Help Seniors Manage Their Money

For aging and disabled Massachusetts residents who have trouble managing their money, life can quickly go from irritating to terrifying – from forgetting to pay a bill to cut off utilities and evictions. Volunteers with the Massachusetts Money Management Program help prevent this worst case scenario from happening – or to correct it.

See Also: Volunteer to Make a Difference in Massachusetts

Cosponsored by the AARP Foundation, Mass Home Care, and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Money Management Program is a free service that assists low-income elders who might be at risk of losing their independence due to their inability to pay basic rent, food and utility bills on time.

Volunteers provide important help to their client in one of three positions:

• Bill Payer is primarily responsible for organizing bills, developing a household budget and preparing checks for the client's signature; the volunteer has no authority to sign checks because the client is still in charge of his or her financial affairs.
  
• Representative Payee is appointed by a government agency to manage the government benefits of a person incapable of managing his/her own financial affairs. The Representative Payee spends the money in the beneficiary's best interest by writing and signing checks for the beneficiary's expenditures.
  
• Monitor reviews the client bank statements monthly to make certain that the money has been spent appropriately.
  

Volunteer Dennis Johnson from Dorchester helped his client get back on track after she was financially exploited by a neighbor, and believes volunteers do not require special skills to make a difference. “If you’re balancing your own checkbook, you can help someone with theirs.”

Join the more than 1,200 dedicated volunteers helping seniors in need throughout the Bay State. Learn more about the Massachusetts Money Management Program and volunteer today!

Send us an email to ma@aarp.org for more information.

About the Massachusetts Money Management Program

Started in 1991, the Massachusetts Money Management Program is the largest program of its kind in the country, with a network of 25 local sites capable of providing service to every city and town in the commonwealth. The program has served more than 9,000 clients, and more than 150 seniors currently remain on a waiting list for help.