Disabled and Blind Exemptions
West Hartford residents under the age of 65 on Social Security Disability are eligible for a $1000 assessment exemption. Qualifying applicants must file his or her Social Security Administration disability documentation (award letter) with the Assessment Office between October 1, and January 31.
A $3000 assessment exemption is available for blind residents who file a Certification of Blindness from the State Board of Education and Services to the Blind with the Assessment office prior to October 1. Proof of blindness must be filed with the Town’s Assessment Office before January 31, 2008 in order to be applied to the October 1, 2007 Grand List. Requests are subject to approval by the Board of Assessors. Once satisfactory proof of blindness has been provided, the resident becomes permanently eligible for this exemption and does not need to file with the Town again in subsequent years. For more information, West Hartford residents may call the Assessment Office at (860) 561-7414.
Blindness is defined by Connecticut state statute 12-92 as “total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes or reduction in vision so that central visual acuity does not exceed 20/20 in the better eye with correcting lenses”. If visual acuity is greater than 20/20, “it must be accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.”
According to Marilyn Lukie with the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver Qualifications Section, “An applicant who is declared legally blind fails to meet the minimum vision standards to hold a license. Such an application must relinquish their operator’s licenses to DMV, but they are eligible to apply for a no-fee handicapped parking permit and a no-fee handicapped parking permit and a no-fee non-driver identity card.” For questions and information pertaining to the DMV, call (860) 263-5223.
An additional local exemption is available for low-income disabled and/or blind persons. The current income limits for the 2007 calendar year, including Social Security, are $29,800 for a single person and $36,500 for a married couple. Applications must be filed biannually by October 1. You will be required to leave copies of your income with the Assessor.
