Greenwood Backs Legislation to Expand Property Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More surviving spouses of veterans injured or killed in the line of duty would be able to receive lower property taxes under a measure backed by state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis.

“The wives and husbands of our wounded warriors have also made sacrifices for our country, so it’s unthinkable that after a tragic loss they should be forced out of their homes by high property taxes,” Greenwood said. “To help accommodate the needs of veterans and their families, I’m working to reduce the financial burden on the spouses of disabled veterans by allowing more military spouses to receive the property tax relief they’ve earned.”

Currently, veterans injured in the line of duty are eligible for significant property tax savings, with the most severely injured veterans being exempt from property taxes entirely. Many surviving spouses are also able to keep the disabled veteran tax credit after their spouse’s death. Greenwood is supporting Senate Bill 110, which allows the surviving spouses of deceased veterans to receive the tax credit their veteran husband or wife would have been eligible for, even if the veteran was unable to apply before death. Additionally, those receiving federal benefits as a result of a spouse killed in the line of military service would receive a total property tax exemption.

“Veterans and their families risk a great deal for the well-being of our livelihoods, freedoms and other core values,” Greenwood said. “I am committed to passing commonsense proposals like this to provide the families of veterans the necessary financial relief they need to get by.”