SHAMOKIN - More than 4,000 Northumberland County residents eligible for a tax/rent rebate program had yet to apply for state money as of early last month.
A spokeswoman for Department of Revenue said an estimated 4,693 eligible county residents hadn't applied for the annual Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program as of Nov. 5; 3,033 had applied.
Rebates of up to $975 are paid out annually to seniors over 65 years old as well as widowers over 50 years old and adults of all ages with a disability in order to offset the cost of taxes or rent.
The Commonwealth paid out $284.1 million in rebates in 2011, including a combined $2,773,710 to 6,908 Northumberland County residents, according to state Department of Revenue.
Those rebates were supplemented by an additional $95,923 for 367 of those residents.
Rebate applications received by Department of Revenue by Nov. 5 and the number of eligible residents who had not applied as of that date in neighboring counties are: Columbia, 1,742, 2,865; Schuylkill, 4,092, 8,321; Snyder, 339, 1,627; Union, 680, 1,278.
Deadline to apply for the program is Dec. 31. There is no cost to apply and filing assistance is available.
The annual income limit is $35,000 for homeowners. Renters who earn less than $15,000 annually are eligible.
Half of Social Security income is excluded when calculating the rebate, according to the department.
The maximum standard rebate is $650; however, supplemental rebates can increase the payout.
For more information call 1-888-222-9190 during normal business hours weekdays or visit www.revenue.state.pa.us.