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Bob Coleman has experienced the same financial pinches people across Pennsylvania have faced over the last few years.
He’s seen the cost of groceries go up. He’s seen his utility bills rise.
“Just look at how gas has gone up,” the 70-year-old Cumru Township resident said.
But on Wednesday, as Coleman spoke to a group of senior citizens at the Berks Encore Mifflin Center in Shillington, he was happy. That’s because a break is coming his way.
Coleman is one of about 175,000 Pennsylvanians — and 5,700 Berks seniors — who will soon eligible for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. He hasn’t been eligible in the past, but will be when changes to the program take effect next year.
Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed into law a historic expansion of the program, which is paid for by proceeds from the state lottery.
The changes include increasing the maximum amount an eligible older Pennsylvanian can receive to $1,000 from $650. The income cap to receive the rebates have also been changed, rising to $45,000.
The income cap will now also be tied to the cost of living, meaning those who receive a rebate won’t lose their eligibility in the future due to things like increases in Social Security payments.
Other eligibility requirements won’t change. The program will continue to be open to people age 65 and over, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities over the age of 18.
The program has been around since 1971, but next year will be the first that Coleman will qualify for it.
He said Wednesday that his income is between $35,000 and $45,000, which previously made him ineligible. But with the changes, he stands to receive $250 in 2024.
“For me, that $250 will pay for several weeks of groceries or some utility bills,” he said, adding that those receiving more will see an even greater impact. “It may pay for rent for a month.”
Coleman said the program provides a bit of financial freedom for older Pennsylvanian like him, giving them a bit of cash to spend and help spur the state’s economy.
“That’s going to be thousands of dollars that’s going to be spent in Berks County,” he said.
It also provides a sense of security for seniors on tight budgets.
“We won’t have to worry about losing our houses through no fault of our own,” he said.
Coleman spoke during an event sponsored by Berks Encore that featured visits from two state officials. Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne and Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich visited the Mifflin Center and shared some remarks about the changes to the program.
Browne began by joking that the crowd was probably nervous to hear that some state officials were stopping by to share some “good news.” But he assured them that the news was, actually, good.
He said the changes to the property tax/rent rebate program will benefit thousands of Pennsylvanians.
“This is a really important update to a program that hadn’t been changed since 2006,” he said.
Browne said the adjustments will bring the payouts from the program to where they need to be in 2023, and that by raising the income level over time the payouts will stay where they need to be.
Kavulich called the changes a historic moment, and said it is definitely a time to celebrate. He said the state is really blessed to have a governor and administration that really care about senior citizens and are working hard to help them.
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera also spoke, lauding the changes to the program.
“With the cost of things the way they are, this will help a lot of you meet basic needs,” he said.
Applicants must reapply for the rebate program each year. Applications for 2024 will be available online early next year at revenue.pa.gov/ptrr.
Applications can also be obtained at the state Department of Revenue regional office at 625 Cherry St. in Reading or through the Berks County Area Agency on Aging.
The county Area Agency on Aging and Berks Encore offer assistance in completing the applications.
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