Senior Freeze Checks in the Mail

Governor Christie’s budget increased funding by $90 million for the Senior Freeze property tax relief program. 

Senior Freeze checks are in the mail and on their way, according to state officials.

“Because of the priorities we funded in this budget, seniors and families will get the extra help they need to ease the strain on fixed incomes and family budgets,” said Governor Christie. "The property tax crisis in New Jersey has squeezed our seniors and middle-class families, and we have attacked the underlying root of the problem with a 2 percent cap on property tax increases and fundamental reforms to drive down the cost of government.”

The Christie Administration, through the Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation, has already begun mailing Senior Freeze checks to senior and disabled homeowners. Checks for the Senior Freeze program, which protects senior citizens and disabled residents from increases in property taxes, will average more than $1,200 this year, going directly to recipients who earned $70,000 or less in 2009 and 2010.

Senior and disabled homeowners with gross income up to $150,000 will receive Homestead Benefit credits averaging $540 this year, and non-senior homeowners with gross incomes up to $75,000 will receive credits averaging $404.

The Administration mailed out 116,000 Senior Freeze checks to applicants who filed by June 1 earlier this month. Those who filed after June 1 will receive checks throughout the coming months as the state processes applications. New applications are also being accepted because the deadline for filing was extended to October 31.

Every individual who qualifies for the Senior Freeze program will receive a benefit this year, according to the state.

The Treasury Department is directly following up with applicants who filed incomplete applications in order to ensure every eligible New Jersey senior receives the benefit to which they are entitled. The Division of Taxation is mailing notices to 13,000 applicants who filed incomplete applications.

Anyone with questions can call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597.  Information about the program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/.