July 1, 2024 – Today marks the start of the new fiscal year for the state of Pennsylvania. While this doesn't necessarily mean a new budget, some previously made changes and cash disbursements will go into effect today. A key part of the changes coming from the state of Pennsylvania is the money for seniors who applied for and received a property tax/rent refund check.

The state says that if you choose direct deposit, those funds will be deposited into that account very soon. If you choose a check option, they will be mailed today and you will typically receive them shortly afterward.

This initial distribution includes over 442,000 Discounts of 266 million US dollars – critical assistance benefiting older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities across Pennsylvania. This is a significant increase from last year, when 283,468 homeowners and renters were issued refunds totaling nearly $132 million in the first distribution.

Pennsylvania residents who provided their bank account information on their claim forms will receive their refund via direct deposit. Pennsylvania residents who requested to have a check sent to them by mail can expect to receive their payment by mail.

Following the initial distribution of refunds, which begins today, refunds will be distributed as applications are received and processed. Governor Shapiro also recently announced that the deadline for older adults and Pennsylvania residents with disabilities to apply for refunds for rent and property taxes paid in 2023 has been extended to December 31, 2024.

The Department of Revenue (DOR) has already processed and approved 93% of PTRR payment applications. The remaining applications pending approval either contain errors or may require additional information. If contacted by the DOR, Pennsylvania residents are asked to respond as soon as possible to ensure their application is approved and they receive their refund in a timely manner.

“One of the main reasons the governor’s leadership on this issue was so important – working with Senator Flynn and the rest of the General Assembly – is because the losses over the last 20 years have been significant because the program has not been adjusted for 20 years,” said Secretary Pat Browne“This was unacceptable to Governor Shapiro, and because of his leadership, the number of seniors receiving assistance will rise again to over 550,000.”

“I applaud Governor Shapiro for leading this historic expansion of the property tax and rent refund program, the largest targeted tax cut for seniors in nearly two decades,” said U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08). “Thanks to the Governor’s persistent efforts and with bipartisan support, the Shapiro administration is providing significant assistance to seniors here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

“I took office as a state representative in 2013 – and year after year, people would come to my office about rent reimbursement and I would see them missing the eligibility for the reimbursement by $20 or $100. This is probably one of the first times I felt like we really accomplished something to make a difference in people's lives,” said Senator Marty Flynn“This was not a walk in the park, as the governor could tell you, but we did it with common sense, knowing that people are struggling day in and day out. It's great to be with the governor and see our tax dollars being put to use – and let's not forget that this $260 million is going back into the economy because this money is being spent by the people of Pennsylvania, and that will help stimulate the economy.”

“For far too long, our seniors have struggled to pay their property taxes and rent. And for far too long, politicians have only talked about helping them,” said Representative Kyle Mullins“But thanks to the leadership of Governor Shapiro and local legislators, more money is now going back into the pockets of many more seniors who deserve and need it. Today is a proud day for Pennsylvania.”

PTRR Eligibility/Submission

The PTRR program benefits eligible Pennsylvania residents ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities ages 18 and older. The following table shows how much homeowners and renters who meet these criteria can receive based on their income:

Submitting your application through myPATH is easy and does not require you to sign up for an account. By submitting online, you will receive immediate confirmation that your application has been successfully submitted. Applicants also have access to automated calculators and other helpful features not available with the paper application. Additional application resources include:

• An online application in Spanish on myPATH for Spanish-speaking applicants.
• Free applications and assistance are available at hundreds of locations across the state: DOR district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislature offices.
• A new lookup tool – created by DOR and the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) – on DOR’s website to help applicants find in-person assistance in their community.
• To check the status of your refund, use the Where's My Refund tool. To check the status of your claim, you'll need your Social Security number, the year you applied, and your date of birth. You'll need to reapply for a refund each year because it's based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid the previous year.

For more information and to access PTRR forms/instructions, visit pa.gov/ptrr. Alternatively, call 1-888-222-9190 for assistance and click here to view the new Personal Assistance Lookup Tool.