The New Jersey Department of Treasury recently made an announcement regarding the Senior Freeze Program, indicating that the deadline for filing senior freeze reimbursement applications extends until October 31, 2023. As reported by Mandelbaum Barrett PC, notable amendments have been made to the eligibility criteria for participation in this program.
Among the key criteria for eligibility, residents must:
- Be aged 65 or older, or a disabled person receiving social security benefits as of December 31, 2021;
- Have been continuously residing in New Jersey since December 31, 2011, or even earlier;
- Own or live in their home, or hold a lease for a site within a mobile home park.
Introduced as a property tax relief benefit for senior citizens and disabled persons, this program is widely recognized for helping restrain the ever-increasing cost of living for the most vulnerable segments of society. The program essentially “freezes” property tax bills, ensuring that eligible applicants are not subjected to ongoing increases in their property tax bills, hence the name ‘Senior Freeze Program’.
Legal professionals working within large corporations and law firms who engage with these issues are urged to update their understanding of these new developments, and also to ensure their respective senior or disabled clientele are alerted promptly, so as to take full advantage of the extended application deadline and amended eligibility criteria.