Money

AARP, along with other community-based organizations, applaud the efforts of Missouri legislators and Gov. Jay Nixon to fund the Utilicare program this year. This program helps thousands of Missourians with critical funding needed to help pay utility bills. This year, according to the National Climatic Data Center, energy demand was 27 percent higher than average this winter.

AARP West Virginia and the AARP Foundation are partnering with more than 20 organizations, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Trade Commission, and FINRA Investor Education Foundation to promote financial wellness during 2014 West Virginia MoneySmart Week®, April 5 - 12.

By Jean C. Setzfand

AARP West Virginia and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago are cosponsoring “Money Smart Week,” April 5-12, to help state residents stay up to speed on personal finance.

In a recent AARP survey, 92 percent of Idaho adults said they are concerned about providing personal information over the Internet. Even so, of those who have a Facebook account and are familiar with its privacy settings, one in five said they had never changed the settings.

As part of the Montana Financial Education Coalition, AARP Montana is cosponsoring “Financial Security for a Lifetime,” a statewide conference in Helena, April 28-29.

As a member of the Fair Energy Rate Action Fund, AARP Missouri is pressing for legislation that would require more transparency in utility companies’ earnings reports. AARP wants utilities to publicly disclose returns on equity on a quarterly basis—not just during rate hearings—so consumer advocates can assess whether rate hikes are warranted.

Guest post by Debbie Dalton, AARP California Associate State Director of Outreach

A new AARP study identifies an online victim profile based on 15 key behaviors and life experiences that increase a person’s vulnerability to online fraud. The report, “Caught in the Scammer’s Net,” surveyed over 11,000 people nationally and 988 in Georgia. The national study, which compared victims and non-victims, finds that it is the combination of online behaviors and life experiences that put a person at the greatest risk of being scammed.

Idaho Residents Saved $35.1 million on Prescription Drugs in 2013 Under the Affordable Care Act