household income of $35,000 per year or less, and renters must earn $15,000 per year or less. Eligible applicants must be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or a permanently disabled resident 18 or older. As always, only half of an applicant’s Social Security or federal Railroad Retirement Tier I income is counted against the income limits. Rebates of up to $650 are available to those who qualify, based on income and taxes or rent paid. The annual deadline to file for a rebate is June 30, unless it is extended.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program forms for next year can be filled out online or can be requested to be mailed by going to www.revenue.state.pa.us/ptrr. In addition, residents may contact Eachus’ Hazleton office at 570-450-7905 for information on the program.

“I still encourage any resident who may think they are eligible for a rebate to contact the state or my office for assistance or information,” Eachus said.

HARRISBURG — The House has passed legislation — H.B. 1 — co-sponsored by state Rep. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke that would expand access and improve Pennsylvania’s adultBasic health insurance program.

“More than 14,000 adults between the ages of 19 and 64 in Luzerne County have no health insurance,” Yudichak said. “Many of them are working, but either health care isn’t offered by their employer, or the cost is too high for them to participate. This is an issue that must be addressed.”

Yudichak noted that H.B. 1 would not only increase the number of adultBasic enrollees, but would also add fundamental benefits including prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventative and wellness care, and behavioral health care.

HARRISBURG — Legislation authored by state Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, to restructure the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and improve access to long-term living services for older adults and people with disabilities has passed the House of Representatives.

Mundy’s bill — H.B. 1152 — would establish the Department of Aging and Long-Term Living by combining the Office of Long-Term Living — which currently operates under the Department of Public Welfare — and the Aging Department.

“Passage of this legislation is critical to ensuring that the Commonwealth is adequately prepared to meet the needs of our growing senior population and the 162,000 people with disabilities,” Mundy said. “Consumers deserve to have real choices in terms of how and where they receive long-term living services.”

The Office of Long-Term Living was created in 2007 to improve the coordination and delivery of services for older adults and people with disabilities. At that time, Pennsylvania ranked near the bottom in the amount of support it provided for home- and community-based services versus institutional or nursing home care. A significant amount of overlap and inconsistency also existed with how the state administered programs for these two groups, resulting in a fragmented system.

“While OLTL has made significant progress in addressing these issues, much work remains,” Mundy said.

She noted that merging the Department of Aging and the Office of Long-Term Living in law is vital so that OLTL’s efforts can continue, regardless of changes in administrations.

“It’s very clear that the vast majority of Pennsylvanians want to remain in their homes and community for as long as possible,” Mundy said. “Allowing individuals to age in place not only makes sense from a quality-of-life standpoint — by promoting independence — but it is generally more cost-effective for the Commonwealth and its taxpayers.”

Data shows that it costs approximately three times as much to support a person in a nursing home compared to providing services in the home and community. To date, 15 states have consolidated their long-term living programs for older adults and people with disabilities into one agency.

House Bill 1152 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews

This story also appears on the following websites...