PAGE 20 - PLAINDEALER-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1975 75,000 Applications For Cash Grants Mailed Elderly More than 75,000 senior citizens and disabled •<. people were mailed applications last week for cash grants under the Illinois circuit breaker law, Robert H. Allphin, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, has announced. Circuit breaker is the name commonly given to the "Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act" of 1973. Allphin said applications had been mailed automatically to renters who applied last year For Your Favorite Valentine; Give Favorite Sporting Goods From McHenry's Favorite Sport Center 1210 N. Green $t.-McHenry-385-1000 for property tax relief on the rent they paid: Homeowners who have filed with the department for a property tax break will also be sent applications in a few months to coincide with receipt of property tax bills. Senior citizens and disabled people who have never applied for a cash grant for property tax relief can obtain ap plications (Form IL-1363) by calling the department toll free at 800-252-8972. Forms are also available by writing the Illinois Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 3124, Springfield, 111. 62708. And forms will be available soon at all state revenue department offices, Governor's Action Offices, and through the Department on Aging's area agencies on aging. Changes in the formula for computing the grant were signed into law by Gov. Dan Walker in September. Allphin said the changes would in- Golf Balls Golf Clubs Mitts .Fishing Tackle * • Jackets & Caps < > 'Skates -Camping Gear • Tennis Balls & Rackets!! THE WEDNESDAY BANK As Ready To Serve You On Wednesday As Any Of The Six Days We're Open. THE FIRST XATIOXAL BA\K OF MrHEMtY 3814 West Elm Street • McHenrv, Illinois 60050 crease grant amounts and make some 50,000 more citizens eligible for them. Since the circuit breaker law became effective Jan. 1, 1973, more than $38 million has been awarded in property tax relief grants. Nearly 375,000 senior and disabled citizens have received the grants. Allphin said the changes in the law would mean that some of the people who did not qualify for grants in previous years would now be eligible. And he said he hoped every eligible citizen would take advantage of the tax break this year. "The circuit breaker was established to provide relief to our disabled and senior citizens who find their property taxes UALENTINE FLOWERS PETALS & STEMS 3301 U). ELM ST. going up at a rate faster than their incomes," Allphin said. "But many qualified people are not taking advantage of it." Part of the reason some of the people eligible are not applying is "because they feel there is a certain stigma attached to it/' the director believes. "They may see the grant as some sort of give-away and don't want it. It's not that. The idea was to relieve the disabled and elderly who are burdened by rising property taxes that are not matched by increases in income. The purpose of the legislation was to make sure that people who worked hard to own or rent their homes could continue living there." Under the circuit breaker law, annual cash grants, which have averaged $160, are available to persons who: --Are 65 years of age or older or are unable to work because of a disability that has lasted a year or more or is expected to last a year or more. -Are residents of Illinois at the time they file for the grant. -Have accrued property tax or paid rent on their residence or privilege tax on their mobile home during the period for which the claim was filed. -Have an annual household income of $10,000 or less. Agency Drags yv. y 7nm~Va£ue. HARDWARE STORES "YOUR PRESCRIPTION HEADQUARTERS" 1327 N. RIVERSIDE DR. McHENRY 385-4426 ft 65 OR OVER? SAVE! 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JOE'S 49 CHILDREN'S ASPRIN 36'S 24* Discount Price LIMIT 2 COUPON EXP. 2 -19 -75 XWdW***INFLATION-FIGHTER COUPON JnmJ/aSm HARDWARE STORES "YOUR PRESCRIPTION HEADQUARTERS" 1327 N. RIVERSIDE DR. 385-4426 McHENRY Allphin said that people who live in nursing or sheltered care homes could file for a grant if their residence was subject to property taxes. The law recognizes that part of a rent payment is applied to the property tax on that residence," the director said. He said that persons who lived in public housing or other housing owned by tax-exempt organizations We not eligible for circuit breaker grants. "This type of housing is not subject to the property tax," Allphin said. The formula for computing the circuit breaker grant is based on the applicant's household income-it must be $10,000 or less-and on the amount of property taxes ac crued or rent or privilege taxes paid. Here's how the circuit breaker grant would be figured for a person whose income was $6,000 and whose taxes amounted to $400. The maximum grant for the person with this income is found by subtracting 5 per cent of the income ($300) from $500, the maximum grant allowed by law. The difference is $200, or the maximum grant a per^n with an income of $6,000 could get. Just how much money up to $200 the person will receive is figured by subtracting 4 per cent of the income ($240 in this case) from the amount of the property tax ($400). The grant in this instance would be $160. The figure equivalent to 4 per cent of the persons's income is important, Allphin said. The law recognizes that the average property tax bill for senior and disabled persons amounts to four per cent of their income. Grants will be awarded to qualified persons for property tax amounts over 4 per cent. But if property taxes amounted to less than 4 per cent of the household income, the person would not be eligible for a grant. The cut-off was reduced to 4 per cent by the new law signed by Gov. Walker last fall. Before that the cut-off was 6 or 7 per cent, depending on income bracket. Allphin reminded senior and disabled citizens that the cir cuit breaker law, administered by the Department of Revenue, is not related to the Homestead Exemption act, which is ad ministered by counties of the state. Home Fire Demonstration Program At Farm Bureau The Farm Bureau Women's committee will offer a home fire demonstration program to the public and Farm Bureau members Monday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m., in the Farm Bureau auditorium. According to fire department statistical estimates, the 'average' person is a victim of fire ever twelve years, or five times during his lifetime! U.S. Governmental Vital Statistics prove that each year, more children under 14 years of age die from fire rather than from leukemia, rheumatic fever, and other childhood diseases combined. The per capita fire loss is six times bigger than that of any European country and it is getting worse. Today, 1,500 homes will catch on fire, and tomorrow, the same thing is estimated to happen, according to insurance reports. Most fires start accidentally as a result of every day living, especially at night when most families are asleep. The major cause of death in a fire is, not being burned, but super heated poisoned air. The heat and toxic gases, which precede any fire, asphyxiate persons, and inhibit entire living areas. Did you know that if you are not up and out of a home in the first two or three minutes of a fire, your chances of escape are greatly reduced? These statistics are more than terrifying. "But have faith; there is a solution," says Mrs. Cornelison, chairman. "Be aware of fire hazards and be cautious. Inform your families of the consequences of fire and what to do if one oc curs. The panic of a child can be lessened if he knows somewhat what to expect or what to do should such an oc casion arise. Remind him that it is 'ok' to break a window if it means getting out of a fire- trapped house. This may seem silly to you, but not to a child who fears punishment if he demolishes a window." In matters which he does not understand, the wise person reserves judgment. SENSATIONAL SAVINGS DURING OUR rrswi DIAGONAL rojid^state ̂ The DEGAS • Model F4015L - Impeccably styled 19" diagonal Solid-State Chromacolor II Decorator Compact. Bril liant Chromacolor Picture Tube. IOO% Solid-State Chassis. Patented Power Sentry Voltage Regulator, Solid-State Super Video Range Tuning System. Synchromatrte 70-Position UHF Channel Selector. Automatic Fine Tuning Control. Automatic Tint Guard. 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