Jerry Schmidt, a former senior services caseworker, spoke Thursday at the Capitol in Salt Lake City about a circuit breaker program that provides property tax relief to older renters and homeowners. (Spencer Heaps, Deseret News)
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SALT LAKE CITY — Thousands of retired Utahns pay rent at the beginning of the month but don’t have enough money for groceries, phone bills and car insurance.
Circuit Breaker is a little-known state program designed to help.
Circuit Breaker is known among homeowners over 65 because it provides property tax assistance, but the program hopes to be known to renters as well because it provides rental assistance. is.
“There are a lot of seniors who are looking for last-minute tax relief that they don’t qualify for, and my heart goes out to them,” said Bert Harvey, division manager for the Utah County Taxation Department.
Mr Harvey said if these seniors knew about the circuit breaker program, their financial situation would improve dramatically.
James Green, 73, a recipient of the program, wants to help spread as much information about the circuit breaker as possible. Mr. Green credits his former senior service case worker, Jerry Schmidt, with the benefits Mr. Green received from the circuit breaker program.
“If it wasn’t for Jerry, I don’t know what I would have done,” Green said.
Schmidt has been working with Congress to get more funding for the state program and is passionate about getting the word out about the program because he has seen the difference it makes for people like Greene. .
Regarding Green, Schmidt said, “At Ballpark Apartments, we had a customer who was living on Social Security for $880 a month. He received a check for $660 under the (circuit breaker) program, but he… I didn’t know it existed until we were here…” When I told him about it, he ended up paying 6% of his annual salary. … So I’ve seen what it can do for people. ”
Mr. Schmidt created a video for seniors to learn how to apply and fill out the application. here. The funding application site is herealong with a list of eligibility requirements.