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
December 21, 2007
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2007-R-0694
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ELDERLY PROPERTY TAX FREEZE
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By: Judith Lohman, Chief Analyst
John Rappa, Principal Analyst
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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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July 13, 2006
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2006-R-0445
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PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS
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By: Kevin E.
McCarthy, Principal Analyst
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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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July 14, 2006
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2006-R-0453
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STATE AND LOCAL OPTION PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS
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By: Helga Niesz, Principal Analyst
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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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November 17, 2006
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2006-R-0724
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SENIOR PROPERTY TAX FREEZES IN NEIGHBORING STATES
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By: Helga Niesz, Principal Analyst
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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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November 6, 2006
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2006-R-0643
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STATE LIMITS ON SENIORS' REAL PROPERTY TAXES, DEFERRALS, AND
LIENS
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By: Helga Niesz, Principal Analyst
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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