Ryan Bill Expands Reduced Fee Services for Seniors and Illinoisans with Disabilities

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill.— State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is sponsoring a bill to expand assistance for Illinois seniors and residents who have a disability by lowering the income eligibility threshold for certain state services at reduced fees.

“This is an excellent program that makes registering your vehicle or taking public transportation more affordable, and we want to make sure that the people who need it can be served by it,” Ryan said. “No one should have to go without these critical resources because they’re making too much money on paper while still being very much in need of these services.”

The Benefits Access Program, under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, provides reduced vehicle registration fees and free transit services for senior citizens and individuals who have a disability. 

The Ryan-backed House Bill 4157 proposes to change the current law to lower the income eligibility amounts for reduced vehicle registration fees.

Under the measure, the threshold limit will be raised to less than $50,000 for a household of one, less than $66,344 for a household of two and less than $82,683 for a household of three. This reflects an increased limit of at least $20,000 or more for each household size. 

House Bill 4157 awaits hearing in the House where it has been referred to the Rules Committee.