AARP Money Management Program—A Little Help Can Make a Big Difference

AARP’s 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. Oftentimes, these elders are homebound, disabled, visually impaired or confused and without family nearby to help them.

Trained, supervised AARP volunteers are matched one-on-one with clients to assist with writing checks, balancing checkbooks and ensuring that bills are paid on time. AARP New York recruits volunteers through mailings to members within agency area zip codes. All volunteers pass credit, criminal and sexual predator background checks. Through AARP Foundation, volunteers receive financial protection that covers client funds as well as accidents.

How To Know if Someone Needs Help
• Is the person unclear about the bank accounts s/he has?
• Are unpaid bills scattered around the home?
• Have utilities been shut off in the last 12 months?
• Does the person complain about not having enough money to make ends meet?

Services Provided in the Elder’s Home
A supervised AARP volunteer is matched with an elder client. The volunteer visits the client at least monthly to help keep track of income and expenses and make sure bills are paid on time.
 
Client Eligibility
• Age 60 and older
• Must meet income and asset guidelines
• Reside in New York City
• Homebound, visually impaired, disabled or confused
• Without family or friends to help
• At risk of losing independence due to inability to pay bills on time

Money Management is now available on Manhattan’s East Side through these agencies:
• The Carter Burden Center for the Aging
• Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
• Search & Care
• Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center
• United Neighbors of East Midtown (UNEM)

New programs starting in early 2008:
• One Stop Senior Services – Upper West Side
• Services Now for Adult Persons (SNAP) - Queens Village
• Ft. Washington Houses – Washington Heights
• The Caring Community – Greenwich Village
• Heights & Hill Community Council - Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill & Boerum Hill
• Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services – Sheepshead Bay

For more information, contact Amanda Leis, Money Management Program Coordinator, at 212-398-6565 ext. 230 or aleis@cscs-ny.org. 

The Money Management Program is part of the AARP Foundation, AARP’s affiliated charity.

Funding for the Money Management Program is provided by the Isaac H. Tuttle Fund, The New York Community Trust and FJC – A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds.

Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, Inc. serves as the citywide coordinator for the program.

AARP has partnered with the Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC to administer the program in areas of New York City.