When Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed legislation creating Act 7 of 2023, he kept a promise he made to older Pennsylvanians by delivering a major expansion of the property tax/rent rebate program, which was last updated in 2006.

The governor recognizes this program serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people in our commonwealth, so he rightfully made it a priority to deliver the largest targeted tax cut for Pennsylvania’s seniors in nearly two decades.

The expansion to the program will make a substantial impact on seniors, widows and widowers, and people with disabilities in urban, suburban and rural communities. This program annually provides critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of people, helping them to stay in the comfort of their homes and communities for as long as they are able.

And it will be felt right here in the Lehigh Valley.

With this expansion, more than 8,200 Pennsylvanians across Lehigh and Northampton counties are now eligible to apply for rebates in 2024, when the next program filing period opens. This is in addition to more than 20,000 residents from these counties who currently benefit from the program, receiving more than $17.5 million in rebates.

As the leaders of two state departments that play critical roles in administering this program, we want Pennsylvania homeowners and renters to know that they don’t need to take any immediate action to benefit from the expansion. Rather, these changes will be in effect starting in January.

Here are some helpful tips on how the process will work starting next year:

What is changing in 2024?

Starting in mid-January, those eligible will be able to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2023. As this application period opens, here is what’s changing under the program’s new guidelines:

• First, the maximum standard rebate is increasing from $650 to $1,000.
• Second, the income cap for both renters and homeowners will be made equal and increase to $45,000 a year.
• Third, the income caps will be tied to the cost-of-living moving forward, meaning those who receive a rebate won’t lose their eligibility in the future due to increases in Social Security payments.

The governor’s plan expands the program to nearly 175,000 more Pennsylvania seniors and others with disabilities. At the same time, 86% of the 430,000 claimants who already qualified for the program under the prior guidelines will see their rebates increase.

What is staying the same in 2024?

The process and systems that are already in place — and that have served PTRR applicants for years — will remain the same.

The eligibility criteria will stay the same, meaning the program will continue to benefit eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

Eligible Pennsylvanians will be able to apply for their rebates either online or by paper:

Online: File for a rebate using myPATH (mypath.pa.gov), the Department of Revenue’s user-friendly online filing system. Filing online gives instant confirmation that a claim has been successfully filed, allows access to automatic calculators and includes other helpful features.

Paper: Any person who filed for a 2022 property tax/rent rebate by paper will automatically be mailed a paper instruction booklet/application form. Starting in mid-January, you can also find the paper application online (revenue.pa.gov/ptrr) or by calling 1-888-222-9190.

You can find other helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions by visiting the Department of Revenue’s website at revenue.pa.gov.

The expansion of the program deliver on a pledge Shapiro made to our seniors and to people with disabilities to provide them with financial relief as they struggle under the burden of rising prices. It will help ease the burden of paying the mortgage or rent while putting money back into older adults’ pockets.

Since its inception in 1971, the PTRR program has delivered more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. All of us at the departments of revenue and aging are ready, able and willing to do our part to help the residents of our commonwealth apply for and receive rebates that will make an impact on their lives.

Pat Browne is the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, which administers the property tax/rent rebate program. Jason Kavulich is the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which works to ensure that older Pennsylvanians have access to quality services and supports that help them age and live well.