Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, February 1, 1999

Release #036-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Samantha Lugo (212) 788-2958
Helene Wolff /Jennifer MacAdam - DFTA (212) 442-1111

MAYOR GIULIANI RELEASES NEW INFORMATIVE BOOKLET TO HELP SENIORS UNDERSTAND THE SENIOR CITIZEN RENT INCREASE EXEMPTION

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Department for the Aging Commissioner Herbert W. Stupp today released a new booklet designed to help older New Yorkers and their landlords understand the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program. The booklet, which is available free of charge, explains the program's benefits, eligibility and application process. SCRIE is a City funded program established in 1970, which helps older New Yorkers cope with rent increases. New Yorkers who are 62 or older, live in rent-regulated housing, with a total household income of $20,000 or less, and who are facing a rent increase that raises their rent to more than one-third of their monthly income, are eligible to apply for SCRIE benefits.

"Each year, thousands of older New Yorkers receive this important housing benefit, which protects eligible seniors who live in rent controlled or rent stabilized apartments from most rent increases, allowing them to remain living in their familiar neighborhoods. At the same time the program safeguards building owners by fully reimbursing them for the difference between the actual rent and what SCRIE tenants are responsible for paying," Mayor Giuliani said.

"Your Guide To The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program, the new booklet from the Department for the Aging, will help seniors and their landlords to learn everything they need to know about SCRIE," the Mayor added.

Commissioner Stupp added, "This comprehensive guide takes you through all aspects of eligibility, the application process, and the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords. Although the guide is separated into sections for tenants and landlords, we recommend that all interested parties read the entire booklet. Tenants should understand their landlord's responsibilities in the SCRIE program and landlords should understand what their tenants must do as SCRIE recipients."

Your Guide To The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program also answers frequently asked questions and features a glossary of terms, sample application forms, as well as samples of documents applicants are required to submit when applying for SCRIE.

Tenants and landlords who currently participate in the SCRIE program will automatically be mailed a copy of Your Guide To The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program within the next few weeks. The Department for the Aging is also providing hundreds of copies of the booklet to senior centers, and to elected officials for distribution by their offices.

For further information on SCRIE, or to receive a copy of Your Guide To The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program, call the New York City Department for the Aging's Information and Referral Helpline at 212-442-1000, or write to:

NYC Department for the Aging
Information & Referral
2 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10007

www.ci.nyc.ny.us


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