AARP Oklahoma commends the reintroduction of the Credit for Caring Act, legislation that would provide financial relief to eligible working family caregivers. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Cole, offers up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to help offset caregiving expenses. It addresses the significant personal and financial sacrifices caregivers make to support their loved ones. On average, family caregivers spend over $7,200 annually—26% of their income—on out-of-pocket expenses.
AARP Oklahoma is hosting an interactive telephone town hall and will discuss the latest frauds and scams and share free resources from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, on April 16 at 10 a.m. CST.
The new Caring for Caregivers Eligibility Tool walks family caregivers in Oklahoma through five questions to determine if they qualify for the family caregiver tax credit.
A law passed in 2015 requires Medicare to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Beneficiaries will begin to receive their new cards in May, and the rollout will continue into 2019. This is a good move, since Social Security numbers are the key to identity theft, and having them displayed on Medicare cards has long presented risk. Unfortunately, scammers have come up with ways to take advantage of this change.
AARP Oklahoma is recognizing some of the Oklahoma FFA’s best and brightest chapters and students with a video, which launched on AARP social media on April 20. The video features 10 Oklahoma FFA chapters that have achieved Model of Excellence recognition by the FFA. Model of Excellence chapters recognized include Burns Flat-Dill City, Colcord, Elgin, Fairview, Howe, Oologah, Owasso, Perkins-Tryon, Stillwater, and Tulsa-Webster.
As wildfires continue to move across the western portion of our state, AARP Oklahoma stands in solidarity with our friends and neighbors impacted, as well as the first responders working tirelessly to fight the fires.
AARP Oklahoma is accepting nominations for its 10 th annual Indian Elder Honors, celebrating 50 Native American elders who have positively impacted their communities, families, and tribal nations. Since its inception in 2009, AARP Oklahoma has recognized 450 elders from all 39 tribal nations in Oklahoma.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network brings fraud-fighting efforts to Oklahomans across the state with five, free Operation: Stop Scams shredding events in Clinton, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Tulsa beginning April 17, 2018.