Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced Wednesday that Senior Exemption applications will be arriving in the mailboxes this week at the homes of more than 270,000 senior citizens. “Seniors must be sure to reapply for their annual Senior Exemption,” Berrios said. “Anyone who has received this exemption in the past must re-apply or risk losing savings from both the Senior and Homeowner Exemptions.”

The Senior Exemption application also includes the income-based Senior Freeze application. This year, any homeowner born prior to, or in the year 1946, is eligible to apply. To qualify for the Senior Exemption for the taxable year 2011, the property owner must have:

• Been born prior to or in the year 1946,
• Owned the property, or have a lease or contract which makes them responsible for the real estate taxes, and
• Used the property as a principal place of residence.

To qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption for the taxable year 2011 taxpayers must have:

• Been born prior to or in the year 1946,
• A total household income of $55,000 or less for income tax year 2010,
• Owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011,
• Used the property as a principal place of residence as of January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and
• Been liable for the payment of 2010 and 2011 property taxes.

All Senior Freeze Exemption applications must be notarized.