TRENTON — Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced Thursday, Jan. 8 that applications have been mailed to an additional 39,000 senior and disabled New Jersey residents informing them that they could now be eligible for property tax reimbursement checks averaging up to $337 under the Senior Freeze Program, which was recently expanded as part of his economic assistance and recovery package.

"We know the national economic crisis is hitting our seniors and disabled particularly hard since so many of them are on fixed incomes," Corzine said in a release. "This property tax relief is urgently needed to help blunt the impact of property taxes."

According to the release, under the law signed by the Governor after being passed by the Legislature last month, income limits for the program have been significantly increased beginning with the 2007 tax year. That means residents who previously did not qualify because their income was too high could now be eligible for a reimbursement.

"The new law helps senior and disabled residents of modest means who are struggling to pay property taxes," said State Treasurer David Rousseau. "This expansion extends relief to thousands of households in need."

Those qualified are directly reimbursed by the state for the difference between the amount of local property taxes paid in the "base year," (the year applicants became eligible and first filed for the program) and the amount of property taxes paid for the reimbursement year.

Applicants have until March 31, 2009, to file the form they receive in the mail with the Treasury Department's Division of Taxation.

Under the new law, the current income limit of approximately $53,000 will increase to $60,000 for tax year 2007, $70,000 for tax year 2008 and $80,000 in tax year 2009. There were 147,000 recipients in the state who met the previous income eligibility criteria for this program. Fully phased in over the next three fiscal years, the expanded program would add up to 70,000 eligible seniors.

Information about the Senior Freeze Program is available on the Division of Taxation's web site at http:www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation Calls can also be made to the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.