• Understanding New Jersey’s Senior Freeze Program

    Navigating Property Tax Relief in the Garden State

    Understanding the importance of financial planning for seniors, the State of New Jersey offers the “Senior Freeze” Program, a property tax relief initiative designed to stabilize property taxes for eligible residents. This program is specifically for those aged 65 and older, providing them with the opportunity to freeze the amount of property taxes they pay at a level established in a base year, protecting them from future tax increases due to rising property values or rates.

    Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for the Senior Freeze Program, applicants must meet several criteria:

    • Age – Must be 65 years or older on December 31, 2022, or receive Social Security disability payments on December 31, 2022, and also on December 31, 2023.
    • Home Ownership – Must have owned and lived in or leased a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that they owned since December 31, 2019, or earlier.
    • Taxes – Must have paid all 2022 property taxes by June 1, 2023, and all 2023 property taxes by June 1, 2024.
    • Income Limit – Have an annual household income of $150,000 or less in 2022 and $163,050 or less in 2023. With some exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including things such as Social Security and pensions.

    Click here to find out if you are eligible

    Benefits: The primary benefit of the Senior Freeze Program is the ability to lock in the amount of property taxes paid at the level of a designated base year. This means that even if property tax rates increase, eligible seniors will continue to pay the amount they paid in their base year, effectively freezing their property tax burden. This can provide significant financial relief and stability for seniors living on fixed incomes.

    The program also includes provisions for reimbursement of the difference between the amount of property taxes paid in the base year and the amount paid in the current year, subject to the program’s rules and limitations. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions.

    Application Process: Interested seniors can apply for the Senior Freeze Program by completing an application form available here on the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s website. It is important to apply within the specified deadlines and provide all required documentation, including proof of age, residency, home ownership, and income. The deadline for submitting the 2023 application is October 31, 2024.

    The Senior Freeze Program is a testament to New Jersey’s commitment to supporting its senior residents, ensuring they can enjoy their retirement years without the worry of increasing property taxes. For more detailed information and assistance with the application process, seniors are encouraged to visit the official New Jersey Department of Treasury website or contact their local tax office.

  • Clients of Lane Hipple Make Christmas Possible for Local Families

    From left: Heather Hackl (SVE Principal), Melissa Rush (Lane Hipple Director of Client Services), and Maureen Ioannucci (SVE School Counselor)

    As we do each year, Lane Hipple sought out a giving opportunity that would help improve Christmas for local families in need. After reaching out to schools throughout Burlington County, our team – led by Director of Client Services Melissa Rush – was compelled to partner with South Valley Elementary School and Upper Elementary School, both located in Moorestown, NJ. We learned of families that are going through tough times, some that are homeless, and others being helped regularly by the school with lunches, snacks, and coats.

    When informed of this opportunity to come together and help these neighborhood families, our clients quickly took action and began showing up at our office on 155 E. 3rd Street to drop off gift cards, toys, clothes, books, and more. We provided general guidelines to make sure the gifts would be put to good use. There was a family of four boys in need of winters coats, gloves, and food; another family seeking pretend play toys for their special needs daughter and trucks for her older brother; and a mother of a 6- and 10-year old in desperate need of clothes who, when she discovered the school could help, replied with a text saying, “I wasn’t going to pull off Christmas this year. I’m crying now!!”

    After only ten days, Lane Hipple collected $2,400 in gift cards and a substantial number of gifts to drop-off to both schools. Now, as a result of the amazing generosity of our clients, team members, and owners – and with the help of the South Valley Elementary School and Upper Elementary School – these local Moorestown families will be able to have the Christmas they had hoped for.  

    It is extremely important to our team to give back to the local community and help those who are less fortunate. In 2021, Lane Hipple partnered with social services organization, Family Promise of Burlington County, and collected an abundance of daily life supplies, over $3,000 in cash and gift cards, and even provided two families with Christmas trees and gifts for their children.

    To our clients:

    Thank you for being a huge part of this mission. Your thoughtfulness and kindness means as much to us as it does to the families you have helped. We wish you all a very happy holiday season, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!