Seniors Targeted by Firm Charging Fees to File Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications, says O'Brien
Free assistance offered by legislative offices
Rep. Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia) is urging senior citizens to beware of a solicitation from a non-government agency in Harrisburg that claims it will fill out their Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms for a $39 fee.
Free assistance with the forms is available to seniors by contacting O’Brien’s office or the local Area Agency on Aging.
The letter, which comes from an entity identifying itself as the Senior Advisory Center, asks senior citizens to provide income and homeownership information and urges them to include their processing fee of $39, which they can pay by check, money order or credit card.
Anyone who receives this solicitation may bring their questions or concerns to the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection at (800) 441-2555 or visit the attorney general’s Web site at AttorneyGeneral.gov. Consumers may also contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at (877) 876-2455.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program provides rebates of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with permanent disabilities. Eligibility income limits for homeowners were expanded last year to the following levels, excluding 50 percent of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits:
- $0 and $8,000, up to $650 rebate (Homeowners and renters)
- $8,001 to $15,000, up to $500 rebate (Homeowners and renters)
- $15,001 to $18,000, up to $300 rebate (Homeowners only)
- $18,001 to $35,000, up to $250 rebate (Homeowners only)
For more information, contact O’Brien’s office at (215) 632-5150 or visit RepOBrien.com. Additionally, the Area Agency on Aging can be reached at (215) 765-9040.
Rep. Dennis O’Brien
169th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(215) 632-5150
(717) 787-5689
www.RepOBrien.com
Contact: L. Paul Vezzetti
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 260-6183