Rent Exemption Expansion

The City of New York has added a new rent-freeze program to the already successful Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption [SCRIE] Program. The new program is called the Disabilities Rent Increase Exemption [DRIE] Program.

There's also a Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption [SCHE] Program that is available to qualified residents.

For receiving the necessary applications and information, you can call the city at 311 and they will gladly service your request.

First, About SCRIE Program which was started around 1971:

If you are 62 or older, live in a rent controlled or rent stabilized apartment or residential hotel, and have a disposable household income of $25,000 or less, you may be among the thousands of New Yorkers who can benefit from SCRIE.

Of course, not to many people who are 62 years or older are reading my website. I've asked my mom and dad to check in here once and while and they never do. However, some of you may know someone; a grandparent, someone's mother, who rents a stabilized unit and is beginning to feel the crunch of rent increases. Please check out the website for the Department for the Aging to find out more.

For the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program application, you can download it here.

Now, the new DRIE Program that has recently been passed by the City Council:

Eligible buildings, as defined by the law, are those that are regulated by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal

To qualify for DRIE, the family member with a disability must be named on the lease for the rent-regulated or co-op apartment.

The applicant must currently be receiving any one of the following forms of financial assistance:
-Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
-Federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI);
-US Department of Veterans Affairs disability pension or compensation; OR
-Medicaid-related disability assistance.

For Individuals: Household income must be less than or equal to $17,004/yr.
For Couples: Household income must be less than or equal to $24,372/yr.

Please check out the website for the Department of Finance to find out more.

For the new Disabilities Rent Increase Exemption Program application, you can download it here.
For the questions and answers, you can download the FAQ sheets here.

Many seniors in the outer-boroughs may not know about the SCHE Program and if you know someone who qualifies, you should definitely let them be aware of this benefit offered by the State. What is SCHE?

SCHE provides a partial exemption of the assessed value of a legal residence that is occupied by a senior citizen who has a limited income.

Eligibility

Age -- Applicants must be age 65 or over by December 31st of the year in which the SCHE benefits would begin. If a husband/wife or siblings own the property, only one needs to meet this age requirement to qualify. If co-owners other than spouses or siblings own the property, all must be 65 or over.

Primary Residence -- The applicant must use all or part of the property as his/her primary residence.
Income -- The total adjusted gross income of all the owners of the property from all sources must be less than $32,400, which is the 2004 cap set by New York State (reset annually).

Property Ownership -- The owners must have held title to the property for at last 12 consecutive months before March 15th of the year when the SCHE benefits begin.

For the Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption Program application, you can download it here.

I hope my posting this information will inform many New Yorkers about the SCRIE, DRIE & SCHE programs and that those who qualify can and will take advantage of City Tax Abatement Credits (TAC) that has been made available to them.

The one thing to remember is that anyone living in the five boroughs can call the City at 311 and inquire about what they qualify for.