PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
Search PPI
A large majority of state laws lack protections for individuals creating financial powers of attorney, according to the Public Policy Institute’s research report, Power of Attorney Abuse: What States Can Do About It.
A power of attorney is a critical planning tool – a legal document delegating authority to another person to handle financial matters. As the population ages, the power of attorney will be used even more often to appoint trusted family members and others. But the power of attorney can also be a “license to steal” because it grants broad powers with little oversight.
The PPI report, written by attorneys at the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, explores the problem of power of attorney abuse and how state legislatures can protect vulnerable adults against it. It explains how the new Uniform Power of Attorney Act helps prevent, detect and redress abuse, and provides resources to promote enactment of this model law. A two-page In Brief summarizes the key points in the report.
Need for Low-Income Heating Assistance Continues Despite Recent Drop in Some Home Heating Costs This fact sheet explains that low-income households continue to struggle to pay for heat and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program remains inadequate to help low-income individuals and families.
Can Advance Metering Help Reduce Electricity Costs for Residential Consumers? This paper examines advanced metering, a system to charge consumers different prices for electricity on the basis of the time of day the electricity is used, and potential benefits and concerns.
The Public Policy Institute’s Consumer Team conducts research and policy analysis, and brings together thought leaders to develop and advance AARP’s public policy agenda on consumer protection.
The team focuses on critical marketplace practices and regulatory developments that affect financial services and literacy, credit practices, fraud and deceptive practices, energy and telecommunications, and advance planning issues such as guardianship and powers of attorney.
Our goal is to foster sound and creative solutions that empower older consumers to increase their financial security in a changing and complex marketplace. We also seek to inform national and state policymakers, business and professional leaders, consumer advocates, researchers, and other opinion leaders about major consumer protection issues.
Safe at Home? Developing Effective Criminal Background Checks and Other Screening Policies for Home Care Workers
States increasingly require criminal background screening for home care workers who help millions of Americans with everyday activities. However, the evidence base for adopting specific screening practices is often thin. This paper assesses current laws and practices, highlights key policy considerations and offers guidance on approaches that show promise.
Financial Literacy: More Important Than Ever
In the wake of a $7 trillion decline in the value of pensions and household portfolios1, is a discussion about fi nancial literacy relevant? Absolutely! Workers—especially those nearing retirement—and retirees are likely to face a number of challenging questions due to the effects of the fi nancial crisis.
Generations of Struggle
Debt has become the common denominator of American life: in 2007, more than a million people filed for bankruptcy. In this paper, researchers Deborah Thorne of Ohio University, Elizabeth Warren of Harvard Law School, and Teresa A. Sullivan of the University of Michigan analyze data from the 1991, 2001, and 2007 Consumer Bankruptcy Project surveys.
A First Look at Older Americans and the Mortgage Crisis
Homeowners age 50 and over have been significantly affected by the mortgage crisis, according to this first-ever analysis of data on the mortgage crisis by age. More than 684,000 homeowners age 50 and over were delinquent, were in foreclosure, or lost their homes during the six months ending December 2007.
Consumer Protection Reports by Topic
Click below for reports on major topics. For a more precise search, use the PPI search box in the upper left hand corner of this page.
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
JOIN US!! December 11, 2009
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Join us for a discussion of how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and learn what European nations are doing as well.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
