Cook County senior exemption, freeze deadlines extended

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is extending the deadline to apply for the Senior Citizen Exemption and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal to Friday, March 30. The initial deadline was Feb. 7.

"This year, we have found the number of senior citizens needing added time to get their applications in was more than usual," Berrios said in an announcement of the extension.

More than 270,000 applications were mailed in early January to seniors who received the exemptions last year. The Senior Exemption application is part of a booklet that also contains the separate, income-based Senior Freeze Exemption application.

To qualify for the senior exemption, the property owner must have been born prior to or in 1952; 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, the property owner must have been born prior to or in 1952; a total household income of $65,000 or less for 2016; owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2017; used the property as a principal place of residence as of Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2017; and been responsible for the payment of 2016 and 2017 property taxes.