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Seniors – How to Protect Yourself from Financial Scams

July 1, 2020 by Norbert U. Frost

Millions of older adults are victims of financial scams each year. Here are some tips to protect yourself.

  1. Stay connected and involved

Isolating yourself, not having regular connections to people, not leaving your home, puts you at greater risk of elder abuse. Most violence only occurs behind closed doors, and elder abuse is no exception. Some people as they get older, withdraw from their community. Other seniors are isolated because they no longer drive, or see, or walk on their own. Some older persons worry about their safety out in public. Find services nearby that can help you stay active. Visit your local senior center. Stay involved in your religious community. Maintain friendships.

  1. Strangers and people you are close to can take advantage of you

Your family and friends can be a wonderful source of love and support. As a senior, you should understand that you are more vulnerable than you were when you were younger. So be aware of situations and people who might take advantage of you. Would it surprise you to know that studies have shown that over 90% of all reported elder abuse is committed by family members, adult children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. The abuse could be physical, but is often financial. Examples include: talking you into giving them large sums of money; gaining access to your accounts and withdrawing money; promising to do things for you in exchange for money but then not doing them; or outright theft. Unfortunately elder abuse can and often does involve physical abuse, threats, intimidation, and neglect of basic care needs.

  1. Direct deposit Social Security and retirement checks

Arrange for all of your benefit checks like Social Security, pensions, retirements and annuities to be directly deposited into your bank account. This ensures the checks go right into your accounts and are protected. And you won’t have to run to the bank every time you get a monthly benefit check.

  1. Never give personal or financial information over the phone

If you didn’t initiate the call to a person or business, never ever give your credit card, banking, Social Security Number, Medicare number, or other personal information over the phone. Misuse of Medicare dollars is one of the largest scams involving seniors. These scams include billing for services never delivered and selling unneeded devices or services. Don’t ever allow anyone to use your Social Security number or Medicare number. If a salesperson is trying to sell you something they promise will be paid for by Medicare, end the conversation.

  1. Use a paper shredder

Keep your credit cards and wallet secure and safe. Be very careful about giving out your credit card information and how it will be used. Don’t give out your bank or credit card information over the phone to a person who calls you for something. Asked questions. Don’t assume it will be protected. Shred all receipts that have your credit card number. Identity theft is pervasive. Regularly check your bank and credit card statements to make sure there are no questionable or fraudulent transactions.

  1. Beware of solicitors

Don’t buy things from someone you don’t know who knocks on your door or calls you. Don’t give them any personal or financial information. If your neighbor’s daughter is having a bake sale for her school or is selling Girl Scout cookies, sure buy a box or two if you like. But otherwise, tell solicitors you don’t buy or give to anyone who visits or calls you unannounced. Never donate if it requires you to write your credit card information on a form.

  1. Get on the “Do Not Call” list

To stop telemarketers from contacting you, go to: donotcall.gov

That is the official website for the National Do Not Call Registry. Sign up to stop telemarketers’ calls.

Also, don’t let incoming mail sit in your mailbox for a long time. When you send out sensitive mail, drop it off at a secure collection box or directly at the post office.

  1. Unsolicited offers = danger

Call and shop around before you make a purchase. Be an informed consumer. Take someone you trust with you to help you make difficult decisions or decisions regarding large purchases.

Carefully read contracts, and make sure you understand them before you sign. Make sure the contract is complete and includes everything agreed on. Understand when and how you can cancel and get a refund. And don’t ever let someone pressure you into making purchases, signing contracts, or paying money.

 

Filed Under: Elder Law

Social Security, Divorce and Spousal Benefits

June 18, 2020 by Norbert U. Frost

Even if you’re divorced, you could still be entitled to spousal Social Security benefits.

If you are married or divorced you have an advantage when it comes to Social Security benefits. It’s called the “spousal benefit”. It allows the spouse who earned less money and contributed lower amounts to Social Security to collect up to 50% of the higher earning spouse’s Social Security benefit at full retirement age.

Let’s say wife’s benefit at full retirement age is $2,000/month but husband’s benefit is only $750/month based on his own work history. In this example, the husband, as the lower earning spouse, can elect to collect the spousal benefit of $1,000/month at full retirement age – getting $250 more each month.

Even divorced persons have the ability to collect Social Security spousal benefits based on their former spouse’s earnings if they meet all of the following criteria:

  • Your marriage lasted at least 10 years
  • You are currently not married
  • You are 62 years old or older
  • Your former spouse is entitled to Social Security benefits
  • Your own benefit is less than the benefit you would get based on your ex-spouse’s work history

Other factors may affect your ability to get spousal Social Security benefits. Visit the Social Security Administration’s website – ssa.gov for more information.

Filed Under: Elder Law, Uncategorized

Caring for Our Elders Through Proper Planning

November 8, 2016 by Norbert U. Frost

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On November 5, 2016 I was the featured guest discussing Elder Law on the San Francisco Bay Area radio program, Aging By The Bay on KDIA 1640 AM. The program hosts, Tom DeZao and Mike Medieros, do an excellent job every Saturday at 10:00 am featuring topics of interest to seniors and their families. Aging By The Bay is sponsored by ComForCare the premier provider of private in-home care services. We covered the following subjects during the program:

Seniors Face Complex Legal Issues

Seniors face complex legal concerns that are often different from what they faced when they were younger. Actions taken may have unintended legal effects. As a senior or someone who’s helping make decisions for a senior, it’s important to be prepared by putting a plan in place that will help families deal with illness, disability, and death.

Proper Planning is the Key

Proper planning includes use of durable powers of attorney and living trusts for financial management, advance health care directives for health care decisions, and other means of delegating management and decision-making to a person you trust in case of incompetency or incapacity.

Elder law also includes estate planning, including planning for the management of your estate during life and its disposition on death through the use of trusts, wills, and other planning documents.

Seniors Are Vulnerable

Elder abuse is the neglect, exploitation or “painful or harmful” mistreatment of anyone who is 65 or older. Seniors are vulnerable to being taken advantage of financially and otherwise. If a senior is in imminent danger, call 911. If the senior is the victim of neglect, financial abuse, or physical abuse in a private home, call the local Adult Protective Services office in your county.

Here is a link so you can listen to the broadcast:

 

A special thank you to Samuel O. Padama, President and Imelda A. Padama, Director of Operations of ComForCare Solano County (http://comforcare.com/california/solano-county) for giving me the opportunity to appear on the program.

Filed Under: Elder Law

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Law Offices of Norbert U. Frost
1517 Tennessee Street,
Vallejo, CA 94590
Phone: (707) 553-7356
mpeterson@nfrostlaw.com

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