The Hopkinton Tax Relief Committee is encouraging eligible Hopkinton homeowners to apply for assistance from the Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Fund.

Applicants must be at least 60 years old or have a state-recognized disability, and they must own and occupy a single-family home in Hopkinton as their primary residence. The maximum income for a household of one is $48,000. It’s $60,000 for a household of two, $69,000 for a household of three, and $76,000 for a household of four.

The application form for fiscal year 2024 is available online here, as well as at the Treasurer’s Office in Town Hall (18 Main Street), the Senior Center (28 Mayhew Street) and the Hopkinton Public Library (13 Main Street). The Treasurer’s Office also can mail the forms to those who call 508-497-9715 to request an application.

The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 23.

The amount of property tax credits awarded is based on the number of qualified applicants and the size of the fund. Over recent years, the Tax Relief Committee has been able to provide $12,750 to $20,000 in total assistance each year. It has made more than 100 awards over the last five years.

“We are very aware that there is more need than we can currently address and are hoping to increase the number of qualified applicants who receive aid,” said committee chair Sue Kurys.

“Hopkinton voted to create the Tax Relief Fund in 1998 to help low-income Hopkinton homeowners who are elderly or living with disability remain in our community,” noted Select Board chair Muriel Kramer: “The rising cost of living is really impacting some of our families, so this fund is more important than ever.”

The Hopkinton Senior and Disabled Tax Relief Fund is dependent on donations from residents, businesses and other organizations, and is not a part of the town budget. Residents have donated to the fund when they pay their property tax bills, by sending a check to the Tax Relief Fund at Town Hall and via the town website.

“We are grateful for the support this program has received from the community,” Kurys added, “It’s a demonstration of Hopkinton’s commitment to ensuring a diverse and inclusive community.”