Bill co-sponsored by Addabbo to continue enhanced STAR exemption for disabled surviving spouses approved by Senate

The New York State Senate recently approved legislation (S.2613) co-sponsored by NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. that would enable disabled surviving spouses, regardless of their age, to continue receiving tax benefits through the enhanced School Tax Relief (STAR) program in the event their STAR-eligible husbands or wives pass away.

“Under current law, disabled surviving spouses may only continue to receive property tax exemptions under enhanced STAR if they are 62 years of age or older,” Addabbo said. “This bill recognizes that financial hardships remain for disabled survivors, regardless of their age, and that grieving husbands and wives already facing challenges should not be further burdened by the loss of STAR assistance.”

Enhanced STAR is a state program that enables property owners 65 and older, whose household incomes are $86,000 or less, to receive exemptions from their school-related property taxes. Basic STAR also provides tax exemptions for property owners of any age with household incomes of up to $500,000.

“Disabled New York residents who suffer through the terrible loss of their spouses should not also need to worry about losing property tax exemptions that help them make ends meet,” said Addabbo, who is a member of the Senate Aging Committee. “Providing these grieving widows and widowers with the opportunity to continue receiving STAR assistance is quite simply the right thing to do.”

Having passed the Senate, the legislation is now under consideration by the Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation.