PROGRAMS, INFORMATION AND

 

WEBSITES FOR SENIORS

 

 

AARP: http://www.aarp.org/

 

SENIOR COALITION: http://www.senior.org/

 

SENIOR JOURNAL: http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Eldercare/4-02-10taxrelief.htm

 

 

 

STATE OF CONNECTICUT:

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  An Act Establishing The Connecticut Homecare Option Program For The Elderly (PA 07-130) establishes a Connecticut Home Care Option Program for the Elderly and a Connecticut Home Care Trust Fund administered by the state comptroller.  The program and the fund must help people plan and save for costs of certain elderly services that are either not covered by a long-term health insurance policy or supplement services covered by such a policy or by Medicare; and will allow them to remain in their homes or live in a non-institutionalized setting as they age. 

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AGING SERVICES DIVISION OF

CONNECTICUT’S  DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

 

http://www.ct.gov/agingservices/cwp/view.asp?a=2509&q=313070&agingservicesNav=|44983|

 

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Connecticut Homeowners' - Elderly/Disabled (Circuit Breaker) Tax Relief Program
 

 

Program Description: State law provides a property tax credit program for Connecticut owners in residence of real property, who are elderly (65 and over) or totally disabled, and whose annual incomes do not exceed certain limits. The credit amount is calculated by the local assessor and applied by the tax collector to the applicant's real property tax bill. The amount of the credit that may be granted is up to $1,250 for married couples and $1,000 for single persons. Credit amounts are based on a graduated income scale. Application may be made with the Assessor's Office between February 1 and May 15th. http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2985&Q=383136

 

The Connecticut Income Tax: Supplemental Information for Senior Citizens

http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?a=1510&q=266718

 

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Reports Issued by  the State of Connecticut’s Office of Legislative Research

 

 

You asked which towns have enacted the local option property tax freeze for the elderly authorized by PA 06-176.

The only way to compile a list of towns that have implemented the freeze is to survey towns. We posted three questions on a listserv for local assessors in Connecticut and received responses from 49 towns after a month. Other computer research provided information on an additional eight towns for a total of 57 towns. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0694.htm

 

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You asked for a description of the law authorizing a property tax freeze for seniors. You wanted to know whether all towns can authorize the freeze, how often income limits are modified, and whether neighboring states have similar programs.

SUMMARY

PA 06-176 allows all towns to freeze property taxes on homes owned by people age 70 or older who have lived in the state at least one year. The freeze can also apply to a surviving spouse who is at least age 62 when the homeowner dies. Homeowners must meet the income limits for the circuit breaker program, which gives elderly homeowners a credit against their property taxes.  Continued  http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0445.htm

 

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You asked what property tax relief is available to Connecticut's senior homeowners.

SUMMARY

All towns must offer homeowners age 65 and over and younger people with disabilities tax relief under the “circuit breaker” program, which provides a tax credit based on the participant's income and marital status. They must also continue to freeze taxes for those few people age 65 or older or disabled who still participate in the Tax Freeze Program, which has not accepted new applications for decades. The state reimburses towns for the taxes they lose under these two programs. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-r-0453.htm

 

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You asked if any neighboring states freeze property taxes for seniors over a certain age. If so, you would like to know the details of these programs, particularly whether the municipality is solely responsible for lost revenue or whether the state reimburses it for the lost revenue.

 

SUMMARY

Rhode Island allows towns to freeze property taxes for seniors but does not reimburse them for lost revenue. It requires the town to put a lien on the property to recapture the revenue when the property is sold. Massachusetts does not have a freeze program, but its tax deferral program allows towns to defer all or part of seniors' property taxes if they meet certain requirements (also without state reimbursement). http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0724.htm

 

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You asked about states that limit increases in seniors' property taxes, particularly states that cap increases, require the state to reimburse localities up front for the lost tax revenue, and put a state lien on the property to recoup the money the state provided when the property is sold or the owner dies.

 

SUMMARY

The scenario you describe sounds very much like Connecticut's new legislation (PA 06-176), with one significant exception. The act allows, but does not require, towns to (1) freeze real property taxes on seniors' homes if they meet certain requirements. But under this act, the state does not reimburse towns for their lost tax revenue. Towns that choose to use the lien option will recoup the money themselves when the homeowner dies or the property is sold. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0643.htm

 

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Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP):    The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program provides opportunities to persons 55 years of age and older to participate in their communities by sharing their knowledge and skills through meaningful volunteer experiences.  The State of Connecticut funds 12 RSVP programs in Connecticut along with the Corporation for National Service and local communities.  The program links retirement-aged individuals with community organizations seeking assistance.  Volunteers provide valuable services in places such as day care centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, hospitals, home health agencies, and http://www.ct.gov/agingservices/cwp/view.asp?a=2513&q=313072

 

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WHAT SOME OTHER STATES ARE DOING

 

http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentID=1418

 

http://www.seniorservices.org/

 

http://www.state.nj.us/health/seniors.shtml

 

http://www.adss.state.al.us/

 

http://www.massresources.org/pages.cfm?contentID=64&pageID=27&Subpages=yes