How much is the senior discount for license plates in illinois

“Vehicle registration fees can be a financial burden on seniors with fixed incomes,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “This new law will cut fees by more than half for our seniors and neighbors living with a disability.”

House Bill 5304 reduces the vehicle registration fee from $24 to $10 for vehicle owners and their spouses who receive benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. An individual qualifies for the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act if they are 65 years of age or older or a person who is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a physical or mental disability, and meet income requirements.

House Bill 5304 was signed into law on Friday and is effective immediately.

Some low-income seniors are apparently being caught off guard by a 2-year-old change in state law that could result in them paying more to renew their license plates than they anticipated.

For some of those affected, it could mean the difference between paying $101 to renew their plates versus the $24 they had been paying.

In other cases, it could result in them having to pay an additional $32 to extend their plates while they apply to continue receiving the discount available to low-income seniors.

“There seems to be a lot of confusion,” said Cindy Hopkins, an information and assistance specialist with Senior Services of Central Illinois.

The confusion apparently stems from changes Illinois made in the Circuit Breaker program in 2012. Under it, Illinois Cares Rx and the Circuit Breaker property tax relief program were eliminated because of funding issues.

Some benefits continued, however, including free transit rides for seniors and discounted license plates for eligible seniors. The problem was seniors had to apply for those through the Department on Aging’s Benefit Access Program.

Some of them apparently didn’t get the message.

“We have encountered seniors coming into our facilities to renew their plates,” said Henry Haupt, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White. “It’s the first they’ve heard about it.”

The office, though, cannot provide a discount on license plates unless the senior has a letter from the Department on Aging saying he or she qualifies for the Benefit Access Program.

“The Department on Aging provides them a letter with an eligibility/effective date,” Haupt said. “As of that date, you qualify for a discount on your license plates.”

It is a significant discount. Seniors who qualify for the discount pay $24 to renew their license plates. The regular plate renewal fee is $101. Last year, more than 107,600 people received discounted renewals.

“What’s happening is we have these people who come to our facility and it’s the first time they’ve heard of this that they aren’t approved (under Benefit Access),” Haupt said.

Without proof that someone qualifies for the discounted plates, Haupt said, the office can’t grant the discount.

To qualify, a person must live in Illinois and be age 65 or older. A single person’s income must be less than $27,610 a year to qualify for discounted plates and less than $36,635 for a couple. Benefits are good for two years, according to the Department on Aging’s website.

Hopkins said she encounters seniors who still think the old Circuit Breaker program is in effect.

“They are not aware it’s changed,” she said. “They seem to think that they are going to be notified in writing, which they haven’t. Most of them are telling me they learned about it when they went to get their plate. It’s not uncommon.”

Hopkins said that once seniors fill out the online application, “they are usually approved pretty quick.” Seniors can make appointments with the center, 701 W. Mason Street in Springfield, to get assistance in filling out the application. The center’s phone number is 528-4035.

Seniors facing a time crunch have another option, although it will cost a little money. The secretary of state’s office will grant an extension of up to four months on plates for a $32 fee. It is in addition to the $24 fee for a full renewal, Haupt said. However, he said the extension should give seniors enough time to get proof that they are eligible for discounted plates.

Haupt said the secretary of state’s office has had talks with Aging about the issue.

“We’ve shared with them some of our concerns,” he said.

Aging spokeswoman Kimberly Parker said that “if there are issues, the department will try to address those.”

“We’re trying to make sure the older adults are able to get all of the benefits they are entitled to,” she said.

Contact Doug Finke: , 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr.

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