(1) Introduction. This rule describes the qualifications a claimant must meet for the senior citizen, disabled person, and disabled veteran property tax exemption. To qualify for the exemption, the claimant must:

(a) Meet the age or disability requirements as described in subsection (2) of this rule;

(b) Have a combined disposable income below the prescribed amounts in subsection (3) of this rule; and

(c) Own the property and occupy it as their principal residence for more than six months each calendar year as described in subsection (4) of this rule.

(2) Age, retirement, and disability requirements. To qualify for the exemption:

(a) The senior citizen claiming the exemption must be age sixty-one or older on December 31st of the year in which the claim is filed. No proof is required concerning a senior citizen's employment status to claim the exemption.

(b) The disabled person claiming the exemption must be at the time of filing, retired from regular gainful employment and unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.

(c) The veteran claiming the exemption must be at the time of filing, a veteran of the armed forces of the United States entitled to and receiving compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at:

(i) A combined service-connected evaluation rating of eighty percent or higher; or

(ii) A total disability rating for a service-connected disability without regard to evaluation percent.

(d) The surviving spouse or domestic partner of a claimant, who applies to continue their spouse's or domestic partner's exemption, must be age fifty-seven or older in the calendar year the claimant dies.

(3) Income requirements. To qualify for the exemption, the claimant's combined disposable income must be equal to or less than one of the three income thresholds described in RCW 84.36.383. The income thresholds, which are published by the department beginning August 1, 2019, and by March 1st every fifth year thereafter, will determine the amount of property tax the claimant is exempt from on their principal residence, as follows:

(a) Income threshold 3. A claimant's combined total disposable income that is equal to or less than income threshold 3 is exempt on their principal residence from the following:

(i) All excess property taxes;

(ii) The additional state property tax imposed under RCW 84.52.065(2); and

(iii) The portion of the regular property taxes authorized pursuant to RCW 84.55.050 to remove the property tax levy limit (lid lift) approved by the voters, if the legislative authority of the county or city imposing the additional regular property taxes identified this exemption in the ordinance placing the lid lift measure on the ballot.

(b) Income threshold 2. A claimant's combined total disposable income that is equal to or less than income threshold 2, but greater than income threshold 1, is exempt on their principal residence from the following:

(i) All property taxes listed under income threshold 3; and

(ii) All regular property taxes on the greater of fifty thousand dollars or thirty-five percent of the valuation of their residence, but not to exceed seventy thousand dollars of the valuation of their residence.

(c) Income threshold 1. A claimant's combined total disposable income that is equal to or less than income threshold 1, is exempt on their principal residence from the following:

(i) All property taxes listed under income threshold 3; and

(ii) All regular property taxes on the greater of sixty thousand dollars or sixty percent of the valuation of their residence.

(4) Principal residence requirements. To qualify for the exemption, the claimant must own the property and occupy it as their principal residence for more than six months each calendar year. The claimant must occupy the principal residence at the time of filing for each year the exemption is claimed. WAC 458-16A-100 and 458-16A-135 provide additional information regarding the definitions of principal residence and residence, and the supporting documents required to demonstrate the property is owned and occupied as a claimant's principal residence.