Pennsylvania pays older homeowners and renters a yearly rebate of up to $1,000 on the property taxes or rent they already paid. The program is the Property Tax/Rent Rebate, and it is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. If you are 65 or older and your household income is modest, you likely qualify. This guide to Pennsylvania senior property tax relief tells you who is eligible, how much you can get back, and exactly how to file.
Pennsylvania Senior Property Tax Relief: The Rebate Program
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate is Pennsylvania's main senior tax-relief program. It rebates part of the property taxes or rent an older or disabled resident paid during the year.
It is not a discount on next year's tax bill. It is cash back on money you already spent. You pay your property taxes or rent through the year, then file a claim, and the state sends you a rebate.
The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and by gaming revenue, not by the general budget. That is why it has survived for decades while other relief programs have come and gone.
The Department of Revenue runs it. The claim form is the PA-1000.
Who qualifies
You must meet two tests: an age-or-status test and an income test.
You pass the first test if you are any one of these:
- Age 65 or older.
- A widow or widower age 50 or older.
- A person with disabilities age 18 or older.
You also have to have paid property taxes or rent on the Pennsylvania home you lived in during the claim year. Homeowners claim against property taxes. Renters claim against a portion of the rent they paid, on the theory that part of every rent check covers the landlord's property taxes.
The income limit, and the Social Security rule that helps you
For the 2025 claim year, household income must be $48,110 or less.
That limit is not fixed. Act 7 of 2023 raised it to $45,000 and tied it to inflation, so it now climbs each year with the cost of living. The $48,110 figure is the 2025 number. Check the current PA-1000 instructions before you assume you are over the line.
Here is the part that surprises people: only about half of your Social Security income counts toward that limit. So a household pulling in well over $48,110 in gross income can still qualify once the Social Security exclusion is applied.
That single rule is why many people who assume they earn too much actually qualify. Do the math with the half-counted Social Security figure, and confirm the exact treatment on the current PA-1000 instructions before you rule yourself out.
"Household income" includes most other income: pensions, interest, dividends, wages, and the like. The Social Security carve-out is the big exception.
How much you get back
The maximum standard rebate is $1,000.
You do not automatically get the full $1,000. The rebate scales down as your income rises, so a household near the top of the income limit receives less than one near the bottom. The PA-1000 instructions carry the current income tiers that set your exact rebate amount. Use the form to find your number.
Some homeowners get more. A supplemental rebate of an additional $190 to $500 goes to certain homeowners on top of the standard rebate. It is calculated automatically. You do not file anything extra for it.
The supplement targets two groups: lower-income homeowners whose property taxes eat up more than 15 percent of their income, and residents of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton, where local property tax burdens run high. If you live in one of those three cities and own your home, the supplement may apply to you.
At a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Age 65+, or a widow/widower 50+, or a person with disabilities 18+ |
| Income limit | $48,110 or less; only about half of Social Security counts (adjusts yearly) |
| Maximum standard rebate | $1,000, scaling down as income rises |
| Supplemental rebate | $190 to $500 for some homeowners (incl. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton) |
| Form | PA-1000, free at mypath.pa.gov |
| Deadline | December 31, 2026 for the 2025 claim year |
| Funded by | Pennsylvania Lottery and gaming revenue |
How to apply
You file Form PA-1000. It is free.
The fastest way is online at mypath.pa.gov, the Department of Revenue's myPATH system. Filing electronically gets your rebate processed faster than mailing a paper form, and the system checks your math as you go.
You can also file a paper PA-1000 by mail. The form and instructions are on the Department of Revenue website. Do not pay anyone to prepare it for you. The state, local Area Agencies on Aging, and many senior centers help residents file at no charge.
Before you start, gather these:
- Proof of the property taxes you paid (receipted tax bills) or, for renters, a signed rent certificate from your landlord.
- Your Social Security award statement and other income records.
- Your home's address and the dates you lived there.
If a claimant dies during the claim year, a surviving spouse or personal representative may be able to file on their behalf; check the current PA-1000 instructions for the rules that apply.
The deadline
For the 2025 claim year, the deadline is December 31, 2026.
The statute sets a June 30 deadline, but the Department of Revenue extends it to the end of the year each year as long as funds allow. Do not count on the extension; file early. Filing online in the spring gets your rebate to you months sooner.
File one claim per year, for the prior year. The 2025 claim year covers taxes or rent paid during 2025, and you file it in 2026.
A separate program: the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate is not the only property tax break in Pennsylvania. There is also the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion.
These two are different, and you can benefit from both.
The Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion comes from Act 1 of 2006, the Taxpayer Relief Act, and it is also funded by gaming revenue. It works differently from the rebate. Instead of sending you cash, it lowers the taxable assessed value of your primary residence, which cuts your school property tax bill directly.
It is also not limited to seniors. Any homeowner with an approved primary residence can get it, regardless of age or income. You apply once through your county assessment office, and it stays in place as long as you own and occupy the home.
So an older Pennsylvania homeowner can hold the Homestead Exclusion to lower the tax bill and file the PA-1000 each year to get a rebate on what they still paid. They stack.
How Pennsylvania Senior Property Tax Relief Fits Your Care Budget
A rebate of up to $1,000 will not pay for senior care on its own. But it frees up household cash you can redirect toward home care, a personal care home fee, or a long-term care insurance premium. Every dollar back is a dollar you do not have to pull from savings.
If you are working out how to cover the larger cost of care, the rebate is one small piece. See the Pennsylvania guide to paying for senior care for the full funding map, including Medicaid, VA benefits, and private resources. For the national overview, see how to pay for senior care.
Frequently asked questions
No. Renters qualify too. The program rebates a portion of the rent you paid, because part of your rent covers your landlord's property taxes. Renters file the same Form PA-1000 and provide a signed rent certificate instead of property tax receipts.
Only about half of your Social Security income counts toward the $48,110 limit. So a household with gross income above the limit can still qualify once half its Social Security is excluded. This is why many people who assume they earn too much actually qualify. Confirm the exact calculation on the current PA-1000 instructions.
Up to $1,000 as a standard rebate, with the amount scaling down as your income rises. Some homeowners get an extra $190 to $500 supplement, including those in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton and lower-income owners whose property taxes exceed 15 percent of their income. The PA-1000 instructions carry the income tiers that set your exact amount.
For the 2025 claim year, the deadline is December 31, 2026, though the statutory date is June 30 and the state extends it as funds allow. File Form PA-1000 for free online at mypath.pa.gov, or on paper by mail. Do not pay anyone to file it for you.
No. The rebate sends you cash back on taxes or rent you already paid, and it is limited to older and disabled residents. The Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (Act 1 of 2006) lowers the taxable value of your home for any homeowner. You can use both.
Learn More
- Senior Property Tax Relief by State
- How to Pay for Senior Care in Pennsylvania
- How to Pay for Senior Care
Find personalized help claiming Pennsylvania's senior property tax relief at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.