State Senator Joe Pittman announced last week that he is drafting legislation that would amend a state program that provides real estate tax exemptions to veterans who are 100-percent disabled.
Pittman’s bill would exempt some federal funds given to the vets from being considered as income for eligibility purposes. It would include funds for everyday functioning, caregiving, medication management, and renovations to their homes to accommodate their disability. The senator says the issue came up here in Indiana County, where a disabled veteran’s expenses related to his in-home care were being counted as income.
Pittman says it’s unfair that federal money that helps veterans meet their basic needs pushes them over the state’s income limit. His bill also would broaden the definition of who qualifies for the exemption, removing a restriction that makes the benefit available only to those who served in wartime .
Pittman says it’s important that the state recognizes the sacrifices made by Pennsylvania’s disable veterans.
