Seniors given more time to apply to state for property tax relief

Seniors eligible for the state Property Tax (Freeze) Reimbursement will have an additional month to apply for the property tax relief program.

"This is good news for our seniors," Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of the county’s Office of Senior Services, said in a press release. "Under the original deadline many seniors eligible for this program would have not been able to get the proper information back to the state on time."

The Ocean County Board of Freeholders recently agreed to contact Gov. McGreevey and area legislators requesting the application deadline be extended from early August to September.

Vicari said a postcard sent to more than 1 million residents from the state regarding the Property Tax Freeze Reimbursement Program and the Homestead Rebate Program appeared to result in confusion over the two programs. He said the telephone number listed on the postcard quickly became overtaxed.

Vicari said that because of the overwhelming demand for information and assistance regarding the property tax reimbursement program at the county’s Office of Senior Services and at outreach locations, including the County Connection, the Board of Freeholders at its meeting last week passed a resolution urging the governor to extend the deadline to September.

"Today we learned that the deadline has been extended to Sept. 8," Vicari said July 21. "This will greatly support our efforts in assuring that eligible individuals can access this important program."

Vicari said the Ocean County Office of Senior Services will soon have applications available for the state programs.

Residents may call the Office of Senior Services at (800) 668-4899 or visit the office at 1027 Hooper Ave., Toms River, Building 2, to receive information and an application.

Under the Property Tax Reimbursement Program, qualified seniors and disabled persons are reimbursed the difference between the property taxes due and paid in the base year or the year a person first becomes eligible for the program and the property taxes for the current year.

For instance, if a person first applies when his or her property taxes total $3,000, and in the current year the property taxes increased to $3,200, that person would receive a $200 reimbursement, Freeholder Little said.

Applicants need to file an application each year to receive the reimbursement.

Other requirements include:

• being age 65 or older or receiving federal Social Security disability benefits;

• living in New Jersey continuously for at least the last 10 years as either a homeowner or renter;

• owning and living in a home, or have leased a site in a mobile home park on which the resident has placed a mobile home that he owns, for at least three years;

• paying the full amount of property taxes or site fees that were due for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which the resident is claiming the reimbursement; and

• meeting the income limits for the base year and each succeeding year.

Residents applying for the 2003 reimbursement must have total income for 2002 that is less than $39,475 for single applicants and $48,404 (combined income) for married couples, and total income for 2003 that is less than $40,028 for single applicants and $49,082 for married couples.

Individuals also can get information on the program by calling (800) 882-6597 or (877) 225-1312, or (609) 292-6400 or online by visiting the Web site www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/propfrez.htm. Vicari said that individuals who do not have access to the Internet in their home may visit any Ocean County Library branch or the County Connection at the Ocean County Mall in Toms River to access the state site for help.