Money

Beginning Feb. 1 through April 18, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 49th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, offering free tax preparation help to anyone, especially those who are 50 and older, who cannot afford a tax preparation service.

AARP Delaware and the University of Delaware are disrupting aging through a creative collaboration which is shaping up to help many Delawareans reimagine their lives in some very powerful ways.

It pays to look closely at your credit card statement. You may see a "test charge," - a small charge, like $1. It may seem insignificant but it could be a sign tat a scammer has stolen your credit card and is testing it with a small amount to see if it works. Some merchants legitimately place a test charge on your account appearing to come from gas stations or hotel; these charges eventually drop off. But if you see a small charge and can't identify the merchant, contact your credit card company immediately.

Every 2 seconds, someone’s identity is stolen in America. In the last year alone, Americans lost $18 billion of their hard-earned dollars to fraud, identity theft and scams. Delaware ranks #6 out of all States for fraudulent activity. Don’t be a victim. Get inside the mind of a con artist and prevent fraud.

While using cash or a debit card to pay for purchases prevents tacked-on interest charges and helps you to stay on budget, you should still pay with credit cards this holiday season because they are the most protective payment choice.

AARP released results of a survey recently to celebrate the 80 th Anniversary of Social Security on August 14, 2015. Americans of all ages continue to have strong feelings of support for Social Security, and the survey found several key themes. According to the national survey of adults, Social Security remains a core part of retirement security, and remains popular across generations and political ideologies. Americans want to live independently, but face challenges around saving for retirement that underscore the importance of Social Security for future generations of beneficiaries.

Delaware is home to a growing influx of people age 50-plus who want to enjoy their next chapter of life. They seek out the state’s beaches, great restaurants and a close proximity to major cities. They believe their futures are financially sound in the First State, and that they will have a high quality of life. But this burgeoning population has something to worry about - a loophole in the law that could be sapping up to 5 years’ worth of their retirement income.

Delaware testified before the Joint Finance Committee on Feb. 26 to express concerns with Governor Markell’s proposal to reduce by half the existing $500 property tax subsidy currently afforded to Delaware seniors, age 65 and older. AARP strongly believes that all individuals have the right to be self-reliant and live with dignity in retirement.

ASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR for Advocacy

Do you know someone who belongs to a credit union and wonder if you’re missing out on something? You might be; credit unions are worth considering because they come with some benefits that traditional banks don’t offer.