If elderly, disabled or orphaned individuals are struggling to hold onto their properties, the state of Idaho will step in to help.

All it takes is filling out an application.

The Kootenai County Assessor's Office is reminding low-income folks who qualify that the deadline is looming for state-funded property tax assistance.

"We hate to see anybody entitled to it miss it," said Jan Lindquist, administrative manager at the Assessor's Office.

Folks have until 5 p.m. on Friday to turn in an application at the Assessor's Office for property tax assistance, offered through the Idaho Circuit Breaker program.

Depending on individuals' income, they can receive up to $1,320 in assistance on their property tax bills.

"The majority of people are just so grateful for the program," Lindquist said. "It's a huge help to them to not have to come up with $1,000 for property taxes."

To qualify, a property owner must be over 65, a widower of any age, disabled, blind, a fatherless or motherless child under 18 or a former prisoner of war or hostage.

Applicants must also have a reported 2010 income of less than $28,000, after deducting medical expenses.

Property tax assistance will only apply to one acre, Lindquist added.

"If somebody owns 10 acres, they only get the benefit on the one acre and their home," Lindquist said.

So far this year, 2,098 applications have been taken in Kootenai County, 800 less than last year's total.

The Assessor's Office is worried, Lindquist said, because that means that 800 folks who applied for aid last year have yet to do so this year.

"Some just plain forget," Lindquist said, adding that the county is calling and mailing reminders to past applicants. "Some have passed, some have moved. We try very, very hard to get the word out."

Kootenai County gives initial approval of applications before passing them on to the state for an audit.

The state, which reimburses Kootenai County for the portion of property taxes that isn't collected, sends out letters in October informing folks if they have qualified.

Any who qualify will receive aid.

"We take as many as are eligible," Lindquist said.

The number of applicants usually bumps up a little every year, she added, because of population increase and legislative changes that broaden eligibility.

There hasn't been a spike because of the economy, Lindquist said.

"That doesn't play into it as much as you might think, just because people have to be over 65 or disabled," she said. "I can't say the economy has had a huge effect."

The state program has existed since 1974.

The application is one page and filed at the Assessor's Office, located on the second floor of the Kootenai Administration Building at 451 Government Way in Coeur d'Alene.

The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, contact the Assessor's Office at 446-1500, or 446-1511.

Those who fail to submit an application before the deadline must wait until January 2012 to apply.

"People often times feel like this is a handout, and it's very difficult for them to come in and ask for help," Lindquist said. "But I think over time people have adjusted and realized it's a benefit. They never have to pay this back. It's just to help people who meet the criteria to pay their property taxes."