It is no joke for local renters who depend on a small state program to help them make ends meet.

On April 1, those qualified for assistance under the program can report to the Newtown Social Services Dept to initiate their 2018 application. The office is located in the lower level of Town Hall South at 3 Main Street.

According to Connecticut's Office of Policy & Management or OPM, state law provides this reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits.

Qualified applicants renting an apartment or room, or living in cooperative housing or a mobile home may be eligible for this program.

Renters' rebates can be up to $900 for married couples and $700 for single persons. The rebate amount is based on a graduated income scale and the amount of rent and utility payments (excluding telephone) made in the year prior to the calendar year in which the renter applies.

Grants are based upon income, and there is no asset restriction, and rebate amounts can range from $50 to $900. Income must have been less than $43,000 for a married couple, and $35,300 for a single person to qualify.

To calculate the amount of the rebate, 35 percent of rent plus utilities (but not including telephone) is compared to five percent of total income for the previous year. The difference is the amount of the rebate.

There is no fee to apply. The basic qualification criteria for an applicant is:

*Recipient or spouse must be 65 years of age or older, or;

*Must be 50 years of age or older and the surviving spouse of a renter who at the time his death had qualified and was entitled to tax relief, provided such spouse was domiciled with such renter at the time of his death, or;

*Must be 18 years of age or older and permanently and totally disabled;

*Applicants must also meet a one year state residency requirement.

In order for Social Services personnel to provide the best and most efficient assistance, Social Services Director Ann LoBosco said applicants must have the following information when coming in to complete their application:

*Proof of expenses: Rent receipts, letter from landlord stating what you paid for the year 2017; utility (electric, water, oil and/or gas) receipts or statement from utility company.

*Proof of income: Social Security SSA-1099 statement or print-out from the Social Security Office, bank interest, pensions, VA benefits or any other sources of income. If you file a federal income tax return, a copy of your return is required.

Anyone filing as 100 percent disabled must bring and show proof of disability - that documentation is required every year by the State of Connecticut. A statement from Social Security stating totally disabled - or a TPQY (Third Party Query Procedure) form from Social Security dated for the current year stating the applicant was totally disabled the previous year must be presented.

Applicants must have all information to file an application, Ms LoBosco reiterated.

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