My office can help you apply for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program; Out and About the District and more

Rep. Steve Samuelson August 1, 2025 | 9:19 AM

PA Representative Steve Samuelson banner image

To read this email in a way and language that’s preferable to you, it can be found on my legislative website here and then click the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

Para leer este correo electrónico de una forma y en el idioma que prefiera, puede encontrarlo en mi sitio web legislativo aquí y, a continuación, hacer clic en el icono de accesibilidad de la esquina inferior derecha.

On August 4, 2023, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed HB1100 into law to expand the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. I was the prime sponsor of this legislation, which raised the program’s income limits for the first time in 17 years and provided larger maximum rebates for those who qualify. An estimated 175,000 additional people qualify for the rebate now, with nearly 4,000 of them in Northampton County.

Gov. Shapiro signs my legislation that increases eligibility for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program into law in 2023.

The new net income limit for 2024 is $46,520 for homeowners and renters. I say "net income" because you need only count half of your Social Security income along with all your other income when calculating eligibility for a rebate. The new law also included a Cost-of-Living Adjustment, so that recipients will not lose out on a tax or rent rebate in future years when they receive increases in their Social Security.

As chair of the House Finance Committee, I was pleased the bill received a unanimous vote in committee and overwhelming bipartisan votes in the House and Senate on HB1100, which was co-sponsored by 92 additional representatives.

The program is open to people over the age of 65, widows and widowers over the age of 50 and people with disabilities (SSD and SSI recipients) over the age of 18.

Milestone Achievement: 1,000 Rebates Completed in My Office Already This Year!

My staff and I have been super-busy assisting constituents with their rebate applications; in 2024 it took us until December to hit 1,000, and we've already reached that milestone this year!

Completing the 1,000 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application in my office!

It is the No. 1 service we offer from my district office, and if you haven't completed your rebate yet, aren't sure how to do it yourself or unsure if you qualify, my staff is ready and willing to help you get back your share of property taxes or rent that you paid last year. The money comes from the Pennsylvania Lottery Fund, benefitting older Pennsylvanians - and those in the disability community!

Contact my office for more information or for help applying.

FREE Senior Fare Cards for LANTA, SEPTA

Speaking of Older Pennsylvanians, and the Benefits of Being One...

Did you know that when you turn 65 you can ride the LANTA bus FREE? All you need is a Senior Fare Card, and my office can assist you in filling out and sending in the application for you at no charge. Additionally, if you travel to Philadelphia you can also ride the SEPTA bus and the SEPTA train FREE! There's a separate application and process for the SEPTA Key Pass, including taking your photo, but that's also something we can do for you from my office here in Bethlehem. Just call the office and ask to schedule an appointment for one, or both, of these passes, saving you time and money in your travels. All you need to obtain both is your PA Driver's License or Photo ID.

Out and About in the District: Connecting trails in Bethlehem and out standing in a field for agriculture

On July 23, I joined Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other public officials to announce funding to connect the South Bethlehem Greenway to the Saucon Rail Trail.

Click on the image above to watch my remarks on how this connectivity closes the trail gap and connects all of these public spaces together for walkers, runners and cyclists alike.

It was an honor to welcome PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to Monocacy Farm Project in Hanover Township on July 24. Rep. Jeanne McNeill and I are fighting to increase the budgets for the State Food Purchase Program and the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System by $4 million each as PA works to offset federal cuts to farms and food pantries.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers Exhausted for Northampton County

Each year the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is available to qualified adults 60 or older for purchasing fresh fruit and vegetables at local participating farmers’ markets.

My office has helped to distribute the vouchers earmarked for Northampton County; however, this year the total number of vouchers and the amount per person were both cut due to a lack of federal funding. As a consequence, the program is already fully subscribed, whereas in previous years signups continued until the end of August. If you have already received yours, they are good to use as cash until November 30, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Next year all distribution of vouchers will be done in person by county personnel; my office will not be involved with distribution.