More than 100,000 first-time claimants have filed their refund forms in Pennsylvania after Governor Josh Shapiro expanded the long-standing program last year.

Shapiro announced the additional applications this month, saying that more seniors and residents with disabilities in Pennsylvania are likely to receive the $1,000 check, and the property tax/rent rebate has been expanded so that people who did not meet previous income requirements can also earn the money.

“One of the biggest challenges in recent years has been simply getting qualified people to apply,” said Alex Beene, a financial literacy professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Newsweek.

“Although the range of people eligible for the rebate has been expanded, that expansion is of little use if people don’t apply. This time, we found that the state is making a strong effort to reach those eligible and that many residents struggling with rising costs are taking up the offer.”

The Pennsylvania State Tax Office said it has received more than 515,000 refund applications so far, a 22 percent increase from the same period last year. The vast majority, 94 percent, have already been approved.

“After hearing from seniors across the state about their struggles with rising costs, we took action during my first year in office to expand the property tax and rent reimbursement program and ensure it continues to serve as a lifeline for Pennsylvania’s senior citizens,” Shapiro said in a statement.

“We are now seeing the impact of this important work – more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians who were not eligible for this benefit in the past have filed their refund claims this year. At the same time, there are many more Pennsylvanians who are eligible for a refund but have not yet filed a claim. I want everyone to know that they can check their eligibility and learn how to apply for a refund at pa.gov/PTRR.”

There are still months until the discount can be applied for, namely December 31st.

The Property Tax and Rent Reimbursement Program has been in place for several decades. This program helps the state help some of its most vulnerable citizens cope with property taxes and rent costs.

Who is eligible for the rental/owner discount?

To qualify, you must be at least 65 years old or a widow at least 50 years old. You may also qualify if you have a disability and are at least 18 years old.

The application for reimbursement is free of charge and must be submitted annually based on the previous year’s income and property taxes and rental payments.

For this year’s refund, the maximum amount was increased from $650 to $1,000 and the income cap for renters and homeowners was also changed.

Now anyone earning $45,000 or less a year is eligible, whereas originally only homeowners earning $35,000 or less a year and renters earning $15,000 or less a year were eligible for the rebate program.

“This will be positive for the Commonwealth in that it may provide it with some much-needed relief from the inflationary pressures it is currently feeling,” said Kevin Thompson, financial expert and CEO and founder of 9i Capital Group. Newsweek. “It’s definitely better than the alternative of not getting a discount at all.”

Since the rebate program began in 1971, more than $8 billion has been paid back to citizens.

The higher number of applicants this year reflects the more comprehensive admission requirements, but is also a “sign of the times,” said Beene.

“While the amount reimbursed may not have made much of a difference financially for older residents and people with disabilities in the past, today with current living costs, even a few hundred dollars can be a big help,” Beene said.