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to Services for Volunteer Opportunities  The
Money Management Program offers assistance to low-income
elderly who have difficulty managing their finances. They have neither
family nor friends willing and able to help, and are not in need
of a legal guardian.
Bill Payer
services are provided at no charge.
Who
is eligible to be a client
Prospective
clients are 50+ years, live in Dallas, Collin or Denton counties,
and are referred by area social service agencies and individuals.
We also accept self-referrals. The new income limits, effective
January 2004, for eligible older adults are $31,683 for a single
person and $38,202 for a couple. For liquid assets, the limit
for a couple or a single person is $100,000. Contact the Money Management
staff by telephone on 214.823.5700 or email
for more information.
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Why
Money Management Volunteers are needed
With our mobile
society and growing senior population, we have an increasing need
for a service that assists senior citizens with the management of
their finances. Older adults living alone are often the target of
financial exploitation from such areas as telemarketing schemes
and even their family and neighbors. In addition many older
adults are no longer able to manage their affairs due to health
reasons.
With their
financial experience, Money Management volunteers are able to structure
workable budgeting plans that often give seniors a financial freedom
they never had before.
Our help also
can be on a temporary basis. For example, a senior might need assistance
organizing his or her finances following a stroke, but no longer
needs the service once he or she has recovered.
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The
story of Mrs. J
This is
a story of how a Money Management volunteer ultimately helped an
older adult get back her stolen money, pay off her mortgage and
stay out of a nursing home.
Eighty year
old Mrs. J started forgetting to pay her bills. This led to rising
finance charges and eventually the discontinuation of her telephone
and gas services. Then two acquaintances, posing as friendly helpers,
cleaned out her bank account.
Mrs. J called
the Money Management Program for help, and we matched her with one
of our volunteers. Through weekly visits and phone calls, the volunteer
recovered the funds stolen from Mrs. J's bank account and used that
money to pay her outstanding utility bills. The volunteer even convinced
a department store to halt finance charges so Mrs. J could pay off
a bill that had grown from $100 to $300 because of late fees. This
assistance, plus a bit of advice on spending habits, helped Mrs.
J pay off her mortgage and save some money for overdue home repairs
even though she was living on just $500 a month.
"I felt
pretty good about paying off the house," said Mrs. J, who still
signed her own checks and had sole authority over her bank account.
Without the Money Management Program, a family member said, the
only alternative would have been a nursing home. Mrs. J was
able to stay in her own home until her death.
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Where
Money Management volunteers are needed
Money Management
volunteers assist seniors living in Dallas, Denton and Collin counties.
We have a particular need for volunteers in Oak Cliff,
South Dallas and Pleasant Grove.
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Who
can be a Money Management volunteer
Individuals
over the age of 18 who want to help and have the time and expertise
are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers must have experience working
in bookkeeping, accounting, budgeting or math, and a desire to make
a difference life of an older adult. Personal references, interviews
and criminal background checks are required.
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Volunteer activities: Bill Payers, Home Visitors, Office Volunteers
Services are
provided free of charge by two types of trained volunteers, Bill
Payers and Home Visitors who have different levels of responsibility.
A volunteer
Bill Payer
- helps sort
mail and organize bills
- balances
the checkbook
- helps set
up a monthly budget
- assists
the client with check writing (the client signs all checks)
- notifies
the Volunteer Area Manager if the client needs additional help.
A volunteer
Home Visitor
- serves
as a liaison between the client and The Senior Source (the agency
is appointed Corporate Representative Payee)
- visits the client several times a month and
ensures the client's basic needs are being met
- offers support to the client and may deliver
small amounts of cash for client's personal needs.
A third type
of Money Management Volunteers are the Office Volunteers
Staff
Support
- enters computer
data using Office 2000 - Word, Access, Excel
- handles general
clerical duties including filing, phone contact, correspondence,
etc.
- handles the
support duties as assigned
Volunteer
Coordinator
- process volunteer
applications,
- check references,
- assist with
training,
- matching
volunteers with clients
- ongoing oversight
of volunteer activities.
- Basic computer
skills needed. Volunteer two days a week at 1215 Skiles Street
Quality
Control Monitor
- Review files,
reports, data entry etc. to ensure compliance with funding source
requirements.
- Work with
staff and other volunteers on compliance issues, workflows.
- Knowledge
of Microsoft Word, Access and Excel required. Volunteer two days
a week at 1215 Skiles Street.
Click
here to find out how to become a Money Management Volunteer.
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Training
and benefits that we provide for Money Management volunteers
Money Management
volunteers receive four hours of initial training, in-service trainings
and ongoing staff support. We also provide oversight by monitoring
client bank accounts, visiting with the client and reviewing Money
Management volunteers' monthly reports. Limited insurance is furnished
for program clients and volunteers. Money Management volunteers
who are eligible may get supplemental accident and liability insurance
coverage.
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Become
a Money Management Volunteer
Click
here for an application that can be downloaded. Please
return the completed application to Guardianship and Money Management
Director, The Senior Source, 1215 Skiles Street, Dallas, Texas 75204.
If you have questions or comments, please contact the Money Management
staff at 214.823.5700 or email.
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Number of people served in 2003
In 2003, 92
Money Management volunteers gave almost 6,185 hours to approximately
91 frail elderly individuals.
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Major
funders of this program ($5000+)
- Citigroup Foundation
- The Meadows Foundation
- North Central Texas Area Agency
on Aging
- Spirit of Generations Awards Luncheon
- United Way
of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.
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For
more information
Contact
the Money Management staff at 214.823.5700 or email.
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