All posts by Barbara Nevins Taylor

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Veterans Asked to Complain About Education Ripoffs

January 31st, 2014

The G.I. Bill is supposed to allow veterans and military members to take advantage of good educational opportunities.

But, and there is a big but. Many for-profit-colleges with attractive advertising campaigns lure veterans into programs that often cost too much and offer little of real value.

Now government agencies teamed up with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to help. They want veterans, service members and their families who use the GI Bill to complain about education ripoffs.

You can file complaints with the VA and DOD directly about the cost of attendance, marketing, graduation rates, program quality, employment prospects, and course credit. The Department of Education will take email complaints on these topics.

The complaints won’t just sit there. They’ll get forwarded to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network database. 2,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide use the data base to pursue cases and your complaints will help the government identify and go after the bad-actors and companies involved in fraudulent and deceptive practices.

Jessica Rich, director, FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection says,“Veterans should get truthful information when they choose how and where to use their military education benefits. Unfortunately, that may not always be the case.”

To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A COLLEGE

If there’s a high pressure sales pitch be very careful. Make sure that if you do sign up, you can cancel, without any penalty, within a few days.

10 QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK

1. Will the program use all my G.I. benefits?

2. How do I pay for what the G.I. Bill doesn’t cover?

3. Do you expect me to get a loan to pay for what my benefits don’t cover?

4. Are books and other things included, or do I pay extra?

5. Do I pay for individual courses, or do I pay a blanket sum?

6. Are there extra fees for adding or dropping courses?

7. What’s the percentage of recent grads from your school who took a loan and are delinquent repaying the loan.

8. Can I transfer credit from this school to another school?

9. Is this school accredited?

10. Is it accredited in a way that allows me to transfer to a state or city school?

The FTC also compiled a list of suggestions to help you figure out how to choose a college.

Why Veterans Should Avoid For Profit Colleges

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What To Do After A Data Breach

January 28th, 2014

First there was the Target data breach affecting as many 110 million people. Then there was the Neiman Marcus data breach that hit over 1.1 million credit card holders. And the latest warning about a breach comes from the Texas-based arts and crafts retailer Michaels Stores.

Clearly, this is a big problem that requires our individual vigilance.

Did you know?

Federal law and other rules say consumers are generally not responsible for unauthorized debits or charges to credit or debit card accounts, as long as they report them quickly to their bank or card providers.

That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your accounts. To help, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an alert that offers useful advice:

Monitor accounts for unauthorized charges or debits.

Regularly review accounts online if possible, and at a minimum examine monthly statements closely.

Report even small problems immediately. Some thieves may process a small charge or debit just to see if the account is live or whether the consumer notices.

Be aware that fraudulent charges may occur many months after information is stolen.

Even if you think the PIN on your debit card was not stolen, consider changing the PIN to be on the safe side.

Alert your bank or card provider immediately if you suspect fraud.

Alert your bank or card provider immediately if you suspect an unauthorized debit or charge.

If you find fraudulent charges, ask the card provider to close access to the account and issue a new card before more transactions come through.

Follow up with the bank or card provider and maintain records. Call the bank or credit card provider first, also ask about how you can follow up in writing. Make sure you keep a copy of your correspondence.

If you don’t like the way your bank is handling things, the CFPB says, “If consumers are unsatisfied with how their bank or card provider responds to a report of fraudulent charges, they can submit a complaint to the CFPB. Card providers should investigate charges and respond quickly. Consumers have a right to see the results of the bank’s or card company’s investigations.”

You can file a complaint at www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint, or by phone (855) 411-CFPB (2372) or TTY/TDD phone number at (855) 729-CFPB (2372), or

by fax (855) 237-2392, or

by letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 4503, Iowa City, Iowa 52244

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Pete Seeger’s Summer Camp Legacy

January 28th, 2014 4 Comments

by Barbara Nevins Taylor

Seeger Fest, the five day festival of song in New York City and the Hudson Valley, honoring Peter Seeger and his wife Toshi reminded us of the importance of his legacy of inspiration and activism. He touched people in big and small ways. My small brush with Pete Seeger came when I was a very young girl.

The video and photo are of Pete at the Surprise Lake Camp just north of Cold Spring, New York in the Hudson Valley. They are relatively recent and many campers of many ages are likely to have photos, videos and film that stretch back decades.

Pete lived nearby in Dutchess County and often visited the camp and sang with the young people who spent a few weeks there every year in July and August.

I went to Surprise Lake in the fifties and Peter Seeger was one of the unexpected gifts of summer. I had no idea who he was at the time, but he influenced me greatly.

Our family was very poor and camp seemed like a vacation for the rich kids in two-parent households. But our mother was resourceful. She went to work after our father left and managed to make the most of the $45 a week she earned at first.

She wanted what she called “a normal life” for her daughters and summer camp was part of that. She jumped at the opportunity when someone in a support group called Parents Without Partners told her about Jewish Federation camps.

She learned that they considered your income and charged what you could afford. I remember her in the breakfast nook of our little kitchen filling out the papers and calculating the cost. I think she paid something like $18 dollars for me for three weeks, and another $18 dollars for my sister who went to a camp called Wel-Met.

I loved Surprise Lake. It introduced me to the woods, hiking, running, swimming in a cold deep lake and crafts that I fumbled with. Every day was special and action-packed. In the early evening, campers and counselors sat around the flagpole near the lake and sang the songs that shaped the way I think about America, other people and responsibility.

Sometimes a counselor led the singalongs and other evenings Pete Seeger appeared like a magician, seemly out of nowhere. He strummed his banjo and sang in that sweet, clear voice:

“If I had a hammer,

I’d hammer in the morning,

I’d hammer in the evening,

All over this land,

I’d hammer out danger,

I’d hammer out a warning,

I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.”

I heard the message. I knew I wasn’t a singer. Other campers at other times, like Neil Diamond, were inspired to sing by Pete Seeger, to really sing. But I did hear the words and got it. I was inspired by the message and the feeling of empathy and compassion.

Speaking up for what’s right and fair made a lot of sense to me. It still does.

I am just one of millions touched by Pete Seeger, but I appreciate what he passed on to me and others and will continue to singalong in my way.

Thank you, Pete. You live on.

Living! Get Some Inspiration

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Making Sense of Annuities for Retirement

January 24th, 2014 1 Comment

by Barbara Nevins Taylor

Phil K thinks his life is about to change and he wants to plan for what may happen. He’s a senior vice president at a California electronics company that has steadily lost business as its U.S. tech customers outsourced work to China and other cheap labor markets.

The firm’s realignment may leave Phil without a job. He’ll be 65 then and eligible to collect Social Security. But he faces a steep income drop and that’s a big concern.

So he sat down and calculated. “I put down all of my statistics and sources of income. I looked okay. But I wanted to increase my cash flow so that I would never have to look over my shoulder and I would know that my cash flow, my income, would exceed my expenses,” he explains.

Phil and his wife Susan, who is 61 and still works as a registered nurse, own their home in Ventura County, California. They also own an investment property and have a portfolio of stocks and bonds.

But Phil worries about his monthly income and when someone suggested an annuity, he took a look.

“After doing a lot of research, I found out annuities are very complex and complicated. You can talk to 100 people and get more than 100 opinions,” he says.

Phil’s right. It seems as though someone really smart, or linguistically confused, stayed up late to create a language and a series of investment plans that befuddle most of us.

Yet, I was surprised to learn from the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) that the word and annua, and the concept of this kind of investment, first popped up in ancient Rome. Apparently, Romans could make a one-time payment in a contract called an annua and in return get an annual payment for the rest of their lives.

Today annuity’s are generally sold through life insurance companies, although they are not life insurance.

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Here’s How it Works

Basically, you invest a specific amount of money and you’re guaranteed a specified return. Annuities are attractive to a lot of people because you invest, you get a return and you avoid the volatility of the financial markets. After the fiscal crisis of 2007-2008, a study by the Insurance Retirement Institute and Cogent Research found 63% of investors said market swings make them more likely to consider an annuity.

If you start to think about this early when you’re in thirties, forties or fifties you’re likely to choose a Deferred Annuitiy. That allows you to invest a lump sum or make regular payments in a tax deferred plan. When you set this up, you can decide the age when you want your annuity payments to begin.

Then, when that time rolls around, you’ll get a check every month. There are a number of variations on this theme that include variable investments that connect your investment to market or company performance.

Depending upon the contract you make, you might be able to withdraw money early, or take partial payments before you retire.

For people like Phil, nearing retirement age, immediate or almost immediate gratification is the key.

And that’s when an Immediate Annuity might make sense. You put a specified amount of money in and the annuity payments begin right away. You can do this with a lump sum from savings, or from an IRA or 401 (k) plan.

You can also choose an annuity for a specific period of time, say ten years. You receive money every month and when the ten years are up, the payments, or pay out, equal your original investment.

With some plans, monthly payments continue for as long as you live. But as with many other investments, you’ll generally have to pay fees or charges associated with your annuity.

After Phil learned about the many choices he had, he realized he needed help.

His banker gave him a brochure about variable annuities and it made him nervous. He says, “I read the 200 pages and I went back to the banker and said it’s too complicated and risky and it’s exactly why I don’t want something like this.”

Then, he realized that he had a valuable resource he hadn’t yet tapped.

CALLING A TRUSTED RESOURCE

He called his long-time insurance consultants in New York at the Blank Financial Group. He had worked with the husband and wife team Howard and Wendy Blank for years. He sent them a four page spread sheet, which outlined his financial situation, and they had what they needed to make a sensible recommendation.

Wendy explains, “We went over the financials with Phil and took a look at how he had his investments allocated and what his income might be when he retired. We advised that he take a small portion of his investment portfolio from his IRA and put it into an annuity that guaranteed income.”

That was language that Phil understood and he moved quickly on the advice. He took about $100,000 from his IRA and put it into a New York Life annuity called a Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity with a guaranteed minimum term of 15 years.

While this is an immediate annuity, Phil deferred the payments he’ll receive by about a year. So that beginning August 2014, he’ll get $560.56 every month. That monthly payment continues for the rest of his life.

By the time he’s 80, the payments he will have received will equal his investment. And the money he continues to receive will be like frosting on the cake.

He feels it’s a win-win for him. ” I’m gonna get cash every month for the rest of my life. How can this be anything but good?” he asks.

Wendy Blank says, “Putting money that’s sitting in an IRA or 401 (k) into an annuity is a pain free way to generate income and you can start with an investment of as little as $10,000. But everyone’s situation is different and that’s why it’s really important to get advice.”

There is one thing that you might want to consider before following Phil’s lead.

He calculated what he thinks he needs to live on, but he also has investments that he can turn into cash if he has a medical emergency, or some other unexpected event that his insurance doesn’t cover. University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Economists Felix Reichling and Kent Smetters suggest that only 37% of American households should turn their income into annuities because the rest won’t have enough cash on hand when they need it.

So this is something that you really want to look at. That’s why it’s a good idea to get advice from people who have your best interests at heart.

8 Tips for Retirement Planning

Figuring Out Medicare Choices

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How To Appeal Medicare Denials

January 24th, 2014

It’s easy to throw up your hands and say, “Okay,” when a Medicare insurer denies coverage for a medication your doctor has prescribed, a visit to a specialist, or a treatment regimen. We get it. We’ve been there. We don’t like to give up.

You deserve the coverage and if you appeal you have a really good chance of winning. The process is a lot easier than you think. More than 60 percent of those who do appeal get what they want, according to Joe Baker, President of the Medicare Rights Center.

In our short video Baker explains what you need to do when you appeal. Here are a few essentials:

The law gives you the right to appeal denials for:

Prescription drugs
Health care services
Health care supplies you need

You can appeal if you’re denied approval, or if Medicare or the insurer stops paying while you’re using the medication or getting the health care service.

Where to start

If you’re denied, ask your doctor for help. A physician’s participation in the appeal is extremely important.
Call your plan. A lot of denials are overturned after you call and ask for reconsideration.

If a phone call doesn’t work

Every time you’re denied you receive an instruction notice about appealing.

Follow the instructions on the notice and attach documentation from your doctor. A letter explaining why you need the treatment or medication often does the trick.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Plan Appeals

If you have Medicare Advantage or another Medicare plan, the insurer can take up to 14 days to decide your case. But you can ask for a speedier response.

Your letter, or email, from the doctor must say your health will be harmed if you wait for the 14 days. The insurer is required to respond within 72 hours.

Prescription Drugs

If your insurer denies a particular medication, the pharmacist can’t tell you why. The Medicare Rights Center is advocating to change this policy, but for now you need to consult your doctor about other options.

He or she may prescribe a generic drug. If a generic medication is unsuitable, ask your doctor to write an appeals letter, or email, explaining why you need the brand-name medication.

If the drug isn’t included in the insurer’s list of covered drugs, or formulary, you and your doctor can ask for an exception for you. The request must include an explanation of why you need the medication and why your health or life will be jeopardized without it.

Similarly, if the medication is too expensive you might be able to get the insurer to agree to a lower payment. But again, the doctor has to offer a compelling explanation about why you need the medication.

If the insurer continues to deny coverage

It probably won’t get that far. But there are five levels of appeal.

1. Review by Medicare or the insurer.

2. Review by what Medicare calls an Independent Review Entity.

3. Review by an administrative law judge.

4. Review by the Medicare Appeals Council.

5. Review by a federal district court judge.

Don’t be put off by this long list. In most cases, you don’t have to go through all the hassle.

Figuring Out Medicare Choices

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Spammer Charged in Obamacare Fraud

January 23rd, 2014

Even before Obamacare kicked off on November 1st, scammers were at work trying to take advantage of confusion about the new program. And now one set of alleged rip-off artists is charged with sending spam emails that falsely claimed consumers would violate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if they did not immediately click a link to enroll in health insurance.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that from at least May 2013 through August 2013, Kobeni Inc. an d its president, Yair Shalev sent emails like this one:

Today is the deadline to make your election or be in violation of federal law

Must Receive Your Election Or You Will Be In Violation of Federal Law.

Effective Monday (08-05-13) health coverage is REQUIRED BY LAW.

Why is this mandatory? New Federal Law signed by the President made it mandatory for all U.S. residents to have active coverage. You will be in violation and face penalties if you do not elect.

You Must Select One of These 5 Options

The links in the emails led to websites with advertisements for insurance. The websites’ operators paid the defendants when consumers clicked links contained in the ads. But insurance companies whose ads appeared on the websites did not authorize the email messages.

The FTC says the company and Shalev falsely claimed consumers would violate federal law if they did not select health insurance by the dates that appeared in their email messages.

In addition, the complaint highlights the law that aims to allow those of us targeted by spammers to opt out. The FTC says these folks violated the CAN-SPAM Act by failing to provide consumers “clear and conspicuous notice that they had the right to opt out of receiving future commercial email messages from the defendants, and by sending commercial email messages that did not include the sender’s physical postal address.”

ANY OF THESE PEOPLE EMAIL YOU? LET US KNOW. POST YOUR COMMENT BELOW.

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Appeal, Appeal, Appeal Medicare Denials

January 22nd, 2014

“Appeal, appeal, appeal,” is the advice from Joe Baker of the Medicare Rights Center. He says many of us are reluctant to appeal when an Medicare insurer denies something, and that’s a big mistake.

Only 1-3 percent of people who are denied coverage for a medication or a medical service appeal the decision. But more than 60 percent of those who do appeal get what they want.

The Medicare Rights Center’s national helpline deals with the problems people encounter with the Medicare system or their insurers. Now a new report from the group analyzes the complaints and finds that, among other issues, denials for prescription drugs are a consistent problem for those of us who have Medicare.

FRUSTRATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG DENIALS

These medication denials are particularly frustrating because a pharmacist can’t tell you why you were denied. You’re likely to get a slip of paper that says you’ve been denied and should appeal to the insurance company.

That means you leave the pharmacy without the medication. You go home and call in and then wait for a written explanation via email, or regular mail.

In the meantime, you don’t have the medication. Baker says it’s a problem because, “You are not on the medication that the doctor thinks you should be taking immediately.”

Find out How to Appeal

Proposing Changing

The Medicare Rights Center’s report proposes a rule change that would allow the pharmacist, with your permission, to call your doctor to see if there is another prescription medication that the insurer is likely to approve.

Streamlining Appeals

The report also recommends that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) streamline the appeals process.

BABY BOOMERS AND LATE ENROLLMENT

Confusion about when to enroll in Medicare and penalties for late enrollment is another big issue for people just entering the Medicare world.

We continue to report about this issue because it’s a big one for Baby Boomers. I wrote about my problem with the transition to Part B in Medicare Catch 22.

We all get Medicare Part A when we turn 65 and many of us put off getting Part B. That’s okay, if we’re still working and have full-time healthcare coverage.

But if you are retired, have Cobra and are not going to work full-time, you have to sign up for Part B right away. Medicare becomes your primary insurer. If you don’t there’s a penalty and you’ll pay it every month for the rest of your Medicare life.

Often people get the wrong information and guidance from their employers about the Medicare rules and they still have to pay the penalty. Baker and the Medicare Rights Center are lobbying for reform that will require a change in the initial enrollment period and an active campaign to get the word out to those just turning 65.

We explain it all in our video Baby Boomers, Medicare and Costly Mistakes.

We have a lot more about choosing Medicare plans.

Figuring Out Medicare Choices

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Student Debt Relief Crackdown

January 22nd, 2014

Students hassled by debt relief companies are getting help from New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. He just set up something called the Student Protection Unit, which in its first action issued subpoenas to 13 companies.

Under the umbrella of the state’s Department of Financial Services (DFS), the Student Protection Unit is investigating allegations that companies charged improper fees without adequate notice for enrolling students in debt relief programs that are available for free through the federal government.

Cuomo said, “The rising tide of student loan debt has made it more important than ever that we put in place strong consumer protections for New York’s students. Any company trying to sell students a raw deal using misleading or deceptive practices should know that we’ll continue to work vigilantly to root out consumer abuse.”

Debt Consolidation Problems

Many debt relief companies charge fees to consolidate several loans into one. But the same consolidation programs are available for free through the U.S. Department of Education. And the upfront fees charged by the private companies add to student debt.

Private Student Loans

Some companies target those with private student loans. There’s concern that the fees they charge are exorbitant and that the companies make misleading promises.

Call for Student Debt Reform

The DFS Student Protect Unit subpoened information from these companies:

• AlphaOne Student LLC

• Brelvis Consulting, LLC d/b/a The Student Loan Help Center

• Consumer Protection Counsel, P.A.

• Debt Be Gone, LLC

• Default Student Loan Assistance, LLC

• Interactiv Education, LLC d/b/a Direct Student Aid, Inc.

• Omega Capital Advisory LLC d/b/a Federal Student Aid Relief

• Student Consulting Group, Inc.

• Student Loan Relief Center, Inc.

• Student Loan Service

• US Student Loan Helpers, Inc.

• US Student Loan Services, Inc.

• Xtreme Products LLC d/b/a USA Student Loans

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Refinancing Still A Good Move

January 22nd, 2014

Mortgage interest rates are not as low as they were, but they dipped slightly and are still a good move if you are considering refinancing, or buying.

ConsumerMojo.com Mortgage Guide

Right now, refinancing is on the upswing. The Mortgage Bankers Association says an increasing number of people are taking advantage of the relatively low rates.

64 percent of the total mortgage applications in the week ending January 17, 2014 were for refinancing.

Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with what lenders call “conforming loan balances” of $417,000 or less decreased to 4.57 percent.

That’s the lowest level since November 2013.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with what lenders call “jumbo loan balances,” for amounts greater than $417,000, also decreased to 4.57 percent, matching the November 2013 low.

FHA interest rates are different than those for conventional loans, and the average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 4.24 percent. Again, that’s the lowest level since November 2013.

15-Year-Fixed-rate Mortgage

If you are willing to take a 15-year-fixed-rate mortgage, you can get an even lower interest rate of 3.68 percent.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Experts don’t advise taking an adjustable rate mortgage, or ARM, unless you are going to be in the property for a very short time. Right now the interest rate for ARMs is 3.23 percent.

While the chilly season isn’t exactly the time most people choose to go house hunting, there are some homebuyers who don’t have a choice. They also want to lock in interest rates below 5 percent.

We recently reported about Angel and William Wong, a New York City couple who purchased home the first week of January 2014.

Home Buying in the Chilly Season

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Call for Student Debt Reform

January 21st, 2014

The numbers are grim. 39 million people have student loan debt totaling over one trillion dollars. And delinquencies total about $120 billion. That’s an increase of more than 30 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Clearly student loan borrowers need help. The National Consumer Law Center, in its new report, makes recommendations to help borrowers and do a better a job of monitoring the companies that “service” the loans after lenders make them.

The report focuses on the banking giant Sallie Mae. And there’s more than a little irony in the fact that Sallie Mae was created by then-President Richard Nixon in 1972 as the Student Loan Marketing Association to encourage banks to make more student loans.

Once a bank made a loan, Sallie Mae would buy it, freeing up money for more loans.

In 2004, the report points out, Sallie Mae became a private company and is the major player in the student loan universe. NCLC says that Sallie Mae’s return on investment in 2006 was 30 percent and that its C.E.O., from 1999 to 2004, earned over $200 million.

Apparently during that time, Sallie Mae made what it called “non-traditional” loans to students with low credit scores. In some cases they charged 15 percent interest and many borrowers paid high fees that loaded debt upon debt and made it even more difficult for people to pay off their loans.

Sallie Mae also became one of four servicing companies that handle student loans made through the Department of Education. The report cites media accounts that say Sallie Mae earned about $84 million from the D.O.E. in 2012. A lot of money, yes?

Roll of money

But Sallie Mae, like the other servicers, isn’t exactly student loan borrower friendly, and the NCLC calls for reforms. It suggests:

Creation of affordable repayment options for student borrowers.
The possibility of bankruptcy protection for those who have to default.
Great fairness in the collection process and enforcement of laws against collectors who violate them.

In addition, NCLC suggests that:

Federal and state regulators should coordinate their efforts to monitor the companies that service student loans. Currently, there’s a hodgepodge of rules and regulations that don’t protect borrowers adequately.
Better evaluation of servicing companies and collection agencies.

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55 Plus Job Search Tips

January 18th, 2014

If you’re over 55 and looking for a job, you know it’s not easy. It may be little comfort to know that others find themselves in the same boat.

More than 1,764,000 Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 years old are looking for work. ConsumerMojo’s analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that another 853,00 older job seekers are considered “discouraged” workers.

They stopped looking for jobs and yet they want to work and may need the income.

Myths About The Older Workers

At a recent job fair in Brooklyn, New York, we found that most of the people handing out resumes were older job seekers.

It was a discouraging day for them. They went from table to table in the big school gym and found employers weren’t interested. Vivienne Davis, in her mid-fifties said, “They seem to be geared to youth training; it’s not for people like myself.”

Even when the job didn’t involve training, prospective employers were polite but brushed off older applicants. Elaine Prosser, in her late fifties, told us, “They feel you are too old.”

Jeri Mendelsohn, Associate Director of the Samuel Field Y in Queens, New York, oversees programs that aim to help older workers.

She says many older workers “don’t have a skill set to translate into the new normal very well.”

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Sue Resnick, a job trainer and counselor at the Met Council part of the UJA, agrees: “The overriding issue is either their skills are outdated or unfortunately they are in fields that they didn’t play catch up in.”

But this doesn’t mean that older workers should give up.

Mendelsohn says, “I think there have to be ways of making 50-plus workers in the workforce become more technologically independent and confident so that they can be an important team member.”

Sue Resnick says, “If you can bring something to an office environment that no one else can, you have to put it on your resume.”

Tip 1 Update your resume immediately.
Include anything that makes you special
Include the foreign language or languages you speak.

You may not like the idea, but it is important to get comfortable with social media.

Tip 2 Make LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter your friends. Social media helps you connect to others who can help in the job search. And it may be important to the job.
Many online sites offer guides to using social media.
If you need one on one help ask a younger family member to show you how they navigate social media.

Tip 3 Research a company before a job interview.
When you get a job interview, it’s extremely important to prepare.
Find out as much as you can about the company before the interview so you can talk knowledgeably when you sit down. Learn exactly what the company does, who leads it, what it earns and where it stands in relation to its competitors.

Tip 4 Choose areas that you really want to work in. Even if it’s not the field that you’ve left behind, try to pick a company or organization that’s involved in work that interests you.

It’s extremely hard to start all over again. But some of us have to do that.

Tip 5 Think about reinventing yourself and investigate new fields to work in

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PUT YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.

RESOURCES

More attention is being paid to the growing need to help older workers retrain and find jobs. Not-for-profits like the Samuel Field Y and Met Council in New York provide training programs. And organizations all around the country offer similar programs. A Google search may help you find the right one in your area.

In addition many state labor departments offer services for older workers. We’ve provided links for several states whose websites feature information specifically for older job seekers.

NEW JOB AFTER LAYOFF

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Dropping Medicare Advantage

January 16th, 2014

If you’re dissatisfied with your Medicare Advantage plan, this is the time that you can drop it. There’s an open period from January 1st to February 14th that allows you to switch from an advantage plan to original Medicare.

It’s also possible to purchase a Part D drug plan to accompany original Medicare.

The rules are rigid about when you can drop a plan, switch or sign up for a new one. So if you’ve been thinking about it, now is the time to act.

And as part of the rule system, you can’t do the following during this period:

Switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Switch from one Medicare prescription drug plan to another
Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical savings plan

If you are switching, remember that original Medicare covers only 80 percent of your medical costs. It consists of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

Part A covers:

Hospitalization
Nursing Care
Nursing Home Care
Hospice
Home Health Services

Part B covers:

Doctor Visits
Routine Medical Care
Preventive Care
Ambulance Service

Most people pay $104. 90 a month and the fee generally comes out of your Social Security. The Part B deductible is about $147 a year.

Before you drop the Medicare Advantage plan consider that it may offer benefits that include

Dental
Vision
Hearing
Some insurers offer gym memberships and more

Your plan may also provide access to a 24-hour nurse helpline and disease management program to help you manage chronic conditions.

We’ve got a lot more detail in our Medicare posts

Medicare Basics for Baby Boomers and Everyone Else

Figuring Out Medicare Choices

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Basketball Greats Mourning and Johnson Pitch Health.gov

January 16th, 2014

Alonzo Mourning and Magic Johnson teamed up with the Obama administration to pitch for Health.gov to encourage younger people to sign up for Obamacare.

Each wrote a blog, made a video and will appear in 30-second commercials on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBAtv during NBA games.

They’re appealing to people who think that health insurance isn’t necessary because they are still young and healthy.

Both superstar former basketball players suffered serious illnesses and require ongoing medical attention. When they were originally diagnosed, they were lucky enough to have good health insurance.

Mourning played primarily for the Miami Heat as a center and power forward and in the middle of his career found that suffered from a rare kidney disorder.

Here’s Mourning’s blog that was posted on the White House website.

by Alonzo Mourning

“When sickness or injury strike, having health insurance can mean the difference between falling and getting back up and dropping out of the game.

I know, because I was at the top of my game – I felt invincible – but when I went for my regular team physical it turned out I had a serious kidney disease. Thankfully it was caught in time to treat it and luckily, I was insured.

Today people across the country who are uninsured, or just want to check out their options can get affordable, quality insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

Through the Marketplace, you can compare brand name plans and even get lower monthly payments. And importantly, as part of the health care law, health insurance plans have to offer preventive services like flu shots, diabetes and blood pressure screenings for free. Plus there are no annual or lifetime caps on coverage. So you too can get the physical you need to catch small problems before they become big ones. And the coverage you need to get ongoing care without breaking the bank.Visit HealthCare.gov today to look at your options.

Quality, affordable coverage is just a call, click or conversation away. You have until March 31 to sign up.

Enroll today so you can stay in the game.”

Magic Johnson was a point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers when he was diagnosed with HIV more than 20 years ago.

Here’s what he wrote:

by Magic Johnson

“No one plans to get sick or hurt — I certainly didn’t — but most people will need medical care at some point in their lives.

As an athlete, I understood the value of my health insurance. I knew that in my profession, injuries were common and could happen at any time.

It was important that I had the insurance needed to protect me in case I got hurt. It’s been almost 20 years since my playing days and having health insurance is still important to me.

All athletes know that a broken bone, or knee surgery can cost a lot, and medical bills can add up. But it doesn’t just happen to professional athletes, it can happen to anybody. And, without health insurance, some medical treatments can cost thousands of dollars.

The good news is, now you can finally get the health insurance you need. The new HealthInsurance Marketplace offers affordable, quality health insurance that can help you get the care you need without risking your life savings.

The Marketplace is a new, simpler way to purchase health insurance — all in one place. You can go online to find and compare options, determine if you qualify for lower costs, and enroll in the plan that’s right for you.I encourage folks to check out my video and visit HealthCare.gov to determine your options.

Everyone should have the opportunity to get affordable, quality health coverage. There’s still time to enroll through March 31.

Protect your health — enroll today.”

News

Celebrating Dian Fossey

January 16th, 2014

Google created a doodle to celebrate Dian Fossey who would have been 82. Fossey was extraordinary by any standard. She committed her life to studying and protecting the mountain gorillas in Rawanda. She was killed in her cabin in 1983.

Her autobiography Gorillas In The Mist became a movie starring Sigourney Weaver.

Fossey dreamed about becoming a veterinarian when she growing up in California. In 1963, she took a six-week sabbatical from San Jose College and went to Africa. The experience changed everything for her. She met Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey and the couple encouraged her to stay and study the wild gorillas.

She set up camp in the Congo, which was then called Zaire. And within three years, she had made enough progress to attract financial support from the National Geographic Society and the Wilkie Brothers’ Foundation.

But the brutal political upheaval in the country forced Fossey to move her study to Rwanada’s Parc National Des Volcans.

It was beautiful and challenging. She lived 10,000 feet above sea level between two volcanoes and battled her fear of heights, disease, rain, poachers and political violence.

Fossey’s commitment was rewarded when a male Gorilla she called Peanuts touched her hand. This was the first recorded peaceful gorilla to human contact, according to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

She developed a strong relationship with a young male gorilla she named Digit. After poachers killed Digit in 1977, Fossey stepped up her crusade to protect the gorillas. National Geographic and other magazines ran stories about her struggle and the coverage attracted international attention.

If Dian Fossey had lived we’re sure she would have continue to inspire us with her work and determination. She would have been a perfect subject for our new web video series Living! featuring people over 80 who live vital lives.

Living!

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Protect Your Identity At Tax Time

January 15th, 2014

When someone steals your identity, it is very difficult to unravel the trail and straighten out your financial life. During tax season, it’s particularly important to be aware of who handles your personal information. That’s why we’re reposting this important blog.

by Tim Camus

Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Have you ever wondered how ID thieves get their victims’ personal and financial information? One way you may not have thought of is dishonest tax preparers. Each year, Treasury agents investigate allegations of criminal misconduct by tax preparers — a group that plays an important part in our nation’s tax system.

During the past several years, my agents have investigated and worked with Department of Justice attorneys to prosecute tax preparers who sold their clients’ personal and financial information to criminals. These tax preparers abused the trust their clients placed in them to protect their sensitive information from tax-related identity theft.

Tax identity theft is a serious and sizeable problem. It costs our nation an estimated $3.6 billion a year. We want to hear from you if you think you may be a victim of tax identity involving:

a tax preparer who discloses client information to help others commit identity theft
an IRS employee who either discloses tax information or participates in the criminal activity
someone who impersonates the IRS (using logos/emblems/emails) as part of the identity theft scheme

Call our office at 1-800-366-4484 or visit us atwww.treasury.gov/tigta.

If you are looking for a tax preparation service this year, take the time to check reputation and qualifications. Don’t trust anyone with your sensitive information until you have assurances that they will treat it with the safeguards it deserves.

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Apple to Refund Kids’ App Purchases

January 15th, 2014

If you have little kids, you know the story. They played with an iPad or other mobile device and ordered hundreds of dollars worth of apps from the iTunes store. It sounds funny until happens to your family.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took it seriously, filed a complaint against Apple and reached a $32 million settlement on behalf of consumers.

Now customers whose kids charged apps on mobile devices, without their parents’ consent, will get full refunds. Apparently tens of thousands of families complained to Apple that kids were making unauthorized purchases.

According to the FTC’s complaint, Apple made it child’s play for kids to order and order. The ordering system didn’t signal that after you enter a password there’s a 15-minute window to make a purchase.

The problem was compounded because the App store allows purchases to be made within apps.

So a kid could buy an app with parental approval and then buy additional virtual items, or currency used in games they already bought. These charges generally range from 99 cents to $99.99 per in-app charge.

The FTC says one parent reported that her daughter had spent $2,600 in the app “Tap Pet Hotel,” and other consumers reported unauthorized purchases by children totaling more than $500 in the apps “Dragon Story” and “Tiny Zoo Friends.”

As a result of the settlement with the FTC, Apple also will change its billing practices to make sure it gets permission and informed consent from parents before it charges them for mobile apps.

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez says, “This settlement is a victory for consumers harmed by Apple’s unfair billing, and a signal to the business community: whether you’re doing business in the mobile arena or the mall down the street, fundamental consumer protections apply. You cannot charge consumers for purchases they did not authorize.”

GETTING YOUR REFUND

Apple is required to give notice of the availability of refunds to all consumers charged for in-app purchases. They are supposed to provide instructions about how to get the money.