When navigating taxes or applying for government benefits, like the Home Owner Grant or Property Transfer Tax exemptions, you'll come across the term "related individual" or "relative". This can get confusing, so let's break down what this means in different contexts.

Home Owner Grant — Who Counts as a "Related Individual"?

The Home Owner Grant is available in some areas to help reduce property taxes, especially for homeowners who are seniors or have disabilities. To qualify for this grant, your eligibility can be affected by your relationship with certain individuals. So, who is considered a "related individual" for this purpose?

For the standard Home Owner Grant, a related individual includes:

• Your child or grandchild
• Your brother, sister, or parent

If you are applying for the Home Owner Grant for People with Disabilities, the definition of "relative" is expanded to include:

• Step-parent or grandparent
• The person standing in the place of a parent for someone with disabilities (this could be an aunt, uncle, or someone else who acts as a parent figure).

This means that even if you don't share biological ties with the person, as long as they fit the dscription, they may be considered a "related indivdual" under these programs.

Property Transfer Tax — Who Is a "Related Individual" Here?

Regarding property transfers, the definition of "related individual" gets more detailed. If you're dealing with the Property Transfer Tax (PPT), here's who counts as a relative for the tax exemptions or reductions:

• Your child, grandchild, or great-grandchild and their spouse
• Your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent
• Your spouse and their child, parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent

A key point to remember here is that "child" includes a step-child as well, so even if the child is from a blended family, they are considered a "child" in this context.

Why Does This Matter?

Understanding who qualifies as a "related individual" is important because it can affect your eligibility for certain benefits or exemptions. Whether it's for the Home Owner Grant or Property Transfer Tax reductions, the government recognizes specific relationships to determine eligibility for financial help. So, if you are thinking about transferring property or applying for a grant, it is good to know where your family members fit into the equation.