Festive rates discounts for pensioners

The City has extended pensioner rebates to thousands of deserving elderly homeowners just in time for the holiday season. 

As of Friday, 8 December, the City had received a substantial 40,321 pensioner rebate applications. Regrettably, 6,016 applications were rejected for various reasons, leaving 33,121 applicants under consideration. 
Out of these, a commendable 21,436 pensioners have been approved for rebates on their residential properties, allowing them to enjoy the festive holidays with financial relief. 

This progressive initiative means that certain pensioners will now be exempt from paying anything on their rate portion of the municipal bill.
Others have received a generous 50% reduction on their property rates based on their qualifications.

Kgamanyane Maphologela, spokesperson for Group Finance, says pensioners who applied before or by the end of Saturday, 30 September, would be retrospectively adjusted to Saturday, 1 July. 

A noteworthy 5,669 successful applicants have already had their rebates adjusted retrospectively.

“The Group Finance team continues to work around the clock to process all pensioner rebate applications,” Maphologela adds.

He says reasons for the rejection of certain applications include discrepancies such as the applicant not being the registered owner of the property or incomplete documentation. 
However, he assures ratepayers that the Group Finance team will reach out to request additional information, and if received, the application will be reconsidered.

Maphologela says it’s important for customers to continue paying for municipal services until their pensioner rebate applications are successfully processed and granted. 
Accounts related to unprocessed applications are flagged for no credit control actions.

“Once an application is granted or approved, it will reflect on the statement, and the account will be adjusted accordingly,” he adds.

Pensioner’s rebate application forms are accessible at any municipal customer service centre or on www.joburg.org.za. 

To qualify, applicants must be the registered owner of the property, own and occupy the property, be 60 years of age or older upon application, submit a certified copy of a valid identity document as proof of age, and provide proof of monthly income from all sources, including that of a spouse.
In addition, all residential properties under the R300,000 threshold will be exempt from paying rates, and residents will receive 6 kilolitres of free water. 

Properties valued at R350, 000 and below will be exempt from paying waste charges.

For pensioners between the ages of 60 and 69, income thresholds determine the rebate percentage on properties up to R1.5 million.  ​Pensioners aged 70 and older qualify for a 100% rate rebate up to a market value of R2 million, with no consideration of income levels.

Maphologela hopes the festive gesture brings financial relief to elderly residents, ensuring a more joyful and stress-free holiday season.