Coastline Elderly - Money Management Program

Money Management Program

The Money Management Program is a FREE SERVICE that assists low-income elders, 60 years and older, who may need assistance in managing their checkbook or their money for basic living expenses.

THE PROGRAM HAS TWO DISTINCT COMPONENTS:

Bill Payer Services:

A trained volunteer assists an elder with one or more of the following services:

writing checks,
balancing a checkbook,
sorting bills,
developing a budget,
monitoring income & expenses

The elder makes all the decisions and retains check-signing capacity at all times.

Representative Payee Services:

Similar to the Bill Payer Service, except that the volunteer has been appointed by the Social Security Administration to manage Social Security (and/or SSI) benefits for a client who has been deemed by a physician to be incapable of managing his/her own finances. The volunteer assumes legal authority to write and sign checks.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM?

The program is designed to assist people 60 years and older who are having difficulty writing checks or managing their basic living expenses due to any number of reasons, such as arthritis, poor eyesight, confusion, memory loss, anxiety, an illness, and/or lack of experience with a checkbook.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The service is available to elders who reside within Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fall River, Fairhaven, Freetown, Gosnold, Mansfield, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Norton, Raynham, Rehoboth, Rochester, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, and Westport.

HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?

An elder, or someone on behalf of an elder, calls the Money Management Program to request assistance.
A staff person then arranges to meet with the elder to assess the elder's needs.
If the person qualifies for the program, he/she will be matched with a trained volunteer who will provide money management services on a monthly basis.
The services are tailored to meet the specific needs of the elder.

WHAT DO THE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS DO?
The trained volunteer can help set up a household budget, sort bills, prepare checks, balance the checkbook, reconcile bank statements, keep track of income and expenses.
ARE THERE ANY PROGRAM SAFEGUARDS?
Third party monitoring of participant's funds is conducted monthly.
AARP provides insurance against any loss, mistake, or misuse of funds.

THE MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS:
Funded under Title III of The Older American Act.
Local Contributors: Bank, Attorneys, and community groups
Operated locally by Coastline Elderly Services, Inc.

For additional information about the Money Management Program or if you are interested in being a Bill Payer volunteer, please contact us at (508)999-6400 or email us at information@coastlineelderly.org