The Franchise Tax Board announced on June 1, it is mailing forms to more than 600,000 Californians who may be eligible to receive payments from California’s Homeowner and Renter Assistance Program.

The program begins July 1 and runs through Oct. 15. Applicants must have a household income of $44,096 or less last year, be a U.S. citizen, designated alien or qualified alien when the claim is filed, and either be blind, disabled or over the age of 62 on Dec. 31, 2007. Homeowners must have owned and lived in their home at the end of 2007. Renters must have paid at least $50 a month in rent and lived in property that was not tax-exempt.

Volunteer assistance sites are available for individuals who would like free help completing a claim form — more than 75,000 Californians were helped by these sites last year. To find a claim form or view a list of volunteer assistance locations, visit FTB’s Web site at www.ftb.ca.gov/. Information on the program is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Korean through the Web site.