Pennsylvania‘s state lottery has been a unique source of funding for programs benefiting older adults for over five decades.
Among the various programs funded by the lottery, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PT/RR) program has been particularly impactful
The Pennsylvania Lottery has generated an impressive $34 billion that has been instrumental in providing crucial support to seniors across all 67 counties of the state.Since its establishment in 1971, this program has delivered over $8 billion in property tax and rent relief to vulnerable residents of Pennsylvania.
The PT/RR program benefits individuals aged 65 and above, widows and widowers aged 50 and above, and disabled individuals aged 18 and above. Governor Josh Shapiro has emphasized that the annual rebates offered through this program are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, enabling them to age comfortably in their homes.
Unfortunately, the program is in need of updates. The income limits for eligibility, set at $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 for renters, have remained unchanged since 2006. This has resulted in economic factors like inflation excluding thousands of seniors from the program each year. In its prime, the program distributed approximately 605,000 rebates annually.
Recent projections indicate that less than 430,000 rebates will be distributed in the latest claim year
To address this longstanding issue, Governor Shapiro has proposed a significant expansion of the PT/RR program in the 2023-2024 budget. The governor’s proposal includes increasing the maximum standard rebate from $650 to $1,000. Additionally, both the income limits for renters and homeowners would be raised to $45,000 and tied to the cost of living, ensuring eligibility is not lost due to circumstances beyond individuals’ control.
The governor’s expansion plan would lead to nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians qualifying for property tax or rent rebates, with 86% of the existing 430,000 claimants seeing an increase in their rebates.
This proposed expansion represents a significant and meaningful change to a program that has a long history of providing vital assistance to those in need. Supporting Governor Shapiro’s proposal to expand the PT/RR program would make a significant difference in the lives of individuals relying on these rebates.
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