The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Rental rebates back
Restored program helps low-income elderly pay utility bills
HARTFORD — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a bill this week formally restoring the state’s rental rebate program following changes made to the approved budget giving the state the ability to disperse the money.
The signing is especially promising for low-income residents who had been waiting for the rebates to arrive via mail. State Office of Policy and Management is tentatively expecting these checks to be mailed out mid-December.
State Office of Policy and Management spokesman Chris McClure said this week that a bill passed last week by the House and previously passed by the Senate helped repair the state’s rental rebate program. The bill also corrected the Hospital Provider Tax to clear federal law requirements, according to a letter issued and signed by Malloy’s office. He further seeks to fix a flaw a “flaw” to correct funding for the Children’s Health Initiative.
Malloy wrote in the letter that the bill ensures, “that the Renters’ Rebate Program could provide needed assistance to our elderly residents by restoring its operating and funding to the Office of Policy and Management.”
The programs restoration means eligible recipients could expect rebate checks next month
following a two-month delay. McClure said these rebate checks were typically mailed in October.
McClure said last year, the state paid out about $27 million in total rebates. The bill singed by Malloy restores $25 million in funding; the original General Assembly budget passed in October split $13 million for the current fiscal year and $14 million for the following fiscal year for the program.
However, municipalities will still have to pay out $8.5 million of the $25 million in funding for the program, McClure said.
By law, McClure said OPM’s payment list must be submitted by Nov. 30. OPM will administer the program and forward figures to the Office of the Comptroller, which issues the checks.
“We’re optimistic with OPM,” McClure said. “The comptroller (office) should be able to turn around checks, but this could bleed into first two weeks in December.”
A majority of recipients live in high-residential areas such as New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport, McClure said. New Haven alone has 4,863 renters due $2.37 million, according to McClure.
New Haven Acting Budget Director Michael Gormany said the city never got to the point of exploring how they would pay for the rebates after the initial plan to shift costs to municipalities. Gormany said the delay for the check’s delivery was likely due to lack of statewide budget.
New Haven resident and rebate recipient Linda Page, 70, said she has been waiting for rebate checks since October. Page lives in the city’s Dixwell neighborhood.
“Seniors like myself, we kind of depend on that,” Page said. “That’s why I’ve been so worried.”
The $700 Page receives helps keep the lights on and pays for other utilities. She said her electrical company, United Illuminating, is aware of the delay in rebate checks. This is helping avoid “hassling,” from utility companies, Page said.
Page’s concerns are shared by friends and neighbors, who she said will see news about the programs restoration as promising.
“Most of us are on a fixed income,” Page said. “Everybody’s been worrying about it…I’m glad it will be announced. That’ll calm everybody out.”
McClure said the rebate program has existed since at least the 1970s. Eligible individuals include people 65 or older or 18 or older and eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.
The program is available for married couples, who can receive up to $900 a year.