14 Aug I moved to N.J. Am I eligible for the Homestead Rebate?

Q. I recently moved to New Jersey and I bought a house in May. Am I eligible for the Homestead Rebate?
— Homeowner

A. It seems you haven’t lived in New Jersey long enough to get the benefit – yet.

The Homestead Rebate has something of a time delay. The state just paid out the 2016 rebate in May 2019.

The state hasn’t yet opened the filing period for the 2017 benefit, said Gail Rosen, a Martinsville-based certified public accountant.

She said when the program opens, you’d have to meet the requirements, which have not yet been released for the 2017 year.

But for 2016, the requirements were first that you must be 65 or older and/or blind or disabled, she said.

You’d have to be a New Jersey resident who owned and occupied a home that was your principal residence by a certain date, and property taxes must have been paid in full.

Then there’s the income cutoff, Rosen said. It was $150,000 for those age 65 or older or blind or disabled, and $75,000 for those under age 65 and not blind or disabled.

To get an application – if one isn’t mailed to you – you can call (888) 238-1233 or do it online.

To learn more, check out the state’s website here.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on Aug. 14, 2019.

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