13 Dec Do spouses each get an ANCHOR benefit?

Q. The current maximum homeowner income to receive the ANCHOR benefit is $250,000, not including Social Security. If a husband and wife own a home together, and one spouse earns less, can that spouse get the benefit?
— Homeowner

A. Sorry, but no.

The ANCHOR benefit considers married homeowners who own a home together to be one taxpaying entity, so it’s the joint income that matters in determining eligibility.

There is some confusion, though, about what happens with the benefit for newly married couples.

If you owned a home as of Oct. 1, 2020 with someone who was not your spouse, you must each file paper applications in your own names.

“On the paper application, you need to indicate you owned the property with someone other than a spouse, and fill in your proportionate share of ownership,” the state website says.

Also include a copy of the property deed that shows you are an owner.

If you owned a home together but married after Oct. 1 but before Dec. 31 of that year, you are considered one owner.

For those who owned a property together on Oct. 1, 2020 but married after the end of the year, you’re still considered multi-owners and you each would have to file your own application, the state said.

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This story was originally published on Dec. 13, 2023.

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