The first fifty thousand dollars of the fair market value of the dwelling place of persons shall be exempt from county, school and special assessment real estate property taxes when such persons have been residents of this State for at least one year, have each reached the age of sixty-five years on or before December thirty-first or any person who has been classified as totally and permanently disabled by a state or federal agency having the function of so classifying persons or any person who is legally blind as defined in § 43-25-20, preceding the tax year in which the exemption herein is claimed and hold complete fee simple title or a life estate to the dwelling place. Any person claiming to be totally and permanently disabled, but who has not been so classified by one of such agencies, may apply to the Vocational Rehabilitation Department. The agency shall make an evaluation of such person using its own standards. The exemption shall include the dwelling place when jointly owned in complete fee simple or life estate by husband and wife and either has reached sixty-five years of age, or is totally and permanently disabled, on or before December thirty-first preceding the tax year in which the exemption is claimed and either has been a resident of the State for one year. The exemption shall not, however, be granted unless such persons or their agents make written application therefor on or before May first of the tax year in which the exemption is claimed and shall also pay all real property taxes due by such persons before the date prescribed by statute for the imposition thereon of a late penalty or interest charge. The application for the exemption shall be made to the auditor of the county in which the dwelling place is located upon forms, provided by the county and approved by the department, and a failure to so apply shall constitute a waiver of the exemption for that year. The term "dwelling place" as used herein shall mean the permanent home and legal residence of the applicant.

The term "permanently and totally disabled" as used herein shall mean the inability to perform substantial gainful employment by reason of a medically determinable impairment, either physical or mental, which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of twelve months or more or result in death.

The department shall reimburse the Vocational Rehabilitation Department for the actual expenses incurred in making decisions relative to disability from funds appropriated for homestead reimbursement.

The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions herein.

Nothing herein shall be construed as an intent to cause the reassessment of any person’s property.

The provisions of this section shall apply to life estates created by will and also to life estates otherwise created which were in effect on or before December 31, 1971.