03 Oct Dad died. Why can’t we still get the Senior Freeze?

Q. My father passed away on Nov. 23, 2022. The state is saying he’s not eligible for the Senior Freeze for the house that was left to me through his estate. Why?
— Beneficiary

A. We’re sorry to hear about your dad.

The Senior Freeze reimburses qualified senior citizens and disabled residents for property tax increases.

But your dad’s estate is not eligible to carry on the base year your dad previously established for the home, the state Treasury Department said.

Only a surviving spouse would be able to carry on a base year, assuming they meet all the filing requirements on Dec. 31.

But your dad may still be eligible for the next ANCHOR benefit, which is for the 2020 tax year.

If you haven’t received paperwork for this from the state, you can still apply through the end of December.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on Oct. 3, 2023.

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