Grants For Property Tax Rent And Heat

Property tax and rent assistance grant - heat assistance grant - expansion - increase. A low-income senior or individual with a disability is currently eligible for 2 types of annual state assistance grants administered by the department of revenue related to his or her property: A grant for their property taxes or rent paid, with the latter being deemed a tax-equivalent payment (property tax and rent assistance grant), and a grant for heat or fuel expenses (heat assistance grant). Together these are commonly known as the "PTC" rebate.

The act expands the property tax and rent assistance grant by repealing the requirement that rent must be paid to a landlord that pays property tax. For both types of grants allowed under the PTC rebate program, the act increases the:

• Maximum grant amounts;
• Phase-out amounts, which are the income levels at which a person's maximum grant begins to decrease; and
• Flat grant amounts, which are the minimum grant amounts assuming that the actual expenses exceed them.

All of these amounts will also continue to be adjusted for inflation in the future. Obsolete provisions relating to grants claimed for past years are repealed and other provisions relating to grants prior to 2019 are repealed after they become obsolete in the future.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)