Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 10, 2023 02:09 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Peter Schweyer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Property Tax Rent Rebate Program Eligibility Changes |
| Certain federal civil service retirees hired prior to 1984 receive a Social Security substitute pension that is covered by the Civil Service Retirement System. However, these individuals are often ruled as ineligible for the Property Tax Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program, which provides property tax relief to qualifying individuals, due to their income. This program is essential in helping seniors manage the cost of their property taxes on a fixed income, and I believe that we must do something to remove these eligibility barriers and ensure that these individuals can access this important program. I believe that we should honor the service of federal civil service retirees by making it easier for them to qualify for state assistance programs like PTRR. To that end, I will be introducing legislation that would allow Pennsylvania residents who have a Social Security substitute pension to deduct 50 percent of their income for purposes of determining eligibility for PTRR beginning in 2023, putting them on-par with railroad retirees in qualifying for the program. This legislation would ensure that income eligibility criteria are clarified for individuals who have a Social Security substitute pension, and it would further ensure that our successful property tax relief program can serve more seniors in need across Pennsylvania. This legislation received broad bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives in 2015, but it ultimately did not pass the Senate. As a matter of fairness for our seniors, I hope you will join me in supporting this important legislation so that individuals receiving a substitute pension can qualify for PTRR. |