More seniors seeking tax help

Just as competition for jobs in Massachusetts has more than doubled over the past year, many seniors are stretching fixed incomes to try to deal with cost increases in utilities, healthcare, and health insurance.

Throughout the region, more and more retirees have been turning to local relief programs like the senior work-off effort, which gives elderly residents the opportunity to cut their property taxes by working hours for cities and towns.

That much was clear last year when Paul Cohen, Chelmsford town manager, oversaw a 30 percent increase in seniors registering for the program.

“We never had to turn people away until two years ago,’’ Cohen said. “Now, because of the economy, we just have more demand from people to participate than we can fund.’’

A similar spike in interest is anticipated in Andover, where 210 seniors were placed in positions last year, a huge increase from 30 applicants about a decade ago, according to Kathy Urquhart, the town’s director of elder services.

At least 28 communities in the Globe North area have implemented the senior property tax work-off program, from Merrimac to Somerville, with most cities and towns offering seniors the opportunity to work roughly 100 hours in exchange for tax abatements between $600 and $750.

Meanwhile, municipal officials are encouraged that senior volunteers might get even bigger breaks down the road: Late last month, Governor Deval Patrick signed a $27 billion budget that includes an amendment that raises the abatement cap to $1,000.

That’s promising news for people active in elder affairs, such as Barbara Champigny, who serves as program director at the North Andover Senior Center.

With the deadline for applications still a few weeks away, Champigny has “seen a pretty good interest in it so far,’’ she said last week, adding she expects to use a lottery system in the fall for assigning the 30 positions.

Each community sets its own rules for running the program, often requiring seniors to be at least 60 years old and occupy the property for which the taxes are being paid, and in some instances, setting income restrictions on applicants.

Officials in several communities, including Lynnfield, where the income limit is $40,000 for a household, say such restrictions - which require that applicants reveal their incomes - have deterred some from applying.

“People don’t want to have to give that up,’’ Christine O’Sullivan, the treasurer and tax collector in Lynnfield, said about applicants submitting information.

Meanwhile, participation in Reading, which also has income requirements, has increased from 15 to 21 positions, since the program started in 1997, according to Dawn Folopoulos, an administrator in the town’s elder and human services department.

“It definitely helps out the senior citizens, but they also fill so many roles for us,’’ said Folopoulos, who was “already having more inquiries about it’’ by late last month.

In Rockport, MaryLou Settipani, a senior administrative assistant for the Board of Selectmen, said she has had some difficulty in the past finding residents to participate in the program who qualify under the income requirement. That requirement is is set at $25,000 in annual gross income for a single person, or $35,000 for a married couple.

“Sometimes when I see someone that’s really energetic, I grab them right off the street,’’ said Settipani, who often works with residents on health insurance questions.

Still, more than the tax credit, O’Sullivan, the town’s treasurer and tax collector in Lynnfield, said the program gives retirees an added benefit.

“It makes them feel worthwhile and feel like they’re important and they still do their fair share in the community,’’ O’Sullivan said.

“And they still enjoy it. It really makes them feel worthwhile, and they’re always coming in and thanking us for calling.’’