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03/29/2024 08:22 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20210&cosponId=37441
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House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 8, 2022 03:14 PM
From: Representative Joe Ciresi
To: All House members
Subject: Expanding Property Tax and Rent Relief in Pennsylvania
 
With inflation at an all-time high, Pennsylvania residents are struggling to afford basic necessities, including housing. Our Property Tax Rent Rebate program (PTRR) is supposed to provide relief to certain financially vulnerable individuals, including seniors. However, increasing numbers of individuals trying to access the program find themselves ineligible as time goes by due to stagnant income limits. Income requirements and other provisions of the PTRR have not been updated in many years, and it is time we do so to ensure that more individuals can seek assistance from this vital program.
 
Pennsylvanians need our help, and it is time we deliver. That is why I am introducing legislation that will significantly expand the PTRR. First, my proposal would increase income limits for homeowners and renters to $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, recognizing the impact inflation has had since the last increase in 2008. In addition, the legislation would permanently reinstate a provision that would ensure individuals are not deemed ineligible for PTRR solely due to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security. Moreover, the legislation would allow individuals to deduct the face amount of property taxes paid when determining income for PTRR. Finally, my legislation will allow more homeowners to qualify for supplemental rebates by opening them up to any property tax rebate recipient whose property taxes exceed 15 percent of their income, eliminating the $30,000 income cap.
 
With these important steps, we would make more Pennsylvanians eligible for this important relief, give existing rebate recipients more support in these critical times, and make sure that more seniors don’t end up needlessly losing eligibility for this program in the future. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is a great resource to many of our constituents, but it’s in need of an update to make sure no one is getting left behind. I hope you will join me in supporting this important legislation to increase accessibility to property tax relief for so many individuals in need across Pennsylvania.



Introduced as HB2721