SPREAD WITH 0.125” BLEED
Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau
May 2019
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS
Focus on Native
Communities
A companion guide to assist tribal
staff and organizations in their work
with community members.
WHAT’S INSIDE? 2
What’s inside?
Introduction ......................................................3
Native Communities and nancial empowerment .....................7
Cultural and emotional inuences on nancial decision making .........9
Using Your Money, Your Goals in Native Communities..................11
Modules: Your Money, Your Goals for Native Communities .............21
Module 1: Setting Goals ...............................................21
Tool: Using values to set goals ......................................24
Module 2: Saving .....................................................28
Tool: Saving and asset limits in Native communities ....................31
.................................34
Tool: Making the most of the IIM.....................................38
Module 4: Paying Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Module 5: Getting through the Month...................................44
Tool: Annual planner ...............................................46
Module 6: Dealing with Debt...........................................50
Module 7: Understanding Credit Reports and Scores .....................52
Module 8: Choosing Financial Products and Services......................54
Module 9: Protecting your Money.......................................57
Module 10: Financial Empowerment and Elders ..........................59
...........................63
..................66
...........................68
INTRODUCTION 3
Introduction
Focus on Native Communities provides information and
tools to help you meaningfully connect Your Money, Your
Goals to the community members you serve.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a 21st century agency that helps
consumers to take more control over their economic lives. The CFPB seeks to
Your Money, Your Goals is part of that work. The CFPB launched Your Money, Your
Goals
volunteers in organizations that work with low-income and economically vulnerable
Your Money, Your Goals has been used in nearly
This companion guide —Focus on Native Communities
Communities. Its goal is to meaningfully connect the content and tools in Your Money,
Your Goals to the Native Communities in which you live and work.
The CFPB designed Your Money, Your Goals
community decides how to use Your Money, Your Goals. You can use the entire
serve members of your community. You can also choose to use the program’s issue-
focused booklets and companion guides alone or in combination with the toolkit.
4 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Creation of Your Money, Your Goals
thinking about how it could reach the millions of people in this country with low
Its staff saw an opportunity to provide empowering information and tools that
they serve.
Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, user guides, and training materials are
available at consumernance.gov/your-money-your-goals.
To ensure Your Money, Your Goals
in more than two dozen organizations and communities in 2013. Native American
SD trained tribal housing staff and local small business counselors to use the toolkit.
In 2014-2015 a national rollout began taking Your Money, Your Goals to scale. The
thousands of frontline staff and volunteers across the country to use Your Money,
Your Goals. Tribal leaders incorporated traditional practices and storytelling into
the training they offered to tribal and local social and human services staff and at a
national conference.
to share additional information that could assist other Native Communities in
implementing Your Money, Your Goals:
•
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
•
Chippewa Cree Tribe
•
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
•
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
•
Seminole Tribe of Florida
•
•
The American Indian Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
INTRODUCTION 5
Outcomes of
Your Money, Your Goals
Your Money, Your Goals
helping them:
•
Set goals based on their values.
•
Make plans to reach their goals.
•
•
Get rid of debt.
•
•
•
have been violated.
•
Your Money, Your Goals
by supporting efforts to ensure that:
•
obligations and contribute to the community.
•
Community members are able to make informed decisions about protecting
and growing community assets.
•
•
Community members are able to make informed decisions about balancing
Your
Money, Your Goals they can use as they work toward that goal.
6 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Thank you for considering using the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit for your
community. This guide includes the following sections to help you adapt its
content to effectively empower your members and communities:
•
•
•
Using Your Money, Your Goals in Native Communities.
•
Your Money, Your Goals
covered in each module as well as supplemental tools specially designed for use
in Native Communities.
•
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT 7
Native Communities and
Financial empowerment ensures people have unbiased
increase self-determination and reach their goals.
Your Money, Your Goals
Your Money, Your Goals
empowerment and the concept of a toolkit.
to build skills. This is the groundwork that equips them to make informed choices
Financial empowerment is about ensuring people know how to see the advantages
reach their goals.
you can better help people in your community face their money issues. You can
8 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
The Your Money, Your Goals toolkit is designed to do just that—help you enhance
your own knowledge and skills so you can help people in your community.
What is a toolkit?
A toolkit is different from a curriculum. A curriculum helps you learn about a set of
A toolkit has information and tools that can be used in any order based on the
to get the job done.
When you use Your Money, Your Goals, the tool or tools you use will depend on
the issue you’re addressing. You will be equipped with tools to help understand
that moment in their lives. That is the way Your Money, Your Goals can help build
empowerment and self-determination.
CULTURAL AND EMOTIONAL INFLUENCES ON FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING 9
Cultural and emotional
decision making
Financial empowerment can connect traditions of
Your Money, Your Goals includes information for users about the cultural and
. This discussion can take on
even more importance in Native communities where traditional community values
individuals based
American value of viewing assets and resources as shared or communal. This may
understanding that “whatever is mine is yours.”
monthly payment for his car or truck. While this does not mean the person will
and may cost more. It can even affect a person’s ability to get a job.
resource to steward
10 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
tools can help everyone in the community learn to better steward this resource.
Native Communities have traditions of living in sustainable balance with their
surroundings—a value and skill admired by cultures throughout the world. To
sustainable balance between the needs of today and the needs of tomorrow.
take root. When community members learn to more effectively navigate and use
knowledge and develop these skills. They may be able to contribute their time and
resources more readily because they have taken care of their individual and family
future you’ve envisioned. It is a resource that can provide for community and family
needs today and security and stability for the months and years ahead. If it is well-
USING YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES 11
Using Your Money,
Your Goals
in Native
Communities
Your Money, Your Goals can be used in one-on-one
or group settings to provide nancial empowerment
information and tools for anyone in the community.
There are two audiences for Your Money, Your Goals:
•
Case managers, frontline staff, and volunteers in tribal social services or other
government agencies who want to help nancially empower the people they
serve or strengthen their own nancial skills, and
•
Community members that may want or need nancial empowerment
information, skill-building opportunities, and tools.
This guide—Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on Native Communities—complements
the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit. You can use this guide as a primary resource for
working with Native communities and supplement it with the full Your Money, Your
Goals toolkit when you need additional information and tools.
The Your Money, Your Goals toolkit begins with an introduction. This introduction
is for you—the frontline staff members, volunteers, or other individuals who provide
services to Native communities. This information will provide you with a better
understanding of the goals of nancial empowerment and can help you prepare to
use the toolkit.
12 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Your Money, Your Goals toolkit has nine content
modules. This guide aligns with the nine modules in the toolkit. It describes each
and elders. The content modules are:
•
Module 1: Setting Goals
•
Module 2: Saving
•
•
Module 4: Paying Bills
•
Module 5: Getting through the Month
•
Module 6: Dealing with Debt
•
Module 7: Understanding Credit Reports and Scores
•
Module 8: Choosing Financial Products and Services
•
Module 9: Protecting your Money
Additionally in this guide
•
Module 10: Financial Empowerment and Elders
Your Money, Your Goals
in one-on-one or group settings
The CFPB designed Your Money, Your Goals to be used in one-on-one settings or
Your Money, Your Goals can support:
•
A tribal social service staff member providing case management to individuals
in the community.
•
An elder mentoring a young adult in the community.
•
A Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) staff member
small business owner.
•
13
Using the toolkit in a one-on-one setting allows staff and volunteers in tribal and
needs of each person or family. Using Tool 1: My Money Picture in Introduction
information and tools are the right starting points. Your Money, Your Goals also
includes tips for starting the money conversation.
Your Money, Your Goals can also be used with small groups or as part of training.
You may be able to use the toolkit in a group-based setting at:
•
Community or organizational meetings
•
Brown bag lunches or a lunch-and-learn series
•
Other community training events
•
Tribal gatherings
Your
Money, Your Goals may be a complementary resource. The toolkit can be used
you can use the Your Money, Your Goals training PowerPoint slide deck.
Participatory activities are included for each module to help make group sessions
Integrating Your Money, Your Goals
The CFPB created Your Money, Your Goals
not to be an add-on program. This means that staff and community volunteers
the work they are already doing with clients and community members.
14 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
The strongest integration strategies start with the end user in mind:
1. Who will use the toolkit? Who will they use the toolkit with?
2. How will they use the toolkit?
3. What outcomes do you want to achieve though the use of the
4. What content in the toolkit is most important to achieving
these outcomes?
the most strategic points of integration for Your Money, Your Goals. Case
provide these services in your community.
Getting support for Your Money,
Your Goals in your community
By observing organizations that are using Your Money, Your Goals
in from community and tribal leaders.
Each community and organization is unique. You and your organization know the
leadership structure and how decisions are made and implemented. As you invest
Your Money, Your
Goals
15
Implementing Your Money, Your
Goals
in Native Communities
If you decide that you want to implement Your Money, Your Goals in your
consumernance.gov/your-money-your-goals.
The Implementation guide and Creating a referral guide are also downloadable
you can download the PowerPoint training presentation. Simply click on the links on
this page of the CFPB’s website and save them to your computer or print them.
You can also order hardcopy toolkits free of charge online at promotions.usa.gov/
cfpbnemp.html
1.5-inch binders for the toolkits
1
.
Once you have the resources you need to implement Your Money, Your Goals,
consider the following steps to bring the use of the toolkit to your community.
Identify a trainer and provide Your Money, Your
Goals materials
Find a trainer or trainers to facilitate workshops for the staff members and
Your Money, Your
Goals team at YourMoneyYourGoals@consumernance.gov.
16 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
The trainers will need a copy of Your Money, Your Goals and the PowerPoint slide
deck. The PowerPoint deck includes both slides containing the visual aids for
the training and complete training instructions. You’ll nd these instructions for
the trainer in the notes section of the deck. The facilitator instructions include
everything the trainer will need to plan for and facilitate the training, including:
•
Set up instructions including visual aids, training props, and other
important notes.
•
Instructions for group activities.
•
Question prompts for facilitated discussions.
•
Answers to exercises that are a part of the training.
•
Scripted narrative to provide clear and concise denitions and summaries.
Printing the training PowerPoint slide deck
To print out the training PowerPoint slide deck, be sure to select the PPT le
on the Your Money, Your Goals webpage. Do not select the PDF le.
If you are printing this out for yourself (if you are the trainer) or for the trainer,
make sure you select either the “Notes Page” under the “View” command or
select “Notes” in the print function when asked what you want to print.
17
You may also want to provide the trainer with the Implementation Guide. It
includes steps to help trainers think through planning a training workshop. It also
includes tips to gain leadership buy-in. Its “Creating a referral guide” section
referral guide that staff and volunteers can use to connect the people they serve to
You will also want to provide this supplemental guide—Focus on Native
Communties—to the trainer since it provides content and additional tools for Native
Communities that should be included in the training.
Learn and personalize the materials
As a trainer prepares to deliver the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit training to
•
Using the tools within the toolkit in advance to become familiar with how they work.
•
covered locally and culturally relevant. Storytelling can be an especially effective
way to connect community members to the topics in Your Money, Your Goals.
participants in the training to share stories related to information and tools
within each module.
•
Modifying the training slide deck to make it more culturally appropriate.
Consider adding pictures or images that are meaningful in the community
2
.
2
•
would require a full day or day and a half of training. It’s often not possible
for people to take that much time out of their schedules to attend training.
Organizations have found many ways to organize Your Money, Your Goals
training:
•
In a series of lunch-and-learns
•
In two or three half-day sessions
•
In a series of evening sessions
•
During an all-day session on a weekend
2 If you make any additional changes to the content of the training deck other than adding images
all of the slides.
18 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
be trained. Perhaps they only want or need training on four of the modules. Use
the Implementation Guide’s Training Planning Tool
33
to help develop a clear plan
and agenda for the training.
Get the equipment, supplies, and space needed to host
a training
General supplies
These basic supplies are used in most Your Money, Your Goals trainings:
•
A training space (more information on room set up follows)
•
Computer
•
LCD projector
•
Projection screen or wall
•
Small table for projector and computer
•
•
Easel
•
Flip chart pad
•
Tape
•
Markers for facilitator and participants
•
Copies of the toolkit for each participant
•
Copies of resource and referral list (use the special guide on Creating a referral
guide to develop this resource for the training)
Supplies needed for specic exercises
•
•
•
Envelopes with role play activity roles for groups of 3 and copies of notes sheets
for the observer
•
3 Your Money, Your Goals: An Implementation Guide can be found at les.consumernance.
gov/f/201504_cfpb_ymyg_implementation-guide.pdf.
19
Training assessments
Some organizations choose to use pre- and post-training assessments. These
surveys can help your organization track the number of people you have trained
and understand its impact on participants. If you would like to use CFPB-
consumernance.gov/your-
money-your-goals.
Room set up
Room set up will depend on the space you are able to secure for the training.
arrangements that do not include a table for participants to work on. The training is
meant to encourage small group work and be highly participative and interactive.
Saving on supplies
Getting creative on meeting the needs of your training can help you minimize costs.
•
Use a chalkboard or whiteboard.
•
Use white board cling. This is a roll of whiteboard-like paper that is reusable
when you use dry erase markers. The material itself clings to most walls that are
not covered with fabric.
•
Project a blank PowerPoint slide on the screen and type in responses to
brainstorming type activities.
•
paper waste.
•
Use paper and tape instead of post-it notes.
20 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Create a budget
Item Cost Notes
Training location $0
rooms
LCD and
computer
$0 Use organizational equipment or borrow it from
an organization that has one. LCD Projectors can
Easel $0 Borrow or do not use
Flip chart pad $50–$75
for two pads
This will last for 4 - 6 trainings; see options for
Tape $6 - $8/roll A roll of blue painter’s tape will last for 10 or more
trainings
Markers $24–$30 36 markers will last for 10 or more trainings
Large self-
adhesive notes
$10 Pack of three; these will last for up to 3 trainings
Copies of
slides for group
activities
$2.70 total
(Assuming $.05
per copy and 25
participants)
This will vary based on topics chosen and number
of participants. See the instructions for the slides
to copy on slide 1 of the training PowerPoint deck.
Toolkits Order: $0
Photocopy: $12.20/
toolkit (244 pages)
You can order free copies of the toolkit at:
promotions.usa.gov/cfpbnemp.html
Assume a 4–6 week delivery timeframe.
The rate for photocopying assumes $.05/page
cost.
Binder clips $12
Total estimated
costs per training
workshop
$97 to $130
not including the
cost of photocopying
the toolkits
Many of these items will last for multiple trainings.
This can reduce the cost per workshop to $24–$32.
MODULE 1
Setting Goals
setting and achieving goals.
At a glance in the toolkit
Setting SMART goals
Putting goals into action
Planning for life events and large purchases
Revising your goals
Additionally in this guide
Using values to set goals
Overview
Everyone has a different idea of the future they want to build. What do you want to
accomplish in the near future? What do you want for yourself and your family in the
But they don’t just happen on their own. Accomplishing your dreams means
thinking about the money you need to help make them come true.
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS 21
It’s also important to think about your values, the things that are meaningful to you
and your family. Your values help shape how you prioritize what you do with your
time, energy, and even money. If your goals support your values, you’ll be more
likely to prioritize them, which gives you a greater chance of accomplishing them.
Setting goals along the way is a good strategy to help you achieve your dreams.
Some goals may take a few weeks or months to reach, like saving money to buy
gifts for the holidays or buying a new mattress. These are short-term goals. Others
may take many months or even years to reach, like paying off a large debt. These
are long-term goals.
Focus on Native communities
Setting goals is a foundation for building greater self-determination. When you set
goals about those things in your life that are most important to you, your family,
and your community, they provide direction for how to use your energy and
resources, including your money. Because goals are often based on values, this
guide includes a tool to help people in your community reect on those things that
are most important to them.
This module can help you discuss the importance of goal setting with members of
your community and provide tools to help them understand the value and process
of setting goals.
The information in this module also provides tools to help you discuss anticipating
and planning for life events and large purchases. Life events are circumstances
that many people experience as part of the circle of life, from birth to death. Some
examples are getting a driver’s license and rst job, getting the Individual Indian
Money (IIM)
44
or “18-money,” graduating from high school and possibly a job
training program or college, getting married, having children, dealing with the
death of a family member, and retiring from work.
Large purchases are those things people generally buy once or a few times in their
lives that generally require more money than is available from disposable income.
Examples include automobiles, homes, major appliances, equipment for enterprises
or traditional livelihoods, traditional or cultural dress, or major home repairs. Often
these large purchases or life events are interwoven with people’s goals.
4 IIM (Individual Indian Money) accounts are held in trust and are managed by the Ofce of the
Special Trustee within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
22 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Use “Setting SMART goals” to identify goals that will help you plan for and
attain the things that matter most to you
•
Use “Putting goals into action” to create a plan to achieve your goals
•
Use “Planning for life events and large purchases” to help you develop a plan
•
Use the “Revising goals” handout to update or revise goals as needed
FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
•
Consider “Using values to set goals
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS 23
GETTING STARTED
Using values to set goals
Values provide a foundation for your goals. Understanding
the values that are most important to you can help you
steward your resources in ways that uphold them.
Values are the things that people consider most important in their lives. They can
be individual principles or shared beliefs within a community or culture. Depending
the information and tools on goal-setting and related topics in Module 1 feel more
relevant.
What to do
•
Think about your community’s values. Understanding how traditional and
your money decisions.
•
Identify the ve values that are most important to you. Did any of them surprise
you?
•
List your goals.
A step further
SMART goals” and “Putting goals into action” tools in the Your Money, Your Goals
toolkit.
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS 24
priorities by Using values to set
goals
1.
2.
your resources.
What are some traditional values shared by the members of your community?
How do these traditional values inuence you?
How do these traditional values inuence your goals?
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS 25
from 1 to 5. Put a “1” by the value that is most important
and so on.
Comfortable life
Courage
Culture and traditions
Family and clan
Financial security
Freedom
Happiness
Health
Independence
Inner harmony
Leisure time
Living in harmony with nature
Professional achievement
Respect for and from others
Self-determination
Self-respect
Social recognition or status
Looking at community values can provide insight into those forces
that most affect decision-making. Looking at your personal values
can provide insight into how you use your personal resources and
money.
What were your top ve values? Did these surprise you?
What do these values say about you?
26 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
What are your goals?
Do your goals reect these values?
How do you think these values affect the way you manage your nancial resources?
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS 27
MODULE 2
Saving
Saving on a regular basis can help you make progress toward
achieving your goals and better handle unexpected expenses
when they come up.
At a glance in the toolkit
This module can help you create a savings plan with weekly targets to help you reach your
goals.
Savings plan
Saving and asset limits
Finding a place for savings
Saving at tax time
Additionally in this guide
Saving and asset limits in Native communities
Overview
Savings is money you set aside today to use in the future. It could be for something you
need in the next few months or even years from now.
MODULE 2: SAVING 28
People save for many reasons:
•
•
•
•
Focus on Native communities
They only hunted or harvested what was needed to live for today so that resources
would continue to be available in the future.
Saving money is based on the same principle: using the amount you need to live for
and saving for the future are compatible values—it’s about balancing your resources.
income today to cover the months when there is little or no work ensures
sustainability within their household.
There are various kinds of per capita payments that members of Native
but not all
assistance program. These programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy
Supplemental Security
Income, housing assistance programs administered by Housing and Urban
Development,
entitlement. There are also special federal laws that specify how certain payments
•
Payments from income of lands held in trust or from an eligible tribal trust
year cannot be counted as income
5
5
•
Cobellv.
29 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Salazar
66
However, federal assistance programs
administered by the Social Security Administration
77
and Housing and Urban
Development
8
,
8
limit how long these payments are excluded from being
considered income or a resource for the purposes of eligibility to one year.
be important for you to show where your income comes from if you are planning
to claim that the income should not be counted as a resource or asset when
applying for a federal assistance program.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Use “Savings plan” to build a weekly savings target that will help you
accomplish your goals
•
Use “Saving and asset limits” to get a clear picture of how much you can save
•
Use “Find a place for savings” to pick a place that’s right for you to keep your
savings
•
Review the “Saving at tax time” handout for tips on how to prioritize saving
FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
•
Complete “Saving and asset limits in Native communities” with information
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830852
portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2013-30.pdf.
MODULE 2: SAVING 30
GETTING STARTED
Saving and asset limits in
Native communities
off. It’s important to understand these limits to make sure
are applying for.
Assets are things you own that have value. Your money in a savings or checking
Each program has different rules about what counts as an asset and the total value
own rules.
What to do
You can add this worksheet to the “Saving and asset limits” tool in Module 2 of Your
Money, Your Goals.
•
Identify which public or tribal benets the person you’re working with currently
receives or may be applying for in the near future.
•
Use the websites and the “Additional Resources” provided to gure out the specic
asset limit for each program and write it on the tool.
•
consider completing
this tool in advance. Make copies and review it with the people you serve.
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 2: SAVING 31
Learn how Saving and asset limits in
Native communities can affect your
1.
2.
Additional resources
3. Additional resources
Benets and asset limits list for your community
Benet
Contacts for tribal
benet programs
Information about asset limits
specic to your tribe or community
TANF - Temporary
32
Benet
Contacts for tribal
benet programs
Information about asset limits
specic to your tribe or community
Other tribal benet:
Other tribal benet:
Additional resources:
•
To get specic information about the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
in your community, visit: fns.usda.gov/fdd/food-distribution-contacts
•
To nd out more about your state or tribal TANF program, visit: acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/help
•
For a list of tribal TANF program contacts, visit: acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/tribal-tanf-
program-contacts
•
To nd your regional ofce for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Ofce of
Native Programs, visit: portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_ofces/public_indian_
housing/ih/codetalk/tribalhousing#OSD
•
For a list of tribal LIHEAP program contacts, visit: acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap-tribal-
contact-listing
•
To nd Indian Health Services in your community, visit: ihs.gov
33 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
MODULE 3
Tracking Income and
You have to know what’s coming in before you can plan for
At a glance in the toolkit
you’re receiving to better budget your money. It also helps you understand things like
Income and benets tracker
Choosing how to get paid
Increasing income and benets
Additionally in this guide
Making the most of the IIM
Overview
investments. You use income to pay for the things you need and want or can save it to
Focus on Native communities
MODULE 3: TRACKING INCOME AND BENEFITS 34
distributed by the tribal government or money from trust accounts. This money
may come from tribal enterprises including gaming, the sale or lease of land and
other natural resources owned by the tribe, or because of legal settlements to the
tribe.
Called “per capita payments,” these may be distributed in several ways:
•
On a regular basis (once per month, two times a year, or annually)
•
Periodically
•
All at one time (commonly called windfall payments)
As noted in information about savings, some kinds of per capita payments, but
not all, can be excluded as income, a resource, or an asset when determining your
eligibility for a federal assistance program. These programs include Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
Supplemental Security Income, housing assistance programs administered by
Housing and Urban Development, or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program.
Qualication for government benets varies by program. Individuals seeking to
receive benets under them should review the qualications carefully to determine
their entitlement. There are also special federal laws that specify how certain
payments are treated for purposes of eligibility for federally-assisted programs.
For example:
•
Payments from income of lands held in trust or from an eligible tribal trust
account: The rst $2,000 you receive from these types of payments in a given
year cannot be counted as income.
9
•
Payments from legal settlements with the U.S. government, such as the Cobell v.
Salazar settlement, cannot be counted.
10
However, federal assistance programs
administered by the Social Security Administration
11
and Housing and Urban
Development
12
limit how long these payments are excluded from being
considered income or a resource for the purposes of eligibility to one year.
•
If you receive payments like these, it is important to make sure you keep good
9 Pub. L. No. 93-134 as amended by 97-458, 98-64 & 103-6625, 25 U.S.C. § 1408
10 Claims Resolution Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-291, 42 U.S.C. § 1305
11 SSA, TN114 (10-11), https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830852
12 Claims Resolutions Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-291; see also HUD Notice PIH2013-30, 2,
portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=pih2013-30.pdf.
35 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
be important for you to show where your income comes from if you are planning to
claim that the income should not be counted as a resource or asset when applying for
a federal assistance program.
Per capita payments may also be deposited into Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts
within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
1313
it. The “Making the most of the IIM” tool is designed to help you help young people
consider how to make the most of their 18-money.
Module 3 in Your Money, Your Goals covers managing and tracking income and
an advantage to someone whose other income is seasonal or irregular (does not come
in at a predictable time or in a predictable amount).
individuals may miss the chance to build and grow family and community resources for
the future. A plan can help someone use their irregular or annual per capita payments
when there is little or no income. All of these activities build family and community
wealth and security. These funds can also be used to invest in assets that can help
garnishing (commonly called “attaching”) their wages. There are federal limits on how
much can be garnished from your wages. States and tribal governments may have
established laws further limiting garnishment. Tribal payments may be eligible for
garnishment if you owe money and have been sued by a creditor. For more information
Your Money, Your Goals.
13 See bia.gov/cs/groups/mywcsp/documents/collection/idc010124.pdf
MODULE 3: TRACKING INCOME AND BENEFITS 36
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Complete the “Income and benets tracker” to see how much money you’re bringing
home each month
•
Review “Choosing how to get paid” to see the pros and cons of different payment
methods and pick what works best for you
•
Use “Increasing income and benets” to think about ways you can boost the amount of
money you’re making
FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
•
Use “Making the most of the IIM” to help young adults and others who are receiving
values and helps achieve their goals
37 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
GETTING STARTED
Making the most of the IIM
A lump sum payment can help you reach your goals if you
make a plan for how to use it. This tool can help you build a
plan that’s based on the things that are most important to
you.
You can give the tool to someone to complete or you can use the questions and
sections within the tool as the basis for a dialogue.
What to do
Use this tool with anyone that is going to receive their IIM or 18-money. Provide
them the opportunity to think through the pros and cons of spending and saving this
money and how their use of this lump sum relates to their values and goals.
•
Start with the facts about the IIM payment. How much will you receive? When will
you receive it? Will it be received all at one or in a series of payments?
•
Think about the pros and cons of spending or saving the money. Review these
pros and cons and make an initial decision about what to do with the money.
•
List your goals using the SMART goals framework.
•
Think about whether your plan for your IIM will help you achieve your goals.
Consider whether your plan could make it easier or harder to reach your short-term
and long-term goals.
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 3: TRACKING INCOME AND BENEFITS 38
Plan for your future by Making the
most of the IIM
1. Answer the questions about your IIM or 18-money.
2. Evaluate the pros and cons of spending or saving the money you’re receiving.
3. List your goals and consider how your plan for your money will help you reach them.
How much do you think you are getting from your IIM or 18-money account?
When will you get it?
How will you get your IIM or 18-money? (Check one.)
One-time or windfall payment?
Regular recurring payments?
MODULE 3: TRACKING INCOME AND BENEFITS 39
Spending your IIM
List below the pros and cons you see of spending all the money you receive. Consider these
questions when making your list.
•
What if you spent all of the IIM money you are about to receive right away?
•
What would you buy with it?
•
How would that affect your future?
•
How would that affect members of your family?
PROS CONS
Saving your IIM
List below the pros and cons you see of saving some or all the money you receive. Consider
these questions when making your list.
•
What if you saved some or all of the IIM money you are about to receive?
•
How would that affect your future?
•
How would that affect members of your family?
PROS CONS
40 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Evaluating your choice
Review your pro and con lists. How do you plan to use your IIM?
List three of your goals
Don’t forget to make your goals SMART (Specic, Measurable, Able to be achieved, Relevant, and
Time-bound.) Your Money, Your Goals has tools that can help you do this.
1.
2.
3.
Things to think about or discuss with someone
•
Does your planned use of your IIM help you achieve your goals?
•
Does your planned use of your IIM help make a better future for yourself? Your family?
Your community?
•
Will your planned use of your IIM bring you short-term happiness or long-term happiness?
•
Will your planned use of your IIM help you earn money in the future?
•
Will your family, friends, and community elders respect your choice?
MODULE 3: TRACKING INCOME AND BENEFITS 41
MODULE 4
Paying Bills
At a glance in the toolkit
This module can help you better understand where your money is going and learn
Spending Tracker
Bill calender
Choosing how to pay bills
Cutting expenses
Prioritizing bills
Overview
weeks when you’re not.
Focus on Native communities
provide family members with assistance or invest in helping your community.
reward or penalize you based on whether you pay your bills on time and repay
MODULE 4: PAYING BILLS 42
you with less money to spend on things you value more highly.
with your personal or cultural values that may emphasize sharing with others.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Use the “Spending tracker” to get a clear picture of where you’re using your
•
Use the “Bill calendar” to visually organize all of your bills in a monthly calendar
•
Use “Choosing how to pay bills” to learn about all of the payment options you
have for paying your bills
•
Use “Cutting expenses
budget
•
Use “Prioritizing bills and spending” to make decisions about which bills to pay
when you can’t make ends meet
43 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
MODULE 5
Getting through
the Month
Tracking when your money comes in and goes out can
help you understand if you’ll have enough each week or
month.
At a glance in the toolkit
into and out of your household. It also provides suggestions for how to improve
Creating a cash ow budget
Improving cash ow
Adjusting your cash ow
Additionally in this guide
Annual planner
Overview
advance. That’s why monthly budgets sometimes don’t work out from week to
week.
Focus on Native communities
Planning the use and conservation of resources is something Native Communities
MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 44
hunted in the late winter and early spring. They stopped hunting during the spring
birthing season and switched to preparations for planting crops. Such careful
a sustainable resource in the future. It also ensured there were crops to harvest in
the late summer and early fall.
Module 5 provides information and tools to help people make plans to get through
the community.
are due. These week-by-week shortfalls can be missed in a static monthly budget.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Complete “Creating a cash ow budget
line up
•
Use “Improving cash ow” to learn about strategies and habits you can change
•
Use “Adjusting your cash ow
FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
•
Use the “Annual planner” as a supplement to help people plan if their sources
sporadic.
45 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
GETTING STARTED
Annual planner
It can be hard to build a budget when your income and
help you plan how to use your resources to support your
family and your community.
someone think through when their income may come in and when they may have
What to do
•
Think about your income over the course of a year.
summer and low in the winter?
•
Think about your expenses during the year. Do you spend more during holidays
for gifts and food or always help grandchildren with back-to-school clothes? Are
•
complete the
annual planning calendar. Consider putting it in a place you’ll see it as a reminder
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 46
with the Annual planner
1. Fill in the chart with the amount and timing of income and lump-sum payments you receive
during the year.
2.
times a year.
3.
Sources of income Amount expected Date and how often it’s received
Do you get per capita or other
tribal payments?
Do you generally receive a
Do you get any tribal or public
time or a few times per year?
Do you earn income from
seasonal work?
Do you earn income
sporadically by working on
contract or through some
other kind of work?
Are there any other sources
you receive one-time or a few
times per year?
Other:
MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 47
Sources of spending Typical cost Anticipated date
Do you have children attending school
and expenses related to school like back-
to-school shopping after summer break?
Do you generally attend reunions,
powwows, or other gatherings?
Do you anticipate making any
investments in regalia or other items
needed for reunions, powwows,
traditional celebrations, or gatherings
including giveaways?
Do you regularly provide support for
family or community members?
Do you generally celebrate or observe
any religious or cultural holidays?
Do you owe and make quarterly self-
employment or other income tax
payments?
Do you pay for insurance on a quarterly,
semi-annual, or annual basis?
Do you pay property, vehicle, or other
taxes on a quarterly, semi-annual, or
annual basis?
Do you travel to see family (besides
reunions, powwows, or gathering) or go
on vacations?
Do you anticipate making any major
purchases like gardening supplies, home
repairs, or appliances?
Other:
48 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Use your answers from the sources of income and spending charts to
summarize your projections for each month. You will be able to use this
each month as you create a cash ow budget to ensure you don’t miss
sources and uses of income and nancial resources that are not regular.
Month Estimated sources of income Estimated spending
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 49
MODULE 6
Dealing with Debt
Learn about ways to tackle your debt to help you feel less
overwhelmed. The more you know about how debt works,
the easier it will be to make choices that are right for you.
At a glance in the toolkit
This module will help you get a picture of what you owe, get a handle on your
payments, and cut down on stress from growing debt.
Debt log
Debt-to-income calculator
Debt action plan
Comparing auto loans
Repaying student loans
When debt collectors call
Avoiding medical debt
Overview
What is debt? Debt is money you owe to another person or business. Whether you
took out a loan, used a credit card, or got behind on a bill payment, that’s debt. Debt
can be hard to face when it feels like a barrier to your goals, but it’s important to
remember that there are resources you can use to help you take control of your debt.
Even small steps toward paying down debt can make a big difference in making it feel
more manageable.
MODULE 6: DEALING WITH DEBT 50
Focus on Native communities
For Native Communities that embrace a perspective based on living in harmony
with the world and people around you having or even discussing debt may create
that harmony. Debt obligates future resources to cover decisions made today.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Complete the “Debt log” to gain an understanding of all the debt you owe
•
Use the “Debt-to-income calculator” to discover how much stress debt is
putting on your budget
•
Fill out the “Debt action plan
works for you
•
Bring “Comparing auto loans” with you when you shop for an auto loan to help
•
Use “Repaying student loans” to understand what repayment plans are
available to you
•
Review “When debt collectors call” if you’re having a problem with debt
•
Review the “Avoiding medical debt” handout if you’re dealing with high medical
bills to learn about ways to handle medical debt
51 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
MODULE 7
Understanding Credit
Reports and Scores
Building a positive credit history (which is measured
through credit reports and scores) can help you when
getting a job or approval for housing or a loan.
At a glance in the toolkit
to improve and maintain your credit history.
Requesting your free credit reports
Reviewing your credit reports
Disputing errors on your credit reports
Getting and keeping a good credit history
Overview
The concept of “credit” can be complicated. People sometimes confuse the words
debt and credit because they both have to do with borrowing money.
you’ve used credit.You can have credit available to use without having debt.For
available to use but don’t owe any debt.
When you take out a credit card or other loan, you create (or add to) your credit
history.
have “good credit” or “bad credit.” This usually refers to their credit history.
Credit reporting companies gather information from your credit history into a credit
MODULE 7: UNDERSTANDING CREDIT REPORTS AND SCORES 52
report.
public record information and a record of how often you have applied for credit.
debt collectors have reported that they’re attempting to collect debt that you owe.
The information in your credit report is used to create credit scores. Many lenders
use credit scores to decide how much money they can lend you and how much
terms may be.
Focus on Native communities
Financial issues can be tough to talk about in some Native Communities because so
no situation is this clearer than when discussing credit reports and scores.
your auto loan payment could mean a negative entry on your credit report and a
able to secure a better paying job or buy a home or other asset.
their credit report and scores.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Complete “Requesting your free credit reports” to plan when you’re going to
order your free annual credit reports
•
Complete “Reviewing your credit reports” to make sure all the information in
them is correct and up to date
•
Review the “Disputing errors on your credit reports” handout to learn how you
can dispute mistakes on your reports
•
Use “Getting and keeping a good credit history” to pick strategies you can
implement to improve your credit scores
•
Complete all four items described above to make sure the information on your
credit reports is correct
53 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
MODULE 8
Choosing Financial
Products and Services
At a glance in the toolkit
Finding nancial products and services
Comparing nancial service providers
Opening a checking or savings account
Avoiding checking account fees
Evaluating your prepaid or payroll card
Knowing your prepaid card rights
Sending money abroad
Overview
for purchases over time. They include things like checking and savings accounts;
transfers; bill payment services; and loans.
MODULE 8: CHOOSING FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 54
One important key to nding the right nancial product or service is rst thinking
about the reason you need one. You may want a secure place to put the money
you’re saving for your goals, unexpected expenses, or emergencies. You may want
a convenient way to pay your bills or to use your mobile phone to access your
nancial accounts. You may be looking for a loan to buy a car. Or you may want to
repair or build your credit history to improve your credit scores.
Focus on Native communities
Historically, many Native Communities lacked access to nancial products,
services, and providers. While access is not yet universal, access to a number of
nancial products and services has improved because of:
•
Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) including
credit unions and community banks.
•
Increased awareness among banks and credit unions to better serve Native
Communities.
•
The emergence of online bank and credit union products and services.
Many types of nancial products and services can help people protect their
money and nancial resources, better manage their money, more efciently pay
for their current living expenses, and set aside money for their goals or for future
generations.
Protecting what you have as a community ensures it will be there not only today,
but also tomorrow and in future generations.
Your Money, Your Goals takes a nancial empowerment approach to nancial
products and services. Rather than directing people to a particular type of
provider or service, this module starts with an assessment of your needs or
priorities and—based on those needs—helps you choose from among your options.
With this information, you can make the choices that are best for you and your
family.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Use “Finding nancial products and services” to nd out about products that
may meet your needs and learn about how they work and where to get them
•
Use “Comparing nancial service providers” to compare companies that offer
the products or services you need and choose the one that’s right for you
•
Complete “Opening a checking or savings account” to make sure you have all
the documentation and answers you need
55 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
•
Review “Avoiding checking account fees” to choose strategies you can use to
lower or eliminate fees
•
Complete “Evaluating your prepaid or payroll card” to make sure you
understand the details and fees associated with using the card
•
Review the “Knowing your prepaid card rights” handout before you buy or use a
prepaid card so you know about your rights and responsibilities
•
Review the “Sending money abroad” handout to learn about your rights and
responsibilities when sending money to another country
MODULE 8: CHOOSING FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 56
MODULE 9
Protecting your Money
Learn about ways you can protect yourself and your
money with practical tips and information about your
At a glance in the toolkit
This module can help you understand your rights and responsibilities within the
Protecting your identity
How to handle identity theft
Spotting red ags
Submitting a complaint
Overview
products and services. It’s the Bureau’s job to enforce these laws and handle
Knowing what your rights are can help prevent you from being taken advantage of
can help you avoid late fees or problems with an account.
information from fraud or theft. There are things you can do to be proactive about
keeping your information safe.
MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 57
Focus on Native communities
One important job of tribal leaders is to protect the assets that belong to the
tribe. These assets could be land or the natural resources that come from the land.
from settlements with the U.S. government or corporations. They could also be
but also for tomorrow and future generations.
that give you rights. Module 9: Protecting your money provides an introduction to
some of these laws as well as an overview of how to protect your identity and how
most complicated complaints within 60 days. You’ll be able to review the response
The CFPB also shares complaint data with state and federal agencies that oversee
complaint information so the public knows what kinds of complaints we receive
and how companies respond. These complaints also help identify areas of
attention for our supervisory/enforcement actions.
Using the tools
YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT
•
Read the “Protecting your identity” handout for ways to guard yourself against
identity theft
•
Review the “How to handle identity theft” handout to learn what steps to take if
your identity has been stolen
•
Study the “Spotting red ags” handout to see some of the warning signs that a
sales deal might be a scam
•
Learn how “Submitting a complaint” can help you if you’ve had a problem with
58 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
MODULE 10
Financial Empowerment
and Elders
The risks people may face change throughout their lives.
Elders can be especially vulnerable because they may
from working throughout their lives.
At a glance in this guide
Identifying elder nancial exploitation
Getting help for elder nancial exploitation
Preventing elder nancial exploitation
Overview
1414
But that value can be used to encourage community members
to learn about all types of elder abuse and empower everyone to take action to
prevent and report these crimes.
This module is new to Your Money, Your Goals
community.
2004. See ncea.acl.gov/Resources/WEAAD.aspx#Abuse.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 59
Focus on Native communities
The following circumstances or conditions can make an elder a target of
1515
•
Having regular income and accumulated assets.
•
Being trusting and polite.
•
judgment.
•
pressure the elder.
•
Being lonely and socially isolated.
•
or pet.
•
someone they depend on.
•
Being dependent on support from a family member or caregiver to remain
independent.
•
•
•
•
making capacity.
While cons and scams perpetrated by strangers are commonly highlighted as risks
elders commit these offenses.
15 The following list is from Money Smart for Older Adults. See les.consumernance.
gov/f/201306_cfpb_msoa-participant-guide.pdf
60 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Strategies for building safer communities
many follow-up steps. You may want to consider organizing a group or task force to develop and
implement a plan for your community.
Goal First steps Follow-up actions
Identify existing
resources in your
community.
Talk to tribal government and
resources are available to
help elders who are victims of
Work to identify key players or
interested partners in and outside
of tribal government who share your
concerns and desire for community
change. Ask if they will help set
up a Tribal Elder Protection Team
to work to develop a coordinated
community response.
Work with your
tribal police force.
Meet with your tribal police
importance of documenting
identity theft and other individual
meeting with the leadership of
your tribal police force to discuss
community concerns about elder
identity theft).
Once you’ve built a relationship
with partners in the tribal police
your efforts. Here are some ideas
you can discuss with your law
enforcement partners:
•
Training for responders
•
Agency collaboration in the
development of a Tribal Elder
Protection Team
•
Creating a protocol for response
to crimes against elders.
Raise awareness
of elder nancial
exploitation.
Encourage all community
members to take care of elders
target elders.
Use community and cultural events
to educate community members
about the risks to elders and
Order copies of MoneySmart for
Older Adults, Managing someone
else’s money
publications at promotions.usa.gov/
cfpbpubs.html.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 61
PowerPoint presentation. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and
the CFPB jointly developed this information. It is available free-of-charge at:
fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/olderadult.html.
Using the tools
•
Use “Identifying elder nancial exploitation
•
Use the “Getting help for elder nancial exploitation” handout to help people
community.
•
Use “Preventing elder nancial exploitation” to help people help elders in their
62 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
GETTING STARTED
Elders are a valued and respected community resource. If you
help protect vulnerable elders in your community.
family relationship. Family members or close friends may be unaware of the situation
checklist can help you or the individual you are working with get assistance.
What to do
•
Review the warning signs
•
Record the status of the warning sign
A step further
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 63
Recognize warning signs by
Identifying elder nancial
exploitation.
1.
2.
been reported to tribal authorities.
Check the box if suspected, observed, or reported.
Situation Suspected Observed Reported
responsibilities of the home and/or property.
A live-in caregiver refuses to leave or to leave the
elder alone with visitors.
Caregivers or family members caring for the elder
A caregiver refuses to spend the elder’s money on
appropriate medical care.
the elder.
The elder transfers title of home or other assets to
someone else for no apparent reason.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 64
Situation Suspected Observed Reported
The elder’s personal belongings, important papers,
credit cards, or identication documents go missing.
Changes are made to the elder’s will that are
unexplainable or made when the elder is ill or
otherwise incapacitated.
Frequent checks are made out to “cash” from the
elder’s account.
The caregiver’s name is added to the accounts of
the elder or the caregiver becomes an authorized
user on credit card accounts belonging to the elder.
Unusual bank or credit card activity is reported.
Bills go unpaid or overdue when someone else has
been charged with paying them for the elder.
The elder does not know how much income she
receives. The caregiver is unwilling to share that
information when asked by other family members.
The elder seems suddenly more fearful and
becomes reluctant to talk about topics that were
once routine conversations.
Signatures on checks, legal documents, or other
communications do not match the elder’s signature.
The elder takes out a large, unexplained loan or
reverse mortgage.
Unusual information in a tax return is spotted.
65 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
Getting help for elder nancial
exploitation
•
unreported.
•
Many people don’t know what to do if they
resources can help.
•
abuse is occurring to report it. It is up to the
professionals to take action if you suspect
abuse.
AGING SERVICE PROVIDERS
•
Find out if your community has a Tribal Elder
Protection Team or similar entity in place. This
want to contact your tribal social services
•
If you are unsure of the tribal entity that
the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Trained information specialists are available
You can also search for a local adult
protective services agency at eldercare.gov.
•
Contacting your local Area Agency on Aging.
Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or search at
eldercare.gov.
•
If you live outside an area covered by a tribal
Protective Services and/or local police.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
•
You may want to contact your tribal police
special agent in charge in your district:
bia.gov/bia/ojs/contact-us.
•
tribal government and/or your state’s
naag.org/naag/
attorneys-general/whos-my-ag.php.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
•
You may feel you need legal assistance
back money or property that was taken
or to protect the elder from additional
legal assistance program for people 60
programs. Title IIIB legal services programs
can provide legal assistance on issues such
•
Legal assistance in these programs is
targeted towards older individuals in social
and economic need. Each program has
its own priorities and eligibility guidelines
regarding case acceptance and areas of
representation.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 66
•
Legal assistance for seniors may be located
within your local legal services program. You
programs by using:
•
Legal Services Corporation legal aid
locator at lsc.gov/what-legal-aid/nd-
legal-aid
•
Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s list of legal
services links—including Indian legal
services—by state at ptla.org/legal-
services-links.
•
National Indian Legal Services at judicare.
org/content.cfm?PageID=52.
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
•
If you’re having a problem with a bank
you can submit a complaint with the CFPB at
cfpb.gov/complaint.
•
telemarketing through the FTC website:
ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
IDENTITY THEFT
•
you can report this to the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/idtheft or by
calling 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).
•
The FTC has an online toolkit that includes
a detailed guide for protecting your
letters to help spot and respond to identity
theft: Taking Charge: What to Do If Your
consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-
charge.pdf.
67 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
GETTING STARTED
working together to prevent it.
Use this tool and to start engaging community members in protecting elders. The
tool contains both strategies for communities to use and actions for elders and their
trusted family members to take. Taking action at both levels will contribute to a safer
community for elders.
What to do
•
Identify the steps you can take to prevent elder nancial exploitation. These steps
•
Check the step when it’s completed.
consumernance.gov/
practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 68
Identify steps for Preventing elder
nancial exploitation
1.
2.
protect an elder or elders in your community.
3. Check the action when it has been completed.
Actions for elders and their trusted family members
There are many steps elders can take to protect themselves if they act early. The list below includes
Check when completed
Encourage advance planning for diminished capacity. Provide elders with resources to help them
determine how they want to manage their money and property in the event they become unable to
do so for themselves. Advance planning may include making a power of attorney or trust.
Help people understand powers of attorney and tailor them to the elder’s needs. A power
of attorney is a legal document authorizing someone to make decisions about money and
need be sure to name someone they trust as their agent. It is important to communicate that
powers of attorney can include built-in protections. Legal professionals can help people tailor
attorney or other trusted third party.
Use automatic bill paying. Routine bills can be set up on automatic bill pay from the elder’s
checking or savings account. Alternatives include paying by check or credit card. All of these
money went.
Involve several people.
MODULE 10: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT AND ELDERS 69
Have checks directly deposited.
still at risk if the abuser is a joint owner on the account.
Communicate with the bank or credit union and review statements. Banks and credit unions
service providers monthly.
Check your credit reports regularly. This is one of the primary ways people discover their
identity has been stolen and accounts have been fraudulently set up in their names.
Check references. Anyone hired to provide care—including relatives who are being paid—should
be thoroughly screened.
Reduce isolation.
Protect all documents related to identity and nancial information.
someone from stealing sensitive information from the trash.
Remember that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
•
•
Someone leads elders to believe that other elders or leaders are investing in the opportunity
being presented.
•
Someone “guarantees” wealth from an investment.
•
Someone creates a sense of urgency by stating that there is a limited time to act or a limited
number of opportunities.
•
Someone is offering a product or service but requires a large upfront payment.
•
70 FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES
FOCUS ON NATIVE COMMUNITIES 71
Goals” toolkit online at cfpb.gov/your-money-your-goals
CFPB at cfpb.gov/complaint
For answers to commonly asked questions you might have about other money
cfpb.gov/askcfpb
Mail
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Email
YourMoneyYourGoals@consumernance.gov
Toll-free phone
855.411.2372
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (EST)
TTY/TDD phone
855.729.2372
Communities companion guide as a resource for the public. This material is provided for educational and information
you received the CFPB educational materials. The CFPB’s educational efforts are limited to the materials that CFPB has
prepared.
The tools may ask you to provide sensitive information. The CFPB does not collect this information and is not responsible
information.
does not control or guarantee the accuracy of this outside information. The inclusion of links or references to third-party
products or services they may offer. There may be other possible entities or resources that are not listed that may also
serve your needs.
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