Up to $900 For Hundreds of Groton Seniors and Disabled; Apply Now

The outreach has been so effective that director Marge Fondulas estimates Groton Human Services has reached nearly 90 percent of the folks eligible for the renters’ rebate program.  

“We have a very good rapport with senior housing complexes and the senior community, plus, there’s word of mouth,” she said of the near 30-year old program that provides eligible senior citizens and the disabled living on a fixed income an average rent rebate of about $470.

“But 90 is not 100, so we keep putting the word out.”  

Under the auspices of the state Office of Policy and Management, the renters’ rebate program began in 1984 for renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits; now, $33,500 for a single person and $40,900 for a couple.

According to OPM, “people that are renting an apartment or room, or living in cooperative housing or even a mobile home may be eligible for this program.”

Town Manager Mark Oefinger’s weekly status update read that the 2013 Elderly and Totally Disabled Renters’ Tax Relief program provided more than 600 Groton residents rebates averaging in excess of $450 in 2012. And for 2013, Oefinger estimated, that number may climb to 630 or more.

“It has been growing every year even though the census shows the population has not increased much,” Fondulas said. “When it first started, we had 100 applicants.”

People age into the program in addition to some whose incomes have shrunk or for those new to the community.

The program application period has begun, Oefinger said. Social workers will be making stops at all elderly/disabled housing but applications are taken at the human services department. The program provides direct partial reimbursement of rent and utilities (not telephone bills, though) that have been paid by qualified renters. Fondulas encouraged people who believe they are eligible to apply.  

For more information contact Groton Human Services, 2 Fort Hill Road, Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. Or call 860-441-6760.