Helping Delawareans Remain Independent
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-07-17 13:19:00-04:00
Delaware Money Management Program
You or someone you know may need a little help in managing his or her financial affairs. Usually family and friends step in to provide assistance, but there are many - especially older folks - who may not have someone to turn to for help.
Many Delawareans have special needs because they are no longer able to handle their financial affairs on their own. They either lose their benefit checks or do not remember how they spent the money they received. They forget to pay their rent or monthly bills - and in some cases, have been evicted from their homes or had the electricity cut off - even though they had enough money in their bank accounts to make the necessary payments.
The Delaware Money Management Program, cosponsored by the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities and AARP, has been created to provide assistance to older adults who are on a limited income or adults who have a physical disability and need help organizing and paying their bills. Trained volunteers will provide help with financial matters so they can continue to live independently, without worry.
Now just a year underway, the Delaware Money Management Program is currently serving 35 clients in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties. Nearly 70 volunteers are either working with or waiting to be partnered with clients. But, studies indicate that nearly 7,000 Delawareans are in need of this type of service.
"We are just beginning to identify those who need assistance," according to Gwen Miller-Reilly, Statewide Money Management Program Administrator. "Even though Delaware may be a small state, we have clients living in somewhat remote areas. We need volunteers throughout the state who feel strongly about helping others - and are willing to dedicate a few hours each month to do so."
How Can You Help?
We are looking for volunteers who have the desire to help others remain financially secure and independent. There are two ways you can become involved as a Delaware Money Management Volunteer, as a bill payer or representative payee volunteer.
Bill Payer Volunteer
Work closely with your client by opening and organizing mail and bills, developing a household budget and preparing checks for his or her signature. Your client will still be in control of his or her own finances - but will get a little help keeping things in order. Although some clients are served on a short-term basis, the majority are assisted on a long-term basis.
Representative Payee Volunteer
Provide assistance to clients who are no longer able to manage finances on their own. You will be appointed by the Social Security Administration or another government agency to manage the monthly benefits the client receives. Your role will be to oversee your client's finances by writing and signing checks from an account in which a benefit check is automatically deposited.
Because of the sensitivity of the type of transactions that will be involved, there are a number of safeguards in place to protect both our volunteers and our clients including:
- AARP provides limited insurance coverage of client funds
- Volunteers must undergo extensive background checks including state and federal criminal background fingerprinting as well as Adult Abuse Registry and Child Abuse Protection Registry checks
- Volunteers are trained and provided with ongoing support from the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities
- Volunteers work from one designated account with a $3,500 limit
- Volunteer activity and client accounts are monitored on a monthly basis
If you become a Delaware Money Management Volunteer, you will receive two, three-hour training sessions to be completed before you are paired with a client. Your client will be located within close proximity to your home and will meet the criteria specified in your application. Though the time commitment will vary from client to client, most volunteers meet with clients one to two times per month for about one and a half to two hours per visit. Volunteers will also receive semi-annual in-service trainings and receive ongoing support from the Delaware Money Management Program Administrator and AARP.
Whom Will You Help?
To qualify for assistance, Delaware Money Management Program clients must be a low-income senior or an adult with physical disabilities. Current annual income for a single person may not exceed $20,371 or $1,698 per month; couples' annual income may not exceed $28,797 or $2,399 per month.
Individuals must have liquid assets of no more than $30,000; this includes but is not limited to cash savings, certificates of deposit, stocks or bonds. Please note, AARP adjusts and establishes the income and asset levels annually. Clients may own their home; only Delaware residents are eligible to participate in this program.
If you know of someone who may need help, please request a client referral form by calling (302)255.9380 to leave your name and phone number, mailing address or email address.
For more information about how you can become a volunteer, please call (302) 255.9380 or (800) 223.9074.
Additional information about Delaware's Money Management Program available online.
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