08 Aug Are late applications for Senior Freeze accepted?

Q. Although my mother passed away at 92 two years ago, I am still in contact with her home health aide. She didn’t know much about the property tax benefits. She is a homeowner and has received ANCHOR in the past, but she never applied for Senior Freeze. She’s owned her home since 2020 and she was 65 at the time.
— Trying to help

A. That’s going to be a tough challenge. 

The Treasury Department in the past has occasionally allowed people who applied late to receive back benefits, but it’s usually for a reason with special circumstances that the applicant can prove delayed the application, such as a hospital stay. Not knowing about the benefit is generally not going to lead to a successful appeal.

To try, she’d have to apply for past years. The applications for past years can be found here or you can call (800) 882-6597 to ask they be mailed.

Her applications will all be declined. But then, she’d have the opportunity to appeal.

It’s worth trying because Senior Freeze benefits are based on the “base” year, or the first year for which a homeowner is approved. And we’re guessing her property taxes have gone up since 2020.

Good luck.

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This story was originally published in August 2025.

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