Older and disabled Pennsylvanians who qualify for the state’s property tax and rent rebate program have been waiting for word on when they can expect their one-time bonus rebate to arrive.
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue announced it anticipates the extra rebates will begin being mailed or sent via direct deposit to those who received their original rebates in early September. They do not need to re-apply or take any further action.
The one-time bonus rebates will be equal to 70% of the original amount that income-eligible senior citizens or permanently disabled individuals 18 years or older received.
“This is a commonsense way to deliver a portion of Pennsylvania’s federal COVID-19 relief funding to some of our most vulnerable residents across the commonwealth,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “By using this money for a one-time infusion of funding for the property tax/rent rebate program, we can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians who are still recovering in many ways from the pandemic.”
The size of the bonuses vary based on income levels. Homeowners with eligible income under $8,000 would receive a $455 bonus; $8,001 to $15,000, an extra $350; $15,001 to $18,000, an extra $210; and $18,001 to $35,000, an extra $175. Renters with eligible incomes up to $8,000 would receive an extra $455 and those with incomes between $8,001 and $15,000, a $350 bonus rebate.
Funding for the extra rebates, which combined are expected to cost $140 million, comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act funds the state received.
Those who received their rebate for taxes and rent paid in 2021 by mid-August can expect to receive their bonus payment in the same method they chose to receive the original rebate, either by mail or direct deposit.
Those whose application for the rebate is still being processed or they have not yet submitted their application by mid-August will receive their original rebate and bonus rebate in the same payment.
Applications for the rebate program are available online through myPATH, the revenue department’s online filing system. Paper applications can be obtained at the department’s district offices, legislator’s offices, senior centers, local area agencies on aging or through the department’s website.
Applications for the rebate program will be processed through the end of the year.
According to the House Republican Appropriations Committee, more than 444,000 claims were paid out for this program in 2020 for a total of more than $213 million. The average rebate for homeowners was $442 while the average rebate for renters was $554.
From PennLive
