KEY POINTS:
More than 100,000 homeowners who are entitled to rates rebates of up to $530 a year have still not claimed their entitlements.
Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson yesterday urged Auckland Grey Power members to apply for the rates rebates even if their incomes meant they would only get a partial discount.
"Auckland City has paid $2.9 million in rates rebates this year to 6518 households, but that's only 48.3 per cent of the people who are entitled to get a rebate," she said.
"I urge you to ring the council, tell them your income and your rates bill and see whether you qualify for a rebate."
Her office said later that nationally only 109,599 had applied for rebates by last Monday out of an estimated 216,600 households entitled to at least partial rebates.
The maximum rebate increased on July 1 from $500 to $530.
The maximum is available to households earning up to $21,180 a year, including almost all single home-owning superannuitants whose sole income is national super.
The current gross NZ super rates are $16,645 for single people sharing a house with others, $18,084 for single people living alone and $27,494 for couples.
The rebate is two-thirds of the amount by which rates exceed $160 a year, and is reduced by $1 for every $8 of income above $21,180. This means partial rebates could be available for households earning up to $25,420 a year.
www.ratesrebates.govt.nz
