Legal assistance under Title III-B is part of the core of the AoA`s legal assistance and rights programmes for older persons. The Legal Advisory Network can provide important assistance to seniors in accessing long-term care and other community services. Legal services also protect older adults from direct attacks on their independence, freedom of choice and financial security. These legal services are specifically for “older persons with economic or social needs”. He said widows should not postpone determining their Social Security benefits. The sooner they tackle it, the easier it will be to avoid poverty. General support. If your state is one of the 25 that offer GA, you may be able to get financial assistance for immediate needs such as utilities, heat, food, or funeral expenses. Often, it`s money you don`t have to pay back. Contact your City Clerk to find out if GA is available and what restrictions apply.
Most organizations, even churches, have a website describing how they can help. Don`t ignore organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic charities or the Salvation Army. Local hospice organizations also have bereavement support groups, a good place to talk to people in the same situation who may be familiar with the resources. Service units that constitute one hour of legal service Financial problems are exacerbated for widows, many of whom lose much of their income when they lose their spouses. Widows` household income declined by an average of 37% upon the death of their spouse. Men lose an average of 22%. Women of color and those over 65 suffer an even greater financial impact of widowhood and are more likely to fall below the poverty line. It can be quite a shock when a widow discovers that assets she thought would be automatically transferred to her will not be transferred to her. This can happen if there are scheduling errors (or missing forms), if beneficiary forms aren`t updated properly over time, or if you sometimes have complete omissions from your husband that are a disappointing surprise.
When this happens, it is important to contact a lawyer to represent you and know your rights when it comes to inheriting your husband`s estate. Michigan Legal Help is for people who solve their legal problems without a lawyer. They can help you learn about your legal problems and prepare you for court. There are many DIY tools you can use to create court forms. This website does not provide legal advice and does not replace a lawyer. If you need more help, check out the site for a lawyer, community services or a self-help centre nearby. The website does not cover all areas of law, but we are constantly adding new topics. Please let us know what you think and let us know if we have helped and how we can improve this site. To learn more, try our new legal assistance guide or watch our user guide video. There are many things to consider when you lose a spouse. Helping you get your finances in order could help ease your stress as you determine your new normal. If you live in a community state — Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin — you may be held responsible for your deceased spouse`s credit card debt, even if it wasn`t a joint account.
Each state treats community property differently, so you should consult a lawyer to help you determine your financial obligations. Nonprofit credit counselors can suggest a debt management plan to reduce unsecured debt, especially credit card debt. InCharge debt management advisors work with creditors to reduce interest rates. The program consolidates the monthly debt into a fixed payment to the agency that makes the credit card payments. It takes 3-5 years and the monthly payment includes a fee of 40 USD. A legal claimant helped an elderly woman obtain her Social Security funds after they were seized from an account held jointly with her son. The son had a judgment against him and the creditor filed a lawsuit against the account. The woman resided in a care facility and non-payment of her bill may have resulted in her dismissal. Family members can also help in ways that are not financial, but can still relieve the pressure.
When people ask, “What can I do to help?” don`t be afraid to be specific. Pre-cooked meals, groceries, help with child care, visits to appointments, help filling out forms or calling government agencies, adopting your pet – there are many ways for the family to contribute. People often don`t know how to help. Let us know. If you have any questions about a specific situation that concerns you, send me an email. I will be happy to give you advice or point you in the right direction to give you the help you need. Since it is not easy to receive your spouse`s benefits, author Kotlikoff advises widows who need financial assistance to ensure that they also use other resources and are prepared. There are many online sources of financial assistance for widows, from free money to social benefits to child assistance. Social Security benefits are the financial touchpoint for widows, dependent children, and those reaching retirement age, but receiving your benefits can be complicated. Since women have a longer life expectancy than men, Hounsell founded WISER to help women plan a time when they are solely responsible for their finances. Kotlikoff said this is why so many widows find themselves below the poverty line as they age. A 2021 federal study found that 20% of people aged 65 and older had incomes of less than $15,000.
Another 21% had incomes between $15,000 and $24,999. If you borrow money from a family member, there are no tax implications, but make sure the repayment terms, including interest, if they charge it, are in writing. Do this even if you feel uncomfortable. If both parties understand the terms, future headaches, including memories different from what was said, can be avoided. The paperwork also helps when your taxes are checked – you can prove it was a loan and not a gift. A widow was the victim of financial abuse. A legal provider was able to detect the instruments forged by the perpetrator (e.g. Financial Power of Attorney, House Deed). “Social Security benefits certainly help, but not as much as people want them to,” he said InCharge.org. “There are all kinds of gaps in the system and the ways you need to fill them to get what you deserve.” According to the U.S. Census, there were more than 11.6 widows in the U.S. in 2021 (there were about 3.5 million widowers), with the average age being just under 60.
Many of those who have lost their partner have difficulty paying the bills. Widows can contact a nonprofit credit counselling agency, such as InCharge Debt Solutions, to get in touch with an advisor who will discuss ways to deal with a new financial situation. Advisors can help create a budget, find ways to reduce expenses, and suggest resources that provide support for things like housing and utilities. A 73-year-old woman was contacted by a telemarketer and invited to join a discount buyers` club. She told the company she wasn`t interested.