Senate Passes Tax Change to Help Surviving Disabled Spouses Keep Their STAR Savings

The New York State Senate today approved legislation (S2613), sponsored by Senator Betty Little (R-C-I, Queensbury), that would provide disabled spouses a continuation of enhanced STAR savings should their eligible husband or wife predecease them.

Senator Little said, “Enhanced STAR offers a significant savings that many homeowners count on. However, when a spouse who qualified passes away, a disabled surviving spouse may lose the added financial benefit. For many of them, their financial situation doesn’t change and, in fact, can become more challenging.  The point here is a continuation of a benefit for someone who has already lost more than enough.”

Current law permits the continuation of the enhanced STAR benefit when the surviving spouse of an enhanced STAR qualifying individual is at least 62 years old.  The proposed change would ensure that a physically disabled spouse, regardless of their age, does not lose the enhanced STAR benefit. A physically disabled surviving spouse would be eligible to receive the exemption after their spouse’s death by submitting certain documents attesting to their physical impairment to the assessor and continuing to meet the established requirements. 

The bill was sent to the Assembly.