Elder Financial
Safety Center
The Elder Financial Safety Center at The Senior Source is a safe and trusted place for older adults and their loved ones to get expert, professional, and unbiased guidance to ensure financial well-being- from essential needs to helping those who have experienced financial exploitation. Launched in May 2014, it is the first of its kind in the nation to address the financial security of older adults through prevention, protection and prosecution services. This center is made possible by the W. W. Caruth, Jr., Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas.
Utility Assistance
More Info
About Elder Financial Safety
Shield Our Seniors App
This app assists those who interact with older adults in their professional or personal life to detect and protect them from elder abuse. The free app is available for iPhone and for Android devices. Learn more at the video here:
Our Focus
Our Services
We Help Seniors with Elder Financial Safety
- Benefits Assistance
- Budgeting
- Debt Management
- Employment Services
- Filing a Fraud Complaint
- Financial Coaching
- Insurance Counseling
- Money Management
- Wills Clinic
Benefits Assistance
Our Benefit Assistance services are designed to give you a boost to your finances during times of need. Our elder financial safety trained staff can assist people age 50+ with applying for the following programs: SNAP, Medicare Savings, Extra Help and Medicaid. Eligibility for these benefit programs is based on income and assets. The application process can be challenging, but we have trained counselors to help manage the process step-by-step.
The Senior Source is a National Benefits Enrollment Center
The Elder Financial Safety Center at The Senior Source is part of the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) network dedicated to helping low-income Medicare-eligible seniors and persons with disabilities over the age of 50 to identify and apply for benefit programs. Click here to view our benefits check up page.
Budgeting
Achieving your financial goals can be challenging without creating or maintaining a budget. Budgeting is a way of being accountable to yourself, your needs, or anyone that depends on you financially. It’s a way of telling your money where to go, instead of wondering where your money went. We can assist you in this process of taking control of your money and your life.
Debt Management
Financial debt causes stress and anxiety that can take a toll on you and your family. You may feel like you’ll never catch up. Our elder financial safety experts will work with you, making sure you understand what options you have to decrease or eliminate debt. We help reduce the burden that debt can cause, so you can focus on living and enjoying your life.
Employment Services
Looking for a job? The employment search can pose big challenges for older jobseekers. If you’ve been out of the job-hunting market for a while, you’ll soon learn that everything has changed. On the other hand, more and more employers are realizing that older employees have much to offer, including experience and reliability. Once you understand what hiring managers look for and how they choose employees today, you’ll maximize your chances. With the right tools, you can be successful!
Filing a Fraud Complaint
Financial fraud occurs every 15 seconds. At the Elder Financial Safety Center, we provide education, resources, and tools to help you prevent financial fraud and protect yourself from scams.
Scammers are sophisticated and use minimal details they can find about you online, from your mail, or someone you know to make up stories and scenarios that seem real or possible to get you to fall for their scam.
Financial Coaching
It is never too late to work toward goals. To support elder financial safety, we work one-on-one with our clients to help you achieve your financial goals. Our coaching method is based on trust and accountability. We establish a safe space with no judgments. We will work alongside you, helping you navigate the roadblocks while achieving success along your journey to financial security and individual empowerment.
Insurance Counseling
Insurance plays an important part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not. It helps us offset the risk of the unexpected, like auto accidents, property damage, illness, and injuries, and unfortunately, the loss of life. Making decisions about insurance can be confusing and intimidating. We help older adults feel comfortable about making decisions when it comes to insurance; guiding you through the process of what is and is not appropriate for your needs.
Money Management
Some older adults live alone, have become isolated or have no family or support network. These adults can become vulnerable to financial abuse, fraud, and scams. Others have diminished financial capacity and are not able to manage their day-to-day affairs. We support elder financial safety by assisting older adults in these situations, helping make sure bills are paid, assets are protected, and basic needs are met. We do this through case management and a dedicated staff of trained volunteers.
Wills Clinic
Free Assistance Drafting Your Last Will and Testament
We host a free Wills Clinic several times a year in conjunction with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. If you would like to be added to the interest list for these events, please email us or visit our calendar to see the upcoming dates and locations.
You must meet these minimum qualifications to attend this event:
- Dallas County Resident
- 50 or older
- Limited Income
- Citizen or Legal Resident
More Help Available to You
Additional External Resources
How to Pay for Everyday Expenses with Benefits Enrollment
Are you living on a fixed income and need help paying for everyday living expenses? Discover the thousands of programs that can help pay for food, medicine, and more. Click here to view National Council on Aging and The Senior Source’s Benefits Checkup site.
How to Manage Someone Else’s Money In Texas
This toolkit is for financial caregivers who manage money or property for those unable to do so themselves. If you have questions about your responsibilities, talk to a lawyer, read our guides as background or visit the “Seniors and the law” webpage at TexasLawHelp. Written in partnership between AARP Texas and Texas Appleseed.
How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume
Is it ok to have gaps in your resume? This is a natural concern for older adults who are looking for a job after spending some time out of the workforce. You may worry employers will look at you differently than other candidates or doubt your ability to perform. You wonder if your resume will be shuffled to the back of the pile. Click here to learn how best to explain gaps in your resume.
How to Explain Gaps in Your Resume: What Mature Workers Should Know
In an era where the job market is constantly evolving, older job seekers often find themselves facing unique challenges. The blend of age-related stereotypes and the rapid pace of technological advancement can make job hunting a daunting task for those who have been part of the workforce for decades. However, with the right strategies and mindset, older job seekers can turn their years of experience into their greatest asset. Click here to learn more.
We’re Here to Help
VIDEO RESOURCES
Click a video thumbnail above to automatically smooth scroll up to the YouTube Player at top of the video gallery.