Section 5.22. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Act—Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Chapter 89 (relating to disabled veterans’ real estate tax exemption).

Bureau—The Bureau for Veterans’ Affairs of the Department of Military Affairs of the Commonwealth.

Commission—The State Veterans’ Commission.

Cost of living allowance—An allowance granted to the applicant when considering the expenses of the veteran.

Dependent’s allowance—Allowance given for the veteran and the veteran’s dependents to cover other reasonable household expenses; that is, food and the like, not included in the ‘‘Monthly Household Expenses’’ listing on the application.

Determination of need—Financial need as determined by the Commission by comparing the applicant’s income against the applicant’s expenses.

Income—Income from whatever source derived, including salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, income from self-employment, support money, cash public assistance and relief; the gross amount of pensions or annuities, including railroad retirement benefits; benefits received under the Social Security Act except Medicare benefits; benefits received under State unemployment insurance laws and veterans disability payments; interest received from the Federal or state government or an instrumentality or political subdivision thereof; realized capital gains; rentals; workmen’s compensation and the gross amount of loss of time insurance benefits and proceeds except the first $5,000 of the total of death benefit payments; and gifts of cash or property other than transfers by gift between members of a household in excess of a total of $300. This term does not include surplus food or other relief in kind supplied by a governmental agency. Income from savings accounts and bonds shall be included as well as interest received from investments.

Monthly household expenses—Expenditures providing for the necessities of life, including payments for mortgage, automobile, electric power, fuel, water, sewage, garbage disposal, telephone, domestic help and educational costs.

Monthly income—Income received by the claimant and other persons while residing in the home during a calendar year in which real property taxes are payable; the term shall include the income of residents not related to the claimant paying reasonable fixed rents.

The provisions of this § 5.22 adopted June 21, 1963; amended March 30, 1979, effective March 31, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1129; amended August 23, 1991, effective August 24, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 3813. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (110344) to (110345).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 5.22 amended under the Military Code, 51 Pa.C.S. § 1704(7).

Cross References

This section cited in 43 Pa. Code § 5.24 (relating to processing applications).