Ward councillors roll up their administrative sleaves to help pensioners with rebate applications
Deadline passed on July 1 for property rate rebates available for property owners over 60 years old.
Roodepoort’s ward councillor lent a hand to the elderly members of their constituencies, on June 29.
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) offers property rate rebates to pensioners and the deadline for the current application window was July 1. To beat the cut-off, help ease confusion and streamline the process, ward councillors from several Region C wards spent the day assisting the pensioners with their documentation.
The process of applying for a rebate varies from category to category which can be problematic for elderly persons to identify which section is applicable. Most importantly, pensioners needed a certified ID copy, three months’ bank statement and proof of income. For retirees and the unemployed, a copy of the back and front of their SASSA card, as well as a SARS income tax certificate, was required.
Two categories of pensioners qualify for the rebates, the 60-69-year-old bracket and those over 70. The application to renew a pensioner rebate must be done before the beginning of a new valuation roll which is updated every four to five years and those over 70 are required to apply annually. Added to the challenges, rebate application forms must be submitted in person at a walk-in centre and a reference number must be obtained.
The rebate applies to property rates only and the residential property may consist of one dwelling only. The owner must be at least 60 years old and they must occupy the property. The rebate also applies to property owners who have become pensioners due to injury and the rebates are granted from the date of application for the duration of the valuation roll.
