BLIND, DEAF OR TOTALLY DISABLED
If you have impaired sight or hearing or are totally disabled, you may file a claim on form E-8-10.6 and .7 for a $25,000 real property tax exemption on property you own. This claim is in addition to the regular or multiple home exemption. Your condition must be certified by an authorized physician, who is licensed to practice medicine in the State of Hawaii. "Certification" will be determined on the basis of a written report resulting from an examination performed by the authorized physician. The following requirements must be satisfied to qualify for the exemption:
BLIND
An individual whose eyesight does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses or whose visual sharpness is greater than 20/200. In this latter case, the field of vision must have a width of 20 degrees or less.
DEAF
An individual whose average loss in the speech frequencies (500/2,000) hertz) in the better ear is 82 decibels, AS.A, or worse.
TOTALLY DISABLED
A person who is totally and permanently disabled, either physically or mentally, which results in the person's inability to engage in any substantial gainful business or occupation. For example, medically-certified heart attack or stroke victims, unable to engage in any substantial gainful business or occupation may qualify for this exemption.
Once filed and granted, these home and real property exemptions do not have to re-filed annually, as long as all requirements continue to be met.
