Senior Citizen Sewer Rebates
Rebates on water bills are available to residents 65 years of age or older. You must be the owner of the property you apply for and that must be your principal place of residence. There are two types of rebates, depending on whether you have a separate water bill or share a meter with other units:
Senior Citizen Exemption
If you have your own water meter and receive a water bill solely addressed to you, you may apply for the Water Department Senior Citizen Exemption. This will exempt you from all future sewer charges on your water bill. Only buildings zoned as single family homes (and townhomes with individual water meters) qualify for the senior citizen exemption; buildings with 2 units, even if used as a single family home, do not qualify for either the exemption or the rebate.
To be eligible for the sewer service charge exemption you must meet the following criteria:
You must be 65 years of age or older
You must be the owner of the residential unit
You must occupy the residential unit as your principal place of residence
The residential unit must have a separate water meter or assessed account
When applying, please include:
Proof of Age (Driver’s License, ID or birth certificate)
Proof of Ownership (copy of deed or property tax bill in the applicant’s name certificate)
Proof of Residence (copy of water bill or property tax bill in the applicant’s name)
Complete application, available here
Please compile all documents and mail to the address listed on the application. More information is available on the Department of Finance’s website.
Senior Citizen Sewer Charge Refund
If you share a water meter and pay a water bill in conjunction with other units in your building or complex, you may apply for the Senior Citizen Sewer Charge Refund from the Department of Finance. The amount of the refund is $50.00 per calendar year. The rebate program only applies to condos, townhomes, and co-ops. You must file for this refund on an annual basis.
When applying, please include:
The most recent water bill
Proof of homestead deduction (2nd installment of most recent tax bill or approved application for the senior homestead deduction)
Proof of Age (Driver’s License, state ID, passport, or birth certificate)
Complete application, available here
Please compile all documents and mail to the address listed on the application.
More information is available on the Department of Finance’s website.
Direct contact info for these rebates or exemptions is available at utilitybill@cityofchicago.org; or Mail to City of Chicago Department of Finance, Utility Billing & Customer Service, P.O. Box 6330, Chicago, IL 60680-6330 or call Richard at 312-744-4420 (Dept. of Finance)