New York Sends $1.5B STAR Relief Checks to Millions

New York State is distributing financial relief to millions of residents through several programs this summer and fall. The School Tax Relief (STAR) program is providing up to $1,500 in property tax relief checks to eligible homeowners and seniors, with nearly three million recipients expected to receive $2.2 billion in tax breaks. Additionally, the state plans to send inflation refund stimulus checks of up to $400 to approximately 8.2 million taxpayers, funded by excess sales tax revenues generated by inflation. These payments aim to ease the burden of high living costs and inflation in New York. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is returning over $9 million in unclaimed property checks to nearly 40,000 residents through its Money Match program, encouraging recipients to cash these checks to help with everyday expenses. This program, signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro, helps Pennsylvanians reclaim dormant assets like forgotten bank accounts and uncashed checks.