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Cook County Offering $1,000 to Homeowners With Soaring Property Taxes. Here’s How to Apply
A file photo of a Chicago residential street. (stevegeer / iStock)
Eligible homeowners in Cook County might be able to receive $1,000 in property tax relief.
A $15 million homeowner relief fund program aims to assist Cook County homeowners who have experienced a substantial increase in property taxes in recent years, officials announced during a Monday news conference.
Eligibility requirements include:
- A property tax bill increase of at least 50% in any of the 2021, 2022 or 2023 tax years, including those who went from a zero property tax bill to a non-zero bill.
- An income at or below 100% of the Cook County Area Median Income for the applicant’s household size. View the income guidelines here.
- For example, a four-person household making $119,900 or less would be eligible.
- The home must be the primary residence of the applicant.
Applications are currently open and close on Oct. 10 at 11:59 p.m. A full list of eligibility requirements and information required to apply can be found here.
Applicants can apply at hrf.cookcountyil.gov/apply.
The application process will be conducted in two phases. The first phase requires applicants to provide basic and personal information. In phase two, selected applicants will be invited to submit documents to verify eligibility.
Depending on the number of eligible applications received, successful submissions will move on to a final lottery that will determine who receives payment. Selected recipients will receive a one-time payment of $1,000.
The homeowner relief fund program was passed in this year’s county budget, according to a news release.
“In the Cook County property tax system — much of which needs to be reformed — the taxes and interest, the interest that is collected on back taxes and on delayed taxes was a way that we were able to identify that there was excess funds in the budget,” 10th District Commissioner Bridget Gainer said during a news conference. “These eventually came out of county funds, and we’re grateful that they did because we think it’s going to make a tremendous difference in people’s ability to stay in their neighborhood.”
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
