Assemblyman Herb Conaway, M.D. today urged seniors and homeowners to take advantage of the extended deadline for applying for property tax relief programs in the wake of the early winter storm that left large portions of the state without power. “With power, travel and wireless communications disrupted for thousands of New Jersey residents across the state, meeting the original October 31 deadline for filing for the Homestead Benefit and Senior Freeze property tax relief programs was very difficult,” said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden). “Realizing that, the deadline has been moved back a week, so that residents recovering from the storm still have time to take advantage of these vital property tax relief programs.”

The final deadline for applying for the Homestead Benefit and the Senior Freeze property tax relief programs was originally October 31. However, due to the severity and the early nature of the weekend winter storm, the deadline was extended to Monday, November 7, 2011.

“Programs like the Senior Freeze, which I voted to expand in this year’s budget, help homeowners bear the burden of New Jersey’s high property taxes, but to receive the benefit, residents must apply,” said Conaway. “I continue to urge every homeowner to apply, even if they haven’t qualified in the past, so that they have every opportunity to receive property tax relief.

To be eligible for the Senior Freeze Program a person must be over the age of 65, have lived in New Jersey for at least 10 years and earned less than $70,000 for both calendar years 2009 and 2010. Eligible homeowners may apply online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ until Nov. 7, or by phone (1-877-658-2972) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Applicants can call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to request an application, speak to a taxation representative for assistance and get information on the status of their reimbursement checks if they have already filed.

The average Senior Freeze check is approximately $1,200, and because of the Democratic budget, which Conaway supported, more than 50,000 additional seniors will receive Senior Freeze checks than would have under the Christie proposal, which would have reduced the program by $25 million, would not have allowed new seniors to enter the program and would have seen seniors reimbursed at the level of benefit received in FY 2010, regardless of the property tax increase incurred since 2008.

To be eligible for the Homestead Benefit Program a person must have owned and occupied their home since at least October 1, 2010. In addition, during calendar year 2010, applicants under the age of 65 cannot have made more than $75,000 and applicants over the age of 65 cannot have made more than $150,000. For an application or assistance, residents can call the Homestead Benefit Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. TLS.