§ 2-342. Application; eligibility requirements.

(a)

Any city resident must file an application together with the applicant's prior year federal income tax return, or a current monthly income benefit statement(s) as identified in subsection (a)(3), on or before May 1 of each year, requesting participation in the senior citizens assistance program with the city manager, or his designee, and affirm therein that all of the following eligibility requirements are met:

(1)

The applicant is over the age of 65 years or over the age of 62 and is receiving social security benefits.

(2)

The applicant has been a continuous resident of the city for the last five years preceding the date of the application.

(3)

Except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the applicant's income does not exceed $11,607.00 per year, if single, or $16,227.00 joint income, if married. For the purpose of this program, the term "income" is defined as the return of money from one's business; labor or capital investment; and gains, profits or private revenue, including social security benefits.

(b)

The amount of annual income, referred to in subsection (a)(3) of this section, that an applicant can receive to qualify shall be increased annually by the same percentage of cost of living increase, if any, that the Social Security Administration shall grant beginning January 1, 2005.

(Code 1988, § 2-368; Ord. No. 03-03, 12-11-03)