Help being offered for seniors on tax, fees

Some low-income senior citizens in Chattanooga are eligible for property tax relief and for help paying their annual water quality fee.

The city is offering help to older residents to find out whether they qualify and to sign them up if they do. Information is available online but the city also is holding sessions at Youth and Family Development centers through mid-December.

Three programs are involved.

The property tax relief program is for taxpayers aged 65 or older and the disabled. They must own and live in a home in the city and have more than $29,270 income for the 2017 fiscal year.

Honorably discharged veterans with a 100 percent service disability or their widow(er)s also qualify for the property tax relief program.

People who qualify for tax relief also may be eligible for help paying 2018 water quality fees from United Way of Greater Chattanooga. That requires a separate application.

Chattanooga’s tax freeze program aims to help senior citizens by capping their tax bills. Participants must reapply each year.

Those eligible for relief include seniors over age 65 who own and live in a home in the city and whose total income is less than $38,840 for 2017.

Find information and application forms online at www.chattanooga.gov/ finance/treasury-division/ property-tax/propertytax-relief. Or call call 423643-7262 or email ptax@ chattanooga.gov.

In-person help will be offered today at North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive.

Get help Monday and Tuesday at Francis B. Wyatt YFD, 406 Colville St.

After Thanksgiving, in-person help will be offered Nov. 26 at John A. Patten YFD, 3202 Kelly’s Ferry Road; at Eastdale YFD, 1312 Moss Drive, on Nov. 27; and at Shepherd YFD, 2124 Shepherd Road, on Nov. 28 and 29.

The Avondale YFD will offer help Dec. 3 and 4 at 1305 Dodson Ave. Dec. 10-12, get help at Washington Hills YFD, 4628 Oakwood Drive.

The final in-person help sessions for 2018 will be Dec. 17-18 at South Chattanooga YFD, 1151 W. 40th St.

Help hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all locations.