Pennsylvania Governor Signs AARP-Backed Tax Rebate Expansion

En español | AARP Pennsylvania celebrated the expansion of a state program offering property tax and rent relief to hundreds of thousands of older Pennsylvania residents at a bill-signing ceremony last week.

The law, which Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Aug. 4, raises the maximum rebate under Pennsylvania’s Property Tax Rent Rebate (PTRR) program from $650 to $1,000. It also increases the income limit to qualify from $15,000 to $45,000 a year for renters, and from $35,000 to $45,000 a year for homeowners. The income cap will rise with inflation.

This is the first time the program has been updated in 17 years, and AARP led the push to get the bill over the finish line. We testified in favor of the bill and our activists sent nearly 2,000 emails to lawmakers urging them to support the measure, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, said AARP Advocacy Director Teresa Osborne, who joined the governor for the bill’s signing.

The program benefits Pennsylvanians 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and adults of any age with disabilities. The law will extend eligibility to nearly 175,000 more residents and increase rebates for many of the 400,000 who already qualify, according to the governor’s office.

AARP is especially pleased that older adults will no longer need to worry about losing their rebate simply because a small cost-of-living bump in their Social Security checks put them “a few dollars” over the income limit, Osborne said.

“The Property Tax Rent Rebate Program has been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania state director, in a statement. “With this expansion, hundreds of thousands more will be able to remain in their homes and communities — where they want to be.”

AARP has long fought for targeted tax relief that can help older adults choose where they live as they age, and we celebrated wins in several states this year. Thanks in part to our advocacy, older New Jersey residents will see their property taxes cut in half, Alabamans will pay a smaller tax on groceries, and Missourians will no longer pay state taxes on Social Security.

Keep up with our advocacy work in Pennsylvania, and learn more about how AARP is fighting for you in your state.