Governor Shapiro announces $258 million in rebates for seniors and extends application deadline

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announces the beginning of his overhauled Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program with an initial payout of $258 million and more on the way after extending the application deadline to December 31st of 2025.

Shapiro took to the Harrisburg YMCA on Monday to inform seniors who have already applied to the program that direct deposits and checks will be issued on Tuesday and stress the improvements his administration has made to the program which hasn't been updated since 2006.

Before this year senior homeowners would receive the same rebate they would have in 2006 which due to rising property taxes and inflation was far less valuable leading to some seniors reliant on the rebate being forced to sell their homes. 

To combat this the Shapiro administration has made several changes to modernize the program.

Perhaps the most important of these is setting the eligible income level to $45,000 and tying it to a price index allowing it to grow with inflation.

This year it sits at $46,520 and will continue to grow each year meaning that those who are significantly impacted by the rebate won't be pushed out in future years.

The maximum relief has been raised from $650 to $1,000.

And the number of eligible residents has been raised from 405,000 to just under 600,000.

As of July 1, 2025 only 477,000 out of the estimated 600,000 eligible residents has applied for the rebate leading Shapiro to extend the application deadline to the end of this year on December 31.

Seniors can find the applications online or in person at their local YMCA through a collaboration with the Pennsylvania administration.

Smaller improvements to the rebate system include:

• potential eligibility notification emails being sent out based on myPATH and public domain information
• the online application process being available entirely in spanish
• an application tip sheet available in seven different languages

"This is an example of what happens when we work together. When we set the table for progress and bring Republicans and Democrats together to work with us... we've proven over the last two years when we compromise we can help our seniors..." says Governor Shapiro.