Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption

Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption Application

Disabled Persons's Homestead Exemption Annual Verification Application

This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $2,000 starting in tax year 2007, and may be claimed in addition to the Homestead Limited Exemption and the Senior Citizen's Homestead Exemptions, if applicable. This exemption cannot be claimed in addition to the Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption or the Disabled Veterans' Exemption of $70,000; you can only receive one of these exemptions and, if you are a veteran, you should choose to apply for the one most beneficial to you.  To receive this exemption, you must:

• Own or have a legal or equitable interest in the property
• Have lived on the property on or before January 1st of the tax year.
• Be disabled under the Federal Social Security Act and supply either:

1. A copy of your Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card stating that you are under a  Class 2 disability (for each year you qualify); or.
2. Proof of Social Security Administration Social Security Benefits.  This proof includes an award letter, verification letter, or annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) - This paperwork must be issued in the tax year for which you are applying.  Whichever you supply, it must indicate that the benefits are for disability; or
3. Proof of Veterans Administration disability benefits which would be an award letter showing total 100% disability; or
4. Proof of Railroad or Civil Service disability benefits which would be an award letter showing a total 100% disability.

If you are applying for this exemption and the property is held in trust, the law requires that we verify the applicant is a beneficiary of that trust. The exemption cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of that part of the actual trust agreement which states that the applicant is the beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document.

First-time applicants can obtain forms from the Chief County Assessment Office or your local township assessors office.

Please note that this exemption requires annual verification of eligibility.  The Chief County Assessment Office will mail the appropriate forms each year to all disabled persons who received the exemption in the prior year.