Social Security Representative Payment Program
(Separate Website)
The Representative Payment Program provides financial management for Social Security and SSI payments of beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their payments. Here you can find detailed information about the program and answers to frequently-asked questions.
By: Social Security Administration
How to Save Money and Avoid Theft: Cashing Checks and Opening Bank Accounts
(Separate Website)
This brochure explains how and where to cash checks and offers other bank account tips.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Shopping for Money Wire Services
(Separate Website)
This brochure outlines five steps you can take to avoid fraud and save money. This is available as a downloadable PDF file.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How To Help Older Americans Avoid Loss Of Utility Services
(Separate Website)
Maintaining utility service is a crucial issue for older Americans. While these consumers may not be able to afford to pay their utility bills, they cannot afford to go without service either. For older consumers it may be particularly difficult to cut back on their use of basic utilities, especially during the winter or summer months, because of the serious threat that extreme temperatures can pose to their health. For retired or disabled seniors, reducing their basic electric, gas, or water bills will be even harder because they may spend more time at home. This issue of Consumer Concerns for Older Americans offers practical advice on how to prevent a utility termination before it is threatened and how to challenge a pending utility termination.
By: National Consumer Law Center
High-Cost Home Loans: Don't Be a Target
(Separate Website)
Learn how to protect yourself from abusive lenders trying to sell you a loan you cannot afford. This brochure describes several common scams to avoid and offers helpful tips.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Reduce Your Risk
(Separate Website)
Identity theft is becoming big business and a very real threat to all of us. Personal information in the wrong hands quickly can cost us. Here are some things you can do to help reduce the chances of being a victim of these scams and thefts.
By: U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of the Inspector General
How Identity Theft Happens
(Separate Website)
There are many ways that criminals can obtain your personal information. This resource provides information and details on how identity theft may occur and how to prevent identity theft from happening.
By: U.S. Dept of Education, Office of the Inspector General
What To Do If you are a Victim of Identity Theft
(Separate Website)
If you suspect that your personal information has been misused to commit fraud or theft, act immediately, and keep a detailed record of your conversations and correspondence. Your first three steps that should be taken immediately are listed here, as well as other follow-up procedures. Helpful forms can be found in the forms folder.
By: U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Inspector General
Remedying the Effects of Identity Theft
(Separate Website)
If you are a victim of Identity Theft, you have specific rights. This is a brief summary of those rights that will help you recover from Identity theft.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Tips for Seniors on Living Trusts
(Separate Website)
One of the most critical choices you will face is whether to get a living trust, will, or both. There are many unscrupulous companies that will try to convince you that a living trust is the best way to go. This may be true for some. But for many, a living trust will simply be a waste of precious resources. This fact sheet will give you basic information about living trusts and wills, and describes some of the most common scams.
By: National consumer Law Center
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
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