:: Senior Matters ::
I could not possibly be alone in my
frustration, I concluded. Around me sat the papers I’d spent the
last hour and 45 minutes organizing. Like little towers on the
landscape of the office floor, there wasn’t a clear way to make it
to the other side of the room without stepping on a pile of
envelopes from the bank, a stack of medical statements, or a mound
of other documents. It was quickly approaching 8 p.m. and my stomach
was warning me that, although I had good intentions to “finally get
organized,” tonight was not the night to finish this project.
As I made my way carefully across the room, clipping the stack of
bills, I thought of Dad and how organized he used to seem in his
younger years. Saturday afternoons were spent balancing the
checkbook, organizing a few papers, and mowing the yard. Of course,
as he and Mom moved into retirement and began collecting Dad’s
military pension and Social Security, the paperwork became a little
more time-consuming. And after Dad passed, Mom and I spent hours
organizing benefits paperwork and making sure that we had the
appropriate military burial documentation.
As I closed the door behind my office filled with stacks of
paperwork, it occurred to me how much our world has changed since
Dad was my age. Today we have more accounts, more policies, and more
statements. Today we have the Internet, multiple e-mail addresses
that change with new jobs or a move, and personal computers that
become “obsolete” after several years. Not only is there more
information, but it is coming at us in more formats and becoming
increasingly difficult not only in deciding how to file or save it
all, but just what to save.
And, since 9/11, the federal government has reorganized many of its
procedures with significantly more emphasis on security and
documentation. Increasingly, we are required to produce multiple
forms of identification, original documents or certified copies. My
office often sees that this documentation burden is hardest on our
seniors who are left confused at what seems to be an endless maze of
red tape. We frequently receive calls from seniors who, although
they may be entitled to their Social Security, military benefits,
Medicare or other federal benefit, often do not have the proper
documentation in order to get the help or benefit to which they are
entitled.
In response to the calls and casework that my office has handled on
this issue, earlier this year we created a resource for seniors
entitled “Seniors Organizational Toolkit.” This toolkit provides a
guide to what documentation and information is necessary to have
on-hand and what to obtain if you don't already have it. It is
designed to be placed in a file folder and used as a checklist to
organize your important documents. Additionally, it provides tips on
how to protect your information from identity thieves by taking
simply steps such as opting out of pre-screened credit card offers,
signing up for the national Do-Not-Call registry, or obtaining your
free credit report. This toolkit is available online at:
http://www.house.gov/forbes/documents/OrganizationalToolkit.pdf.
Additionally, in the coming weeks, I am hosting two workshops in
Virginia’s Fourth District on Friday, October 13. The hour-long
workshops are designed to help educate seniors on consumer
information including proper documentation, identity theft and scams
targeting seniors. An expert from the Virginia Department on the
Aging will be on-hand to discuss how to best protect financial
assets, acquire and organize documentation, and the steps to take in
case one suspects they have fallen victim to a scam. Some of the
topics we will be covering include:
- What documents are essential in today’s world,
- How to organize your important documents,
- How to identify scams targeted at seniors, and,
- How to protect your personal information from identity theft.
Please mark your calendar to join us:
Friday, October 13, 2006
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Hilton Garden Inn, Southpark
800 Southpark Boulevard
Colonial Heights, Virginia
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Lifestyle Center at Chesapeake General Hospital
800 Battlefield Boulevard
Chesapeake, Virginia
A great deal of information, tools and experts are available to
assist seniors in protecting their financial resources.
Unfortunately, many individuals are not aware of these tools, or are
unsure how to obtain them or best utilize each resource. With proper
resources and the necessary tools, individuals can obtain the
necessary documents and substantially reduce the risk of becoming a
victim of identity theft or a scam.
I hope to see you on Friday, October 13th!
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307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6365
505 Independence Pkwy, Suite 104
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757.382.0080
2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804.526.4969
425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575
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