Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau

Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau

YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS

Focus on People 

with Disabilities

A companion guide to empower the 

disability community

About the Consumer 

Financial Protection 

Bureau 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a federal government agency 

created to protect consumers in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. We aim to 

make consumer financial markets work for consumers, responsible providers, and 

the economy as a whole. We protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive 

practices and take action against companies that break the law. We provide people 

with information and tools to make smart financial decisions. 

In a market that works, the prices, risks, and terms of the deal are clear upfront, so 

consumers can understand their options and comparison shop. All companies play 

by the same consumer protection rules and compete fairly on providing quality

and service. To achieve this vision, the CFPB works to: 

1. Empower: We create tools, answer common questions, and provide tips that 

help consumers navigate their financial choices and shop for the deal that 

works best for them. 

2. Enforce: We take action against predatory companies and practices that 

violate the law, and we have already returned billions of dollars to harmed 

consumers. 

3. Educate: We encourage financial education and capability from childhood 

through retirement, publish research, and educate financial companies about 

their responsibilities. 

ABOUT THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU 1
2 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
What’s inside?

About the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

People with disabilities and financial decision making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Tool: Starting the money conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Modules: Your Money, Your Goals for People with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . 21

Module 1: Setting goals and planning for large purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Tool: Paying for assistive devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Module 2: Saving for emergencies, bills, and goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Tool: Setting up an ABLE Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Module 3: Tracking and managing income and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Tool: Income and benefit tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Tool: SSI estimator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Module 4: Paying bills and other expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Tool: Spending tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Module 5: Getting through the month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Tool: Bill calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Tool: Monthly budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Module 6: Dealing with debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Tool: Debt worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Tool: Dealing with debt collectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Module 7: Understanding credit reports and scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Module 8: Money services: Finding what works for you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Module 9: Protecting your money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Tool: Identifying financial abuse and exploitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Additional resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Introduction

About Your Money, Your Goals

Your Money, Your Goals is a financial empowerment toolkit, not a curriculum, 

consisting of a set of modules that organizations may integrate into their daily work 

with the people they serve. These modules function independently of one another, 

can be used in any combination or order, and are appropriate for a wide variety of 

client populations, as well as for staff or volunteers who may benefit from financial 

empowerment in their own lives. 

Financial empowerment is about giving individuals information and tools that help 

them understand the risks and benefits of financial products, services, and actions 

so they can control their own financial situations and make their own choices.

Your Money, Your Goals for people with disabilities

This companion guide—Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities 

—contains information, tips, and tools based on the insights from people with 

disabilities and from organizations that serve the disability community. It is based 

on the core philosophy that everyone has the right to control their money and make 

their own financial decisions. 

The toolkit, this guide, and accessibility

To assist organizations and their staff and volunteers in using the 

toolkit, the CFPB developed various materials. The materials—toolkit, 

implementation guide, training slides and videos, and pre-and postsurveys—can all be found on the Your Money, Your Goals webpage 

consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals. The Guide to implementing the 

toolkit and training incorporates facets of universal design. 

 

INTRODUCTION 5
Its specialized information and tools equip staff and volunteers to adapt training 

on and use of the toolkit and other resources to meet the needs of people with 

disabilities. It also includes information and tools to enable staff and volunteers 

to choose accessible locations, develop appropriate and considerate training 

activities, and plan to provide accommodations for diverse learning styles and 

other needs.

These materials make it easy for organizations to: 

§ Train others on the use of the toolkit,

§ Integrate the toolkit and training into the organization’s work, develop a referral 

guide for local, state, and national resources for consumer finance issues, and 

§ Assess whether the training and toolkit help increase the user’s confidence 

about financial issues and decision-making. end of list. 

The toolkit is a free, downloadable PDF file available in English and 

Spanish. People using screen readers can access a plain text version 

of the Your Money, Your Goals financial empowerment toolkit online at 

consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/.

This guide is free and accessible.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities is available as a 

downloadable PDF file. Hard copies can be ordered free of charge online from the 

Your Money, Your Goals webpage. Dynamic and interactive tools are available at: 

consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

Right to choice

Self-advocacy is a foundation for financial empowerment. Individuals select the 

actions they believe are best using accurate and unbiased information. Financial 

empowerment can support this.

Depending on your organization’s role in providing support to people with 

disabilities, financial empowerment may be a new idea. The materials in this guide 

and in the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit provide you with information and tools 

to offer options to the people you serve. Then they can make the choices that are 

right for them, their families, and their circumstances. This right to choice and the 

risk that comes with it allows people to fully experience agency over their lives.

Financial empowerment and Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with 

Disabilities are ways to ensure people have the right information and tools to make 

informed decisions and use their money in a way that reflects their priorities.

6 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
With accurate and up-to-date information, tools, and supports, people can:

§ Solve their financial challenges 

§ Use their financial resources based on their priorities

§ Reach the goals they have for themselves and their families. end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals is designed to help people do this with the support of trusted 

program staff, volunteers, advocates, family members, and friends. 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 7
8 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
People with disabilities 

and financial decision 

making

The millions of Americans who live with disabilities are confronted daily 

with significant obstacles as they go about their lives, such as lower rates of 

participation in the labor force. The unemployment rate for adults with disabilities 

is nearly eleven percent—more than double the national average.1 For many of 

those who do find jobs, the hours they get are often sporadic, and the pay can be 

insufficient.

Lack of work affects many areas of people’s lives. A study examining financial 

challenges among people with disabilities found that limited employment 

opportunities can have negative effects on people’s mental and physical health, 

their housing options, and their participation in the community. The Disability 

Statistics Compendium reports that in 2015 the poverty rate for working-age 

people with disabilities ages 18-64 was 27 percent compared to 12 percent 

poverty rate for adults without disabilities. 

People with disabilities are more than twice as likely as other consumers to use 

nonbank services. Using these types of nonbank services can be more costly. 

Lack of a bank account can make it harder to manage money. And four out of five 

people with disabilities have no emergency fund that they can turn to in a time 

of crisis.

1 This number includes only civilian, non-institutionalized individuals with disabilities. For an 

explanation of how disability was measured for purposes of the report, see census.gov/

prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf.

INTRODUCTION 9
Many people with disabilities may not have had substantial prior experience in 

making the financial decisions that affect their lives. Family, friends, or advocates 

may have made or recommended those decisions. This may or may not have 

involved consultation with the person. Over time, this may affect a person’s 

perception about whether they can make financial decisions for themselves. 

In some cases, people may be legally represented by someone else to handle 

their finances. Programs that include income or asset limits can also affect how 

someone views money, financial decisions, and their own freedom to take action.

Overview of Your Money, Your 

Goals

Your Money, Your Goals provides people with the information they need to make 

the financial choices that are right for them. The tools and resources in Your Money, 

Your Goals can be used by many different people, including:

§ People with disabilities

§ Frontline staff members and volunteers in organizations that serve people with 

disabilities

§ Community members who advocate for people with disabilities, such as family 

members, friends, and volunteers

§ Representative payees or others with fiduciary responsibilities for individuals 

with disabilities, such as family members

10 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Using Your Money, Your 

Goals toolkit and guide

This guide—Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People 

with Disabilities—complements the Your Money, Your 

Goals toolkit. You can use this guide as a primary 

resource and supplement it with the full Your Money, 

Your Goals toolkit when you need additional information 

and tools. 

The four-part introduction to Your Money, Your Goals toolkit is for you—the frontline 

staff members, volunteers, or other individuals who provide services to people 

with disabilities. This information can help you prepare to use the toolkit. The four 

parts of the introduction are:

§ Part 1: Introduction to the toolkit

§ Part 2: Understanding the situation

§ Part 3: Starting the money conversation

§ Part 4: Emotions, values, and cultures: What’s behind our money choices? 

USING YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS TOOLKIT AND GUIDE 11
Modules 1 through 9 include information on specific topics and tools. Each module 

offers a specific set of tools you can use with the people you serve depending on the 

situation. The content modules include:

§ Module 1: Setting goals and planning for large purchases

§ Module 2: Saving for emergencies, bills, and goals

§ Module 3: Tracking and managing income and benefits

§ Module 4: Paying bills and other expenses

§ Module 5: Getting through the month

§ Module 6: Dealing with debt

§ Module 7: Understanding credit reports and scores

§ Module 8: Money services, cards, accounts, and loans: Finding what works for you

§ Module 9: Protecting your money

12 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Getting started

The introductory section of the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit will provide you with 

a better understanding of the goals of financial empowerment and show you how to 

use the toolkit to discuss financial issues and decision-making with the people you 

serve. In addition to providing a “how-to” for the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, 

Part 1: Introduction to the toolkit includes a financial empowerment self-assessment 

tool to help you understand your own financial know-how and how you approach 

financial decision-making. 

This can help you identify those financial topics where you may want to gain more 

insight from the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit. This can also help you better 

understand how to identify the financial challenges the person you are serving may 

be facing and where in the toolkit you can go for help with that topic. Use the main 

toolkit to find and use this portion at consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals.

Have the money conversation

One way to start the “money conversation” with someone is to help them reflect on 

their current financial situation. The Starting the money conversation questionnaire 

may help you figure out where to begin. The questionnaire results will help you be 

better able to provide the information, tools, or referrals that are most meaningful.

GETTING STARTED 13
WORKING TOGETHER

Starting the money conversation

What to do:

Often people with disabilities, like consumers without disabilities, struggle with 

money and financial issues. When you feel the time is right, you can simply ask the 

person to complete the questionnaire in this guide and goal-setting tools in the 

Your Money, Your Goals toolkit. Explain to them that the questionnaire will help 

identify financial challenges and will help zero in on the information and tools that 

will be most useful to them.

Because the questionnaire is simple and only has a few key questions, you may 

be able to gather the information in conversation. Reading the questionnaire and 

recording the answers may be especially useful if you are working with a person that 

has a disability that makes reading or writing difficult. Use the following chart to help 

you analyze the questionnaire. This analysis will help you determine where to start the 

financial empowerment discussion.

What to say:

“Answer the following questions based on where you are today. The purpose of this 

questionnaire is to ensure you get the right financial information and resources.”

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

14 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
GETTING STARTED 15

Starting the money conversation.

1 Answer the following questions based on where you are today.

2 Your answers will help to identify the information and resources that can help you address the 

 financial issues you care about. 

Question. Yes. No.

I don't 

know.

1. Do you have a disability you are comfortable disclosing?

2. Do you have goals?

3. Are you at risk of losing your housing, car, or utilities because 

you cannot make payments?

4. Do you have reliable transportation?

5. Do you have a reliable source of income? 

6. Do you have money set aside to cover emergencies or 

unexpected expenses?

7. Are you able to cover all of your bills, living expenses, and 

meals for your household each month?

8. Do you have financial resources to pay for assistive devices or 

adaptations that you need?

9. Do you owe a person, business, or the government money?

10. Have you been unable to get a loan, credit card, apartment, 

car, or job due to a bad credit record?

11. Do you have a checking or savings account at a bank or 

credit union?

12. Do you think your identity has been stolen? 

Have you experienced fraud?

13. Do you make the decisions about your financial resources or 

feel like you have control over your finances? 
16 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Use the following chart to help you analyze the responses in money 

conversation questionnaire. This analysis will help determine where to start 

the financial empowerment discussion.

Response.

1. Do you have a disability 

that you are comfortable 

disclosing? 

Answer: Is "Yes" or "I don't know"

With your client

§ Inquire about the type of disability and inform the person 

you’re working with that they may qualify for disability-specific 

benefits and resources available in most states. 

§ Contact the local Department of Health and Human Resources 

and Department of Rehabilitation for additional support and 

information or visit www.benefits.gov.

2. Do you have goals? Answer: Is "Yes"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 1: Setting goals and planning 

for large purchases in the toolkit. 

§ Or, based on the response, select the most relevant tool in this 

guide to start the financial empowerment discussion. 

With your client

§ Make an action plan for each goal and calculate how much the 

person you’re working with will need to save weekly or monthly 

to reach their goals. 

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Goal-setting tool in the toolkit.

With your client

§ Discuss hopes, wants, and dreams, and turn these into goals. 

Make an action plan for these goals and calculate how much 

the person you’re working with will need to save weekly or 

monthly to reach their goal.
GETTING STARTED 17

Response.

3. Are you at risk of losing 

your housing, car, or 

utilities because you 

cannot make payments?

Answer: Is "Yes"

With your client

§ Call 211 or visit www.211.org/ or a local emergency assistance 

center. For homeowners, call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

Answer: Is "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 5: Getting through the month

in the toolkit. 

§ Debt worksheet tool in this guide.

4. Do you have reliable 

transportation?

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

With your client

§ Write down all their transportation options and the cost 

of each.

§ Find proper transportation arrangements. Contact the local 

Department of Health and Human Services for additional 

support and information. Or try contacting one of these 

agencies in your community or region:

§ Centers for independent living

§ Aging and disability resource centers

§ Regional, state, or local affiliates of advocacy organizations

§ Job centers

§ Local transit authorities/city or county government

5. Do you have a reliable 

source of income?

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 3: Tracking and managing 

income and benefits in the toolkit.

§ Income and benefit tracker tool in this guide.
18 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Response.

6. Do you have money 

set aside to cover 

emergencies or 

unexpected expenses?

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 2: Savings for emergencies, 

goals, and expenses in the toolkit.

§ Setting up an ABLE Account tool in this guide.

With your client 

§ Suggest to the person you’re working with that they put aside a 

small amount each week or open an ABLE Account, if possible. 

7. Are you able to cover 

all of your bills, living 

expenses, and meals for 

your household each 

month?

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 5: Getting through the month

in the toolkit. 

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 3: Ways to receive income 

and benefits: Know your options tool in the toolkit.

§ Bill calendar and Spending tracker tools in this guide.

With your client 

§ Call 211 or visit www.211.org or a local emergency 

assistance center. 

8. Do you have financial 

resources to pay for 

assistive devices or 

adaptations that you 

need?

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Paying for assistive devices in this guide.

With your client 

§ Inform the person you’re working with that they might be 

eligible for a federally-funded program that provides affordable 

financing options for people with disabilities and their family 

members to purchase assistive technology devices and services. 

§ Call the Administration for Community Living at 202-401-4634 

or visit www.acl.gov or patf.us/who-we-are/ for additional 

support and information about assistive technology alternative 

financing programs. 
GETTING STARTED 19

Response.

9. Do you owe a person, 

business, or the 

government money?

Answer: Is "Yes"or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 6: Dealing with debt, student 

loan debt in the toolkit. 

§ Your Money, Your Goals: Getting your credit report and scores 

tool in the toolkit.

With your client

§ Call 1-877-322-8228 or visit annualcreditreport.com to order and 

review their free credit report to see if they have debts. 

§ For assistance with debt management, call the National 

Foundation for Credit Counseling toll-free at 1-800-388-2227.

§ For assistance with medical bills, review state and federal 

programs available online at www.usa.gov/help-withbills#item-36707.

§ For assistance with student loan debt, review the Total and 

Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge of federal student loans 

in Module 6: Dealing with Debt in this guide. 

10. Have you been unable 

to get a loan, credit 

card, apartment, car, 

or job due to a bad 

credit record?

Answer: Is "Yes"or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 7: Understanding credit 

reports and scores in the toolkit.

With your client

§ Order and review their free credit report.

§ Dispute any errors in credit reports to the credit reporting 

agencies. For assistance, call the US Federal Trade Commission 

at 1-877-382-4357 or visit: consumer.ftc.gov.
20 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Response.

11. Do you have a checking 

or savings account at a 

bank or credit union? 

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 8: Money services, cards, 

accounts, and loans: Finding what works for you in the toolkit.

With your client

§ If the person you’re working with would like to open an 

account, encourage them to shop around and compare 

accounts at several banks and credit unions.

§ Inform the person you’re working with that they have the right 

to get a free copy of their consumer report from the consumer 

reporting company from which the bank or credit union inquired 

about before making its decision to deny their application.

12. Do you think your 

identity has been 

stolen? Have you 

experienced fraud?

Answer: Is "Yes"or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 9: Protecting your money in 

the toolkit. 

With your client

§ Inform the person you’re working with that they have 

a right to submit a complaint to the CFPB online at 

www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint or toll-free via phone 

at 1-855-411-2372 or TTY/TDD: 1-855-729-2372.

13. Do you make the 

decisions about your 

financial resources 

or feel like you have 

control over your 

finances? 

Answer: Is "No" or "I don't know"

Review

§ Your Money, Your Goals Module 9: Protecting your money in 

the toolkit. 

§ Identifying financial abuse and exploitation tool in this guide.

end of list
Modules: Your Money, 

Your Goals: Focus on 

People with Disabilities

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities aligns with the nine 

modules in Your Money, Your Goals: A financial empowerment toolkit. This section 

provides an overview of each module of the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit. The 

summary includes a description about the connections between information in 

that module and serving people with disabilities. It also includes key tools from 

the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit and additional tools developed specifically for 

people with disabilities. 

The modules are:

Module 1 Setting goals and planning for large purchases

Module 2 Saving for emergencies, bills, and goals

Module 3 Tracking and managing income and benefits

Module 4 Paying bills and other expenses

Module 5 Getting through the month

Module 6 Dealing with debt

Module 7 Understanding credit reports and scores

Module 8 Money services, cards, accounts, and loans: 

Finding what works for you

Module 9 Protecting your money

MODULES: YOUR MONEY, YOUR GOALS: FOCUS ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 21
22 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 1: Setting goals 

and planning for large 

purchases 

Goals can be the foundation for building greater 

self-determination. They provide direction for how to 

use resources including money.

Overview

Goals can provide direction for life. They may help a person focus on what is most 

important. Setting goals is an essential part of the foundation for achieving selfsufficiency. Goals can also help people plan how to use their money.

Module 1: Setting goals and planning for large purchases in the Your Money, 

Your Goals toolkit describes and uses the SMART approach for developing goals—

Specific, Measurable, Able-to-be-reached, Relevant, and Time bound. It also 

suggests ways to talk to people about turning their hopes, wants, and dreams into 

SMART goals. Use this module when you want to work with someone on setting 

either short- or long-term goals.

This module can help you discuss the importance of goal setting with people you 

serve and help them understand the value and process for setting goals. You can 

also use this module to help people plan for both life events and large purchases. 

Life events are often major milestones or events in a person’s life; for example, 

graduating from high school, getting married, or getting a job.

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 23
Using the tools

Within Module 1 in Your Money, Your Goals, you will find three tools: 

§ Tool 1: Goal-setting tool

§ Tool 2: Planning for life events and large purchases

§ Tool 3: Buying a car. end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Paying for assistive devices. end of list.

Focus on people with disabilities

The information and tools in this guide can help you discuss anticipating and 

planning for large purchases with the people you serve. Large purchases refer 

to items that someone buys once or a few times in life or are large purchases 

because they require more money than most people have left over in a paycheck. 

Examples of large purchases may include paying for assistive devices, buying a car, 

adaptations to vehicles, paying medical expenses, renovations to your home, and 

paying for training or post-secondary education.

24 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WORKING TOGETHER

Paying for assistive devices

What to do:

For many people with disabilities, assistive devices may help the person achieve 

independence so they can reach their other goals. Assistive devices may be large 

purchases, requiring more money than a person can reasonably expect to have 

after covering their basic living expenses. Use this tool to help someone identify the 

assistive devices they need or want, how to reduce the costs, and how to pay for these 

items.

What to say:

“Assistive technology can help you increase or maintain your independence. Making any 

large purchase almost always takes planning. Setting goals and planning for buying an 

assistive device can help you get there faster. Covering the costs of assistive technology, 

however, may be difficult. Use this tool to help you:

§ Identify all the assistive technology that you need and the cost. Research the cost 

of the device or service. If you do not know what you need or what your options are, 

you may be able to get an assistive technology evaluation. Check with your medical 

provider for a referral.

§ Figure out if your health insurance will pay for part or the entire item. If you have 

health insurance, prior authorization may be required. The assistive device or 

service must be medically necessary. You may need a letter of medical necessity or 

prescription from your doctor. 

§ Identify potential ways to pay for the items.

§ Identify ways to keep the costs as low as possible. You may qualify for a federally 

funded Alternative Financing Program that provides affordable financing to 

purchase assistive technology. Contact your local Department of Rehabilitation 

or visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 

Community Living website www.acl.gov for additional support or information." 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/.

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 25
Paying for assistive devices.

1 Estimate the costs of these expenses.

2 Figure out if your health insurance will pay for part or the entire item.

3 Identify potential ways to pay for the items.

4 Identify ways to keep the costs as low as possible.

Assistive technology.

Specific 

item(s) and 

cost(s).

Insurance 

coverage.

Ways to pay for 

what is not covered 

by insurance.

Ways to cut 

expenses/reduce 

the overall cost.

Mobility aids

Examples include: 

wheelchairs, scooters, 

walkers, canes, crutches, 

prosthetic devices, and 

orthotic devices

Cognitive assistance

Examples include: 

computer, software, and 

electrical assistive devices

Daily task assistive 

devices

Examples include: kitchen 

implements, dressing 

aids, and medication 

dispensers with alarms 

that help people 

remember to take their 

medicine on time

Modifications to a home

Examples include: wider 

doors, lower countertops, 

grab bars in bathroom

26 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 27

Assistive technology.

Specific 

item(s) and 

cost(s).

Insurance 

coverage.

Ways to pay for 

what is not covered 

by insurance.

Ways to cut 

expenses/reduce 

the overall cost.

Modifications to a vehicle

Examples include: 

Adjustable foot pedals, 

wide doors, large interior 

door handles, dashboardmounted ignition

Educational assistive 

devices

Examples include: 

automatic page-turners, 

recorders, book holders, 

and adapted pencil grips

Assistive technology for 

people who are deaf or 

hearing impaired 

Examples include: 

hearing aids, closed 

captioning, software

Assistive technology for 

people who are blind or 

visually impaired 

Examples include: voice 

recognition programs, 

screen readers, screen 

enlargement applications

Other
28
Module 2: Saving for 

emergencies, bills, and 

goals

Saving is about setting aside resources today so they can 

be used in the future. It's about balancing your resources 

to take care of yourself, your family, and community. 

Overview

Savings is about financial freedom, flexibility, and peace of mind. Module 2: Saving 

for emergencies, bills, and goals in the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit provides you 

with information and tools to help you discuss saving with the people you serve. 

The module discusses the importance of setting aside money today into a place 

that is safe and secure for use in the future. It includes a concrete example of how 

covering emergency needs with savings can save money. Use this module to help 

people save.

Using the tools

Within Module 2 in Your Money, Your Goals, you will find four tools:

§ Tool 1: Savings plan 

§ Tool 2: Savings and benefits: Understanding asset limits 

§ Tool 3: Finding a safe place for savings 

§ Tool 4: Increasing your income through tax credits

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Setting up an ABLE Account

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 29
Focus on people with disabilities

Changes in the law and the emergence of new programs provide opportunities for 

people with disabilities to start saving and building assets to cover their basic living 

expenses, all while keeping their benefits.

Programs and resources for building assets that are designed for people with 

disabilities include: Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts, Individual 

Development Accounts (IDA), and the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) for people 

who are already receiving or have applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 

want to plan to become self-sufficient and save for a work-related goal. 

Building savings while receiving 

public benefits

Benefits payments often come with restrictions that limit options for making money 

and saving. If a person decides to make changes in their life and finances, they 

must follow complex rules to keep essential benefits.

The people you serve may avoid saving for fear of losing their public benefits. 

Because savings are an asset, the relationship between asset limits and public 

benefits is addressed within this module. There are savings options for individuals 

with disabilities that do not impact the asset limits associated with SSI, Medicaid, or 

other benefits. 

Here we will review the following options:

§ ABLE Accounts

§ Individual Development Accounts 

§ Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

§ Special needs trusts and pooled trusts. end of list.

All of these choices are complicated and you may need more information after 

using this introductory summary.

30 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
ABLE Accounts2

ABLE Accounts are an important new resource for people with disabilities. 

With the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act 

of 2014, ABLE Accounts have become a new way people with disabilities can save.

Savings in ABLE Accounts does not affect eligibility for:

§ Supplemental Security Income (SSI).3 

§ Medicaid and other federal means-tested benefits.4 end of list.

ABLE Accounts are set up by or for people with disabilities. With an ABLE Account, 

the “designated beneficiary” is the account owner. Anyone can contribute to an 

individual’s ABLE Account. The maximum total annual contribution to an ABLE 

Account for a single tax year is subject to the IRS gift tax exclusions, which is 

$14,000 for 2017. Contributions are not federally tax deductible. Some states may 

allow for state income tax deductions for contributions made to an ABLE Account. 

However, distributions to the designated beneficiary generally aren’t taxed as long 

as the funds are used for qualified disability expenses.

ABLE Account programs are established and maintained by individual states. 

An eligible person can open an account in their own state, if one exists, or in any 

state program that accepts out of state residents. The maximum allowable value 

of an ABLE Account in a given state is based on the 529 plan limits established 

by that state. A 529 is an educational savings plan designed to help families’ setaside money for future college costs. Many states have set this limit at more than 

$300,000 per plan. 

2 Information about ABLE Accounts may be found in IRS Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons 

with Disabilities, and at www.irs.gov/government-entities/federal-state-local-governments/taxbenefit-for-disability-irc-section-529a.

3 Only money in an ABLE Account exceeding $100,000, plus any distributions toward qualified 

housing expenses and non-qualified disability expenses retained beyond the month of 

distribution, may be counted as a resource for SSI. If money in an ABLE Account that exceeds 

$100,000 causes the person’s countable resources to exceed the $2,000 SSI resource limit, 

SSI payments may be suspended but not terminated. Benefits will resume when the person’s 

countable resources go below $2,000.

4 Funds in an ABLE Account will be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility to receive, 

or the amount of, Medicaid and other federal benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance does 

not have asset limits and is thus not affected by an ABLE Account. See, Tax Increase Prevention 

Act of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-295, 128 Stat. 4010, 4063 (codified at 26 U.S.C. 529A Note).

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 31
ABLE savings funds can be spent on qualified disability expenses. These are any 

expenses related to the designated beneficiary as a result of living with disabilities. 

These may include:

§ Education

§ Housing

§ Transportation

§ Employment training and support

§ Assistive technology

§ Personal support services

§ Health care expenses

§ Financial management and administrative services and other expenses that help 

to improve health, independence, or quality of life. end of list.

When savings from an ABLE Account are used for something that is not a qualified 

disability expense, a portion of the withdrawal that is attributable to earnings will 

be treated as income for tax purposes.5 It will be taxed at the person’s tax rate, and 

will be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty as well as applicable state taxes.

The designated beneficiary is the eligible individual who established and owns the 

ABLE Account. To be eligible for an ABLE Account, a person must be: 

§ Eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on disability or blindness 

that began before age 26;

§ Entitled to disability insurance benefits (DIB), childhood disability benefits 

(CDB), or disabled widow’s or widower’s benefits (DWB) based on disability or 

blindness that began before age 26; or

§ Someone who has certified, or whose parent or guardian has certified, that the 

person has a medically determinable impairment meeting certain statutorily 

specified criteria, or is blind; and, the disability or blindness occurred before 

age 26. end of list.

For more information on ABLE Accounts, visit the Social Security Administration 

website at: secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0501130740.

The standards are different for blind and visually impaired people: ssa.gov/

planners/disability/dqualify8.html.

For a list of ABLE Accounts offered by state, visit the ABLE National Resource 

Center website at: ablenrc.org/.

5 See IRS Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities, regarding how to determine 

the taxable portion of a distribution.

32 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

An IDA is a matched savings account that the account owner uses to acquire a 

designated type of asset.6 The specific asset people designate for their IDA is often 

called their “asset goal.” 

The advantage of an IDA is that an account owner may earn a “match” each time 

they add to their IDA savings account. For example, a person may receive a 2 to 

1 match in their IDA—each time they deposit $25, they will get an additional $50 

toward their savings goal. 

The match provides an incentive to save. Because saving is the foundation for 

asset building, the federal government, state government, foundations, and 

others invest in making IDAs available to help low-income people become 

financially stable.

A federally funded IDA program enables a person to save without reducing SSI 

benefits, and IDA savings are not subject to that program’s “asset test.”7 Any IDA 

included in an SSA-approved Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) will not affect 

SSI benefits.8 If a person saves in an IDA that is not federally funded or part of 

their PASS, then it could be counted as a resource when determining eligibility for 

public benefits such as SSI. Some programs will match only up to a certain dollar 

amount (say, $500) on an annual basis or during the course of the program. In most 

cases people can deposit as much as they like in their account; but deposits over a 

certain amount will not be matched.

For IDAs funded by the federal government, allowable asset goals can include:

§ Starting a business

§ Buying a home

§ Getting education or training that can help you get a better paying job9 end of list.

IDA programs funded through the Assets for Independence (AFI) program 

are federally funded, and you can locate local AFI programs online 

at idaresources.acf.hhs.gov.

6 Information on Individual Development Accounts is available on the Assets for Independence 

Initiative’s website. See idaresources.acf.hhs.gov/page?pageid=a047000000ArRQO. 

7 See www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-individual-development.htm.

8 See www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-plans-self-support.htm and www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-workussi.htm.

9 See www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-individual-development.htm and www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/

programs/ida.

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 33
Although IDA programs’ eligibility criteria can vary, many require that:

§ Participants have low-income, commonly defined as being at or below 200% of 

the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

§ Participants have earned income to use toward deposits into their IDAs.

§ Participants complete financial education before or during enrollment in the 

IDA program. end of list.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

A PASS is for people who are already receiving SSI or would be eligible by having 

a PASS, and want to save for a work-related goal. “The objective of the PASS is to 

help people with disabilities find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or 

SSDI benefits.”10 Ordinarily, monthly benefits would be reduced if the person were 

to increase their income. However, with a PASS, a person can set aside money 

for work goals that could involve starting a business, going to school, or getting 

training for a job.11 Other potentially eligible uses for PASS funds include:

§ Transportation to and from work

§ Tuition, books, fees, and supplies needed for school or training

§ Child care

§ Attendant care

§ Employment services, such as job coaching and resume writing

§ Assistive technology used for employment-related purposes

§ Supplies to start a business

§ Equipment and tools to do the job 

§ Uniforms, special clothing, and safety equipment.12 end of list.

The person’s work goals must include earning income that will partially or 

completely reduce their SSI benefits. That’s the “self-support” part. They can also 

be currently employed and use a PASS to reduce or end their dependence on 

disability benefits. If the plan is for self-employment, meaning starting a business, 

the person must create a detailed business plan as part of PASS. The vocational 

goals must be “reasonable,” given any disability-related limitations. This will be 

determined during the application process. For additional information, 

visit: ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11017.pdf.

10 See www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm. 

11 See www.ssa.gov/ny/pass-definition.htm.

12 See www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11017.pdf.

34 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
To begin, the person will need to fill out a PASS application form and 

submit it to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Help in completing the form 

can come from a vocational counselor, case manager, or the PASS Cadre, 

which is a group of PASS specialists. PASS experts can be found at 

www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/passcadre.htm.

Other disability agencies, such as centers for independent living can offer help to 

fill out the application forms and develop PASS plans. A full list of requirements 

and a description of the application process is at Plan to Achieve Self-Support 

(PASS) www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm.

People who are blind or visually impaired may want to use this site: www.ssa.gov/

disabilityresearch/wi/64-104%20PASS%20Application%20Guide.pdf. 

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 35
WORKING TOGETHER

Setting up an ABLE Account

What to do:

For many people with disabilities, saving may not seem to be an option that’s 

available to them. This is because when people receive public benefits, some benefit 

programs may have “asset limits.” Asset limits cap the amount of savings and other 

resources you can have and still maintain eligibility for certain public benefits. When 

a program has asset limits, savings may impact a person’s eligibility for that type of 

assistance. There are savings options, however, that do not count against these asset 

limits. This tool can be used to help people with disabilities understand what an ABLE 

Account is and some of the things they may want to consider if they want to open one. 

What to say:

“An ABLE Account is a new way for people with disabilities to save. It could be 

an option for you. Before using any financial product or service, it’s important to 

understand it. Let’s look at how it works and whether an ABLE Account is something 

you’d like to consider. If it is, let’s discuss how you can choose one that works for you 

and how you can set one up.”

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

36 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Setting up an ABLE Account.

1 Ask these questions to determine if an ABLE 

Account is an option for you.

2 Fill in the worksheet on the next page to 

compare features of different plans if you 

determine you would like to open an 

ABLE Account.

 Do you meet the eligibility 

requirements?

§ You have a significant disability with the 

age of onset of the disability that began 

before 26 years of age, and

§ You are receiving benefits from SSI and/or 

SSDI, or you are eligible to file a disability 

certification with a qualified ABLE 

program or,

§ You meet the Social Security’s definition 

and criteria regarding significant functional 

limitations and receive a letter of 

certification from a licensed physician. end of list

 Do your goals match the qualified 

disability expenses allowed that 

can be paid from an ABLE Account 

without incurring taxes? 

Qualified disability expenses may include:

§ Education

§ Housing

§ Transportation

§ Employment training and support

§ Assistive technology

§ Personal support services

§ Health care expenses 

§ Financial management and administrative 

services and other expenses that help to 

improve health, independence, or quality 

of life. 

 Do you have the minimum 

contribution required to open an 

account?

This varies based on the requirements of 

each state program but is generally between 

$25 and $50. 

 Can you continue to make 

contributions to the ABLE Account 

once it is opened?

Regular (monthly) deposits may not be 

required, but regular contributions to savings 

can help you grow your account faster. 

Remember that family and friends can also 

make contributions to your ABLE Account.

Be sure you find out:

§ How your money will be invested through an 

ABLE Account

§ Fees you may have to pay to open and 

maintain your account 

§ Whether there are advantages available to 

in-state residents

§ Penalties that may be charged

§ Other features the account may provide, such 

as checks or a debit card. 

For a list of ABLE Accounts offered by state, visit 

the ABLE National Resource Center at: 

www.ablenrc.org.

d of lis 

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 37
Program feature. ABLE program 1. ABLE program 2.

1. Where is this program?

2. Who is the program 

administrator?

3. Does this program provide 

extra benefits to in-state 

residents? If so, what are 

they?

4. Are there state tax benefits 

for contributions made into 

the account? If so, what 

are they?

5. Does this program offer 

various saving and investing 

options? If so, what are 

they?

6. Are there fees for keeping 

the account open? What are 

they?

7. Are there limits on 

disbursements from the 

account? If so, what are 

they?

8. Does this program offer a 

debit card? If so, what is the 

fee to use it? 

9. Does the program offer 

check writing?

10. Are there other features that 

are important to you?

38 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 3: Tracking and 

managing income and 

benefits

Tracking and managing income and benefits empowers you

to plan to take care of basic necessities, care for family members, 

and reach goals.

Overview

Helping people track their spending and income can help them identify whether they are on track to 

achieve their financial goals. For people with little income or few resources, successfully managing 

their money and benefits can seem overwhelming. Modules 3, 4, and 5 of the Your Money, Your 

Goals toolkit are designed to help people gain more control over managing their money, to help 

them understand the timing of the sources of income and benefits, and to show how using a cash 

flow approach can help them meet their budget goals. These modules and tools can be used 

together or separately. Module 3: Tracking and managing income and benefits, helps people clearly 

identify and track their income and financial resources

Using the tools

Within Module 3 in Your Money, Your Goals, you will find three tools: 

§ Tool 1: Income and resource tracker

§ Tool 2: Ways to receive income and benefits: Know your options

§ Tool 3: Ways to increase income and resources. end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Income and benefit tracker 

§ Tool: SSI estimator. end of list. 

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 39
Focus on people with disabilities

For many people with disabilities, tracking income may mean tracking their 

benefits payments. Because earnings can offset and reduce benefits, some 

people with disabilities don’t believe they can work without making themselves 

worse off financially.

People with disabilities, like people without disabilities, have the right to work free 

from employment discrimination.13 And, while work income may mean a reduction 

in benefits over time, it does not necessarily mean benefits will be stopped 

immediately. When a person with a disability wants to work, then it is essential to 

provide information about income levels that: 

§ Can make benefits decrease

§ Can make them lose eligibility for benefits. end of list.

13 For information on workplace protections for people with disabilities, see www.eeoc.gov/.

40 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
q A CLOSER LOOK

Workforce 

Investment 

Opportunity Act 

(WIOA)14

The Workforce Investment Opportunity Act 

(WIOA) provides new opportunities for people 

with disabilities because key provisions of the 

Act strengthen services to youth and adults with 

disabilities. Specifically, WIOA requires 

the following:15

§ Increased access to high-quality workforce 

services and preparation for competitive 

integrated employment for people with 

disabilities.

§ American Job Centers (Career One Stops) 

will provide physical and programmatic 

accessibility to employment and training 

services for people with disabilities.

§ Young people with disabilities will receive 

extensive pre-employment transition services 

so they can successfully obtain competitive 

integrated employment.

§ State vocational rehabilitation agencies will 

set aside at least 15 percent of their funding 

to provide transition services to young 

people with disabilities.

§ Vocational Rehabilitation state grant 

programs will engage employers to improve 

participant employment outcomes. end of 

list.

14 For information on workplace protections for people 

with disabilities, see www.eeoc.gov//. 

15 United States Department of Labor, Employment and 

Training Administration. www.doleta.gov/WIOA/

Overview.cfm.

To learn more about and access the 

benefits of WIOA, get in touch with the 

American Job Center Network online at

www.careeronestop.org/ or in person using 

the locator at www.careeronestop.org/

localhelp/americanjobcenters/find-americanjob-centers.aspx?&frd=true.

It pays to work. Even with a reduction in benefits 

due to income earned, people most often have 

more money. To see this, use SSI estimator tool 

provided in this guide.

The Social Security Administration has many 

programs designed to help people work 

in a way that is supported and may include 

continuation of benefits. For more information 

on these programs, visit the Social Security 

Administration Redbook at www.ssa.gov/

redbook/index.html.

People can also use the disability benefits 

planner provided by the Social Security 

Administration at www.ssa.gov/planners/

disability.

When people do receive Social Security 

Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental 

Security Income (SSI), they may have to use a 

representative payee. A representative payee 

is someone the Social Security Administration 

approves or appoints to manage the SSDI 

or SSI an individual receives. To learn more 

about the role of representative payee, review

the next section in this guide or visit 

www.ssa.gov/payee/bene.htm. This can give 

them information to ensure the representative 

payee is working in their best interest. 

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 41
q A CLOSER LOOK

The role of a 

representative 

payee16

What is a representative payee?:

A representative payee is a person or an 

organization. The Social Security Administration 

appoints a payee to receive the Social 

Security or SSI benefits for anyone who can’t 

manage or direct the management of their 

benefits.17 A trusted family member or friend 

can be nominated to be a representative 

payee, but is subject to the Social Security 

Administration’s approval. 

A payee’s main duties are to use the benefits 

to pay for the current and future needs of the 

beneficiary. Payee duties also include properly 

saving any benefits not needed to meet current 

needs. A payee must keep records of:18

§ The amount of Social Security or SSI 

benefits received

§ Expenses for food and housing

16 See A Guide for Representative Payees, www.ssa.gov/

pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf.

17 People often make a power of attorney to name 

someone else to manage their money if they become 

sick or injured. For Social Security purposes, a power 

of attorney isn’t an acceptable way to manage a 

person’s monthly SSDI or SSI benefits. Social Security 

recognizes only the use of a designated representative 

payee for handling the beneficiary’s SSDI and SSI 

funds. See A Guide for Representative Payees, www.

ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf.

18 See A Guide for Representative Payees, www.ssa.gov/

pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf.

§ Expenses for clothing, medical, dental, 

personal items, recreational, and other 

miscellaneous expenses

§ Any savings as well as interest earned on 

those savings. end of list. en

Being an authorized representative, serving as 

an agent under a power of attorney, or having 

a joint bank account with the beneficiary does 

not give a person legal authority to manage the 

Social Security and/or SSI benefits for a person 

with disabilities. To become a representative 

payee a person must apply and be appointed 

by the Social Security Administration.

Additional information is available on the SSA’s 

website: www.ssa.gov/payee/faqrep.htm.

What a representative payee can 

and should do:19

§ Determine the beneficiary’s needs and use 

his or her payments to meet those needs.

§ Save any money left after meeting the 

beneficiary’s current needs in an interest 

bearing account or savings bonds for the 

beneficiary’s future needs.

§ Report any changes or events, which could 

affect the beneficiary’s eligibility for benefits 

or payment.

§ Keep records of all payments received and 

how they were spent and saved.

§ Provide benefits information to social service 

agencies or medical facilities that serve the 

beneficiary.

§ Help the beneficiary get medical treatment 

when needed.

§ Complete written reports accounting for the 

representative payee’s use of funds. 

19 See A Guide for Representative Payees, www.ssa.gov/

pubs/EN-05-10076.pdf.

42 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
§ Return to the Social Security Administration 

any payments to which the beneficiary is 

not entitled.

§ Reimburse him or herself for reasonable, 

actual out-of-pocket expenses paid on behalf 

of the beneficiary. A record must be kept 

of these expenses. For example, the Social 

Security Administration considers the cost 

of transporting the beneficiary to a doctor’s 

appointment (such as cab fare, mileage, and 

tolls), postage to pay the beneficiary’s bills, 

and fees for money orders as out-of-pocket 

expenses. The amount of reimbursement 

must not be more than the expense incurred 

for the beneficiary. end of list. 

What a representative payee 

cannot and should not do:

§ Sign legal documents, other than Social 

Security documents, for a beneficiary.

§ Manage earned income, pensions, or any 

income from sources other than Social 

Security or SSI.

§ Use a beneficiary’s money for the payee’s 

personal expenses, or spend funds in a way 

that would leave the beneficiary without 

necessary items or services (housing, food, 

medical care).

§ Put a beneficiary’s Social Security or SSI 

funds into an account owned by the payee or 

another person.20

20 A common checking account for all family members 

living in the same household who receive benefits may 

show a parent or spouse as the owner of the account. 

§ Use a child’s “dedicated account” funds for 

basic living expenses. Dedicated account 

funds can be used only for specific purposes: 

see A Guide for Representative Payees at 

www.ssa.gov/pubs/10076.html for more 

information. (This applies to disabled and 

blind SSI beneficiaries under age 18.)

§ Keep or manage Social Security benefits 

once he or she is no longer the payee.

§ Charge the beneficiary for services unless 

authorized by SSA to do so. end of list.

For additional information, contact the Social 

Security information at 1-800-772-1213 

between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET on business 

days, or contact your local Social Security 

office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time on 

business days. 

People who are deaf or hearing impaired 

may call a toll-free “TTY” number, 

1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 

7 p.m. ET on business days. 

You can find answers to many questions by 

visiting the Social Security Administration 

website at socialsecurity.gov/payee or see 

CFPB’s Managing Someone Else’s Money 

guide for representative payees at www.

consumerfinance.gov/educational-resources/

resources-for-older-adults/managing-someoneelses-money/#government-fiduciaries.

Children’s savings, however, must be in separate 

savings accounts for each child, showing the child as 

the account owner.

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 43
WORKING TOGETHER

Income and benefit tracker

What to do:

Use this tool to help a person you serve understand the amounts and timing of their 

financial resources and income. Encourage the person you serve to track their income 

and financial resources for a day, a week, two weeks, or a month. It may be the first 

time they understand where they get their money and how much they have to work 

with. Explain the difference between gross and net income. 

What to say:

“A first step to financial empowerment is tracking your income and financial resources. 

The way you track this information does not matter. You should do it however is the 

most comfortable for you. For example you could:

§ Write your income or other financial resource directly into the tracker.

§ Ask someone to help write your income or financial resources into the tracker.

§ Record a voice memo each time you receive income or benefits and have that 

written into the tracker at the end of a day or week.

§ Take pictures of your income or benefits and have that written into the spending 

tracker at the end of a day or week.

§ Use a smart phone application to track income and financial resources. end of list.

With this information, you will understand how to get your money and financial 

resources. This is an important step in making a budget. You may qualify for additional 

benefits. Check here: benefits.gov.”

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

44 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
CATEGORIES USED IN THE INCOME TRACKER

Spending. Description.

Job:. Income from employment, including self-employment, and 

seasonal work

Government 

program:.

Any public benefit, including Temporary Assistance for Needy 

Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 

(SNAP), and Medicaid

Disability 

benefits:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social and Security Disability 

Insurance (SSDI) 

Financial 

support:

Child support, alimony, assistance from family and friends

Additional: Tax refund and any extra income 

Ask a question

Need help getting a

bank or debt collector

to respond

Need help with 

benefits

Need help with

health care bills

Need help paying

utility bills

Need help dealing with

debt and foreclosure

Take a breath Be sure

Government Primary job

program

Disability insurance

Childcare &

education

Donations & gifts

Things I can

charge for...

Programs I can

consider...

Plans I can

change...

If I don’t pay for

housing and utilities...

If I don’t pay for

job-related needs...

If I don’t pay

for insurance...

Fees I can avoid... Skills I have... Things I can sell...

Groceries &

supplies

Eating out

Personal care

Transport

Pets

Debt payment Healthcare

MISC. MISC.

Need help finding

a job

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Need help getting a

bank or debt collector

to respond

Need help with 

benefits

Need help with

health care bills

Need help paying

utility bills

Need help dealing with

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Government Primary job

program

Disability insurance

Childcare &

education

Donations & gifts

Things I can

charge for...

Programs I can

consider...

Plans I can

change...

If I don’t pay for

housing and utilities...

If I don’t pay for

job-related needs...

If I don’t pay

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Financial support

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Disability insurance Financial support

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

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 45
46

Use this income tracker to plan the 

best times to save and spend.

Net income for the month of: 

(Net income is your total take home pay. Take your gross income minus taxes and other 

deductions to get your net income.)

1 Write in the names of any income and benefits that apply to you.

2 Fill in the amounts you receive each week.

3 Total up each week’s income.

4 Circle the payments that come at a predictable time and amount. This will show you the 

income you can count on each month.

Type of income Week 1. Week 2. Week 3. Week 4. Week 5.

Ask a question

Need help getting a

bank or debt collector

to respond

Need help with 

benefits

Need help 

health car

Need help paying

utility bills

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debt and 

Take a breBe sure

Government Primary job

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Need help paying

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Things I can

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 Additional:

Weekly totals:

 Total income for this month: 
WORKING TOGETHER

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

estimator

What to do:

Use this tool to help a person with a disability understand how earnings from work 

affect their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit. Go through each point in the 

tool and work out the math with the person you are serving. Help them see that even 

though their benefit is reduced, it’s only reduced by $.50 for every dollar earned.

What to say:

“Right now, the Federal SSI monthly benefit is $735 per month. Some states pay more, 

depending on where you live. When you work, it changes the size of your monthly 

check—but no matter what, when you work you will have more money in your pocket 

than if you don’t work at all. 

Many people think that getting paid at a job will stop their SSI check, but that’s not 

necessarily true. In fact, the more you work, the more you make overall, even on SSI. 

There’s a little math needed to explain what working does to the amount you receive 

from SSI. First, when you earn money through a job, you keep the first $85 of your pay 

without any impact on your SSI. For every dollar you earn after that, SSI drops by 50 

cents. Let’s see how it works.” 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

MODULE 1: SETTING GOALS AND PLANNING FOR LARGE PURCHASES 47
SSI estimator

1 Read through the example calculations.

2 Fill in your own information to get an estimate of how much you'll take home each month.

Find how much will be taken from your SSI. Example. Your information.

A. Amount you earn from work a month. $585.

B. You keep the first $85 of your pay.

The first $85 you earn does not affect your SSI; the 

remainder does.

minus $85.

C. Amount of income that affects your SSI

 (subtract row B from row A).

equals $500.

D. Divide this amount in half (divide row C by 2). divide by 2. divide by 2.

E. Amount that will be taken from your SSI. equals $250.

Calculate your new SSI amount. Example. Your information.

F. Amount you now get from SSI every month. $735.

G. Subtract amount taken from your SSI 

 (subtract row E from row F)

minus $250.

H. New SSI amount. equals $485.

Calculate your total income. Example. Your information.

I. Amount you earn from work a month. $585.

J. Add new SSI amount (add row H to row I). plus $485.

K. Total amount you will take home per month. equals$1,070.

48 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 4: Paying bills 

and other expenses

Tracking your spending allows you to get a clear picture 

of how you're using your money and resources. This will 

enable you to prioritize your bills. 

Overview

Module 4: Paying bills and other expenses in the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit 

has tools that include charts and tables that help people track their income and 

expenses to see where and when they spend. It also provides suggestions to help 

people figure out how to prioritize their bills in months that they find they can’t 

pay them all on time. The way people use their money is often a reflection of their 

values. When it comes to how the people you serve spend their money, it helps to 

avoid projecting your own personal values and judgement. 

Using the tools

Within Module 4 of Your Money, Your Goals, there are five tools:

§ Tool 1: Spending tracker 

§ Tool 2: Bill calendar 

§ Tool 3: Ways to pay bills: Know your options 

§ Tool 4: Strategies for cutting expenses

§ Tool 5: When cash is short—prioritizing bills and planning spending. end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Spending tracker. end of list. 

MODULE 4: PAYING BILLS AND OTHER EXPENSES 49
Focus on people with disabilities

Depending on circumstances, some people with disabilities may have had limited 

choices in how to spend their money. This could be because of age—if the person 

is a minor, a parent or guardian has made their spending decisions. 

In some circumstances, even adults with disabilities may have had very limited 

opportunities to make decisions about the use of their money. Use of income may 

be, or have been, controlled by a trustee, family member, or representative payee. 

This lack of opportunity for involvement may often come from a desire to protect a 

person with disabilities or, in the case of a trustee, from the rules of the trust itself. 

In some cases, the family member or representative payee may believe they know 

what is in the person’s best interest or disagree with how the individual wants to 

spend their money.

Values about money may come from life experiences, culture, family, peers, and 

media. An item that may seem like a “want” or frivolous expenditure to you may be 

an important expression of self to someone else. Rather than judge how people 

spend, it’s important to give them the tools to make decisions and understand the 

possible results of those decisions.

People with disabilities, like all people, have the right to make choices with how 

their money is used, and they have the right to take risks. Everyone takes risks 

with their money. Lessons learned from taking risks and making mistakes can be 

meaningful. Even when a person has assistance with paying their bills and other 

expenses, they should be consulted and involved in the process.

50 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WORKING TOGETHER

Spending tracker

What to do:

Use this tool to help a person you serve understand how they spend their money. 

Encourage the person you serve to track their spending for a day, a week, two weeks, or 

a month. With this information, they may realize where their money goes for the first time. 

They can make changes to how they spend their money by using the analysis section 

of the spending tracker tool Your Money, Your Goals Module 4: Paying bills and other 

expenses in the toolkit

What to say:

“Tracking how you use your money is a first step to financial empowerment. This means 

recording everything you spend your money or financial resources on. The way you track 

how you spend your money and financial resources does not matter. You should use 

whatever is most comfortable for you. For example you could:

§ Write your spending into the spending tracker.

§ Ask someone else to write your spending into the spending tracker.

§ Keep receipts for every time you use money and then fill in the spending tracker using 

the information from your receipts.

§ Record a voice memo each time you spend money and have that written into the 

spending tracker at the end of a day or week.

§ Take pictures of what you spend your money on and have that written into the 

spending tracker at the end of a day or week.

§ Use a smart phone application to track your spending. end of list.nd of bullet list.

With this information, you will understand how you use your money and financial 

resources. You will also be able to make decisions about using your resources. For 

example, if you have a goal you want to save money for, you can decide where to cut back 

your spending to free up money for that goal." 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

MODULE 4: PAYING BILLS AND OTHER EXPENSES 51
CATEGORIES USED IN THE SPENDING TRACKER

spending.

Cell phone. Any costs related to having and using your cell phone.

Debt payment. Credit card payments, payday loan payments, pawn shop 

payments, car title loan payments, and other loan payments.

Eating out. Any meals or beverages purchased outside of the home.

Education + 

childcare.

Childcare costs, diapers, school supplies, school materials fees, 

field trip and other activity fees.

Entertainment. Going to the movies or concerts, sports equipment/fees, sporting 

events, lottery tickets, alcohol, books/CDs, subscriptions.

Groceries + 

other supplies.

Food and beverages brought into the home, as well as other 

supplies: baby formula, haircuts, hygiene items, dry cleaning.

Health 

expenses.

Co-payments, medication, eye care, dental care, health insurance 

premiums.

Helping others. Donations to religious organizations or other charities, gifts.

Housing + 

utilities.

Rent, mortgage, insurance, property taxes, electricity, gas, water, 

sewage, phone, television, Internet service, cell phone.

Pets. Food, healthcare costs, and other costs associated with caring for 

your pets.

Transport. Gas, car payment, insurance payment, repairs.

Other. § Court-ordered expenses (Child Support, restitution, etc.).

§ Household supplies (Things for your home like cleaning 

supplies, kitchen appliances, furniture, other equipment).

§ Savings (Saving for emergencies, goals, back to school 

expenses, holiday purchases, children’s education, saving for 

retirement).

§ Tools or other job-related expenses (Tools, equipment, special 

clothing, job-related books, machinery, working animals or 

livestock, union dues).end of list. end of form.

Financial support

Habits I can

change...

Utilities I can reduce...

Entertainment

Housing &

utilities

Financial support



Childcare &

education

Donations & gifts

Groceries &

supplies

Eating out Entertainment

Personal care

Transport

Pets

Healthcare Debt payment Housing &

utilities

MISC. MISC.

Financial support

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Entertainment

Housing &

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Primary job Government

program

Disability insurance Financial support

Childcare &

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Donations & gifts

Things I can

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Programs I can

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Plans I can

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Habits I can

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Groceries &

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Eating out Entertainment

Personal care

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Pets

Healthcare Debt payment Housing &

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for obligations...

If I don’t pay for

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Fees I can avoid... Utilities I can reduce...

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Plans I can

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52 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Use this spending tracker to consider 

what is important to you

Spending for the month of: 

1 Get an envelope to collect your receipts.

2 Use the table to sort your spending into the categories below. Don’t forget about bills you share 

 with others.

3 At month’s end, total up each category.

Total spending this month.

Type of 

spending Week 1. Week 2. Week 3. Week 4. Week 5. Category totals.

Cell phone.

Debt 

payment.

Eating out.

Education 

+ childcare.

Entertainment.

Groceries + 

other supplies.

Health

expenses.

Helping 

others.

 Housing 

+ utilities.

Pets.

Transport.

Other.

Need help with...

Financial support

Habits I can

change...

If I don’t pay

for obligations...

Utilities I can reduce...

Entertainment

Housing &

utilities

Financial support



Primary job Government

program

Disability insurance Financial support

Childcare &

education

Donations & gifts

Things I can

charge for...

Programs I can

consider...

Plans I can

change...

Habits I can

change...

Things I can sell... Skills I have... Fees I can avoid... Utilities I can reduce...

Groceries &

supplies

Eating out Entertainment

Personal care

Transport

Pets

Healthcare Debt payment Housing &

utilities

MISC. MISC.

Financial support



Financial support

Habits I can

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If I don’t pay

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Utilities I can reduce...

Entertainment

Housing &

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Financial support

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Primary job Government

program

Disability insurance Financial support

Childcare &

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Donations & gifts

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Programs I can

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Plans I can

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If I don’t pay

for obligations...

If I don’t pay for

housing and utilities...

If I don’t pay for

job-related needs...

If I don’t pay

for insurance...

Things I can sell... Skills I have... Fees I can avoid... Utilities I can reduce...

Groceries &

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Eating out Entertainment

Personal care

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Financial support

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

MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 53
54 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 5: Getting 

through the month

Budgeting by tracking the timing of your income and 

expenses helps you gain and maintain control over

your money.

Overview

Module 5: Getting through the month in the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit brings 

together the income and spending trackers from Modules 3 and 4 to help create 

a cash flow budget. The cash flow budget tools help individuals see how much 

money comes in and where it goes out in spending. The tools also demonstrate 

how people can make changes in the timing of spending to ensure financial 

resources and spending are balanced.

Using the tools

Within Module 5 of Your Money, Your Goals, there are three tools:

§ Tool 1: Cash flow budget 

§ Tool 2: Cash flow calendar 

§ Tool 3: Improving cash flow checklist. end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Bill calendar 

§ Tool: Monthly budget. end of list.

MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 55
Focus on people with disabilities

Budgeting can help a person with disabilities gain and maintain control over 

their money. Module 5 provides information and tools to help people make 

plans to get through the month—pay for all of their living expenses, bills, 

financial obligations, and other uses of income or financial resources, 

including saving.

The toolkit uses a cash flow budget approach that looks at the timing of income 

and expenses from week to week. People sometimes experience shortfalls 

because of when income or financial resources are received and when their 

bills are due. These week-by-week shortfalls can be missed in a monthly static 

budget. For a person living on a fixed-income, a monthly budget based on a 

cash flow approach can help them manage their income, benefits, and plan for 

their expenses.

56 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WORKING TOGETHER 

 

Bill calendar

What to do:

Use this tool to help the person you serve avoid late fees and other consequences of lateor non-payment. Helping people to list their bills and set up a bill calendar can help them 

see when bills are due. Most people have recurring bills and expenses like rent, utilities, car 

payment, medical and insurance payments. Most of these bills have a fixed due date, and 

paying late will likely result in an extra fee or a negative entry on a person’s credit history. 

What to say: 

“Figuring out which bills to expect throughout the month helps you plan to have enough 

money or other financial resources to pay them. It can also help you think of ways to reduce 

your expenses over the course of the month. You may find that thinking ahead helps reduce 

the stress when bills arrive in the mail. You should use whatever is most comfortable for you 

to keep track of your bills. For example you could:

§ Gather all of the bills you pay in one month or use the information from your 

spending tracker. 

§ Write down the due dates for these bills. If you are paying by mail, mark the due date 

at least seven days before it is due. For in-person or automatic bill payment, mark one 

or two days before the due date to ensure you are not late. 

§ Write down the company or person you owe the money to, and the amount that is 

due on the date the bill must be sent in order to arrive on time. 

§ Put this calendar where you will see it every day to ensure you are not forgetting 

about important bills. end of list.

If you use a smartphone, text messaging, or e-mail, you might prefer to explore bill reminder 

services and apps that can send reminders when it’s time to pay your bills. For information 

on financial services that may help you pay your bills, see Your Money, Your Goals Module 

8: Money services, cards, accounts, and loans: Finding what works for you in the toolkit.” 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

MODULE 5: GETTING THROUGH THE MONTH 57
58 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Week 

number.

day of the week: 

Sunday.

day of the week: 

Monday.

day of the week: 

Tuesday.

day of the week: 

Wednesday.

day of the week: 

Thursday.

day of the week: 

Friday.

day of the week: 

Saturday.

First week.

Second 

week.

Third 

week.

Fourth 

week.

Fifth 

week, if 

applicable.

1 List the month and label the calendar with 

the dates of the month you want to plan for.

2 Make a list of all your bills.

3 For each bill, mark the payment date: 

7 days before the due date for mail, 

2 days before the due date for online.

4 Enter when you receive income into 

the calendar.

Month of 

Use this bill calendar to see all your 

bills and plan when they're due.

Bills:
WORKING TOGETHER

Monthly budget

What to do:

Using the cash flow budget tool Your Money, Your Goals: Module 5: Getting through 

the month in the toolkit may not be relevant for a person who has a fixed income 

and expenses. This Monthly budget tool can be used to help the person you’re 

working with plan for next month’s budget. Start by asking the person you’re working 

with about their monthly income and expenses. Once these questions are answered, 

the information can be used to create a simple monthly budget. Use the responses 

from the Income and benefit tracker tool and the Spending tracker tool in this guide 

to identify the total monthly income and expenses of the person you’re working with 

to create a monthly budget.

What to say: 

“Using a monthly budget can be empowering. It can help you plan how to use your 

financial resources to support you and your family and save for your future. By using a 

budget you will be able to see where your money is going at the end of each month. 

This will help you have more control over your money and financial resources. You will 

be able to use your budget each month to ensure you don’t miss sources of income 

and can plan for your expenses and savings goals. Let’s get started.” 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

MODULE 4: PAYING BILLS AND OTHER EXPENSES 59
60 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

1 List your income

2 List your expenses

3 Subtract your total spending from total 

income to build your budget

Use this budget tool to see how much 

you make and spend each month.

Month of 

Type of spending. Amount spent.

Housing 

(rent or mortgage).

Utilities (gas, water, 

electricity, sewage).

Groceries 

+ other supplies.

Health expenses.

Transportation.

Education 

+ childcare.

Cell phone.

Internet + cable.

Service animals 

+ Pets.

Debt payments.

Other spending.

Total spending this 

month.

Type of income. Amount gained.

Job.

Government 

program.

Disability benefits.

Financial support

Other income.

Total income 

this month.

Financial support

Habits I can

change...

Utilities I can reduce...

Entertainment

Housing &

utilities

Financial support



ability insurance Financial support

nations & gifts

ns I can

ange...

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If I don’t pay

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don’t pay for

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Ask a question

Need help getting a

bank or debt collector

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If your income is more than your 

expenses, you have money left to 

save or spend.

If your expenses are more than your 

income, look at your budget to find 

expenses to cut.
Module 6: Dealing with 

debt

Debt obligates future resources to cover decisions made 

today. Understanding how to manage, reduce, and get rid 

of debt are important parts of financial empowerment.

Overview

Your Money, Your Goals provides information about various types of debt and 

how to manage it, avoid being trapped by it, and know your rights if a debt is in 

collection. Debt and credit are not the same. Credit may allow you to purchase 

something you need but do not have the cash to pay for such as a vehicle or home. 

When you borrow money on credit, you get a loan. Debt often results from using 

credit. Someone can have a line of credit without having debt. For example, an 

individual may have a credit card but no outstanding balance on it.

Debt is a liability because the obligation to pay it back means that payments will tie 

up portions of income and resources until it is paid off. 

Using the tools

Module 6: Dealing with debt in the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit provides 

information and tools to help someone:

§ Write down all of their debts

§ Manage their debts

§ Choose a strategy to pay down their debts

§ Understand specific ways to repay student loans

§ Handle debt collectors by understanding consumer rights in debt collection. 

end of list.

MODULE 6: DEALING WITH DEBT 61
Within Module 6 of Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, there are five tools:

§ Tool 1: Debt worksheet 

§ Tool 2: Debt-to-income worksheet 

§ Tool 3: Reducing debt worksheet 

§ Tool 4: Repaying student loans 

§ Tool 5: When debt collectors call: Steps you can take. end of list. end of list

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Debt worksheet

§ Tool: Dealing with debt collectors. end of list. end of list

Focus on people with disabilities

Understanding debt, how to manage it, and how to reduce or get rid of it are 

important components of financial empowerment. Debt, however, is a current 

reality for many people with and without disabilities. People with disabilities may 

have debt related to paying for medical bills and assistive technology; buying, 

rehabilitating, adapting, or repairing a home; buying a car or truck or adapting it; 

starting a business; getting themselves or their children education and training; 

and/or emergency expenses.

62 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
q A CLOSER LOOK

Student loan debt

There are two general kinds of 

student loans: federal student loans 

and private student loans

§ Federal student loans are loans 

that are made or guaranteed by the 

federal government.

§ Private student loans are nonfederal loans 

made by a lender such as a bank, credit 

union, state agency, or a school. end of list

There are many options for paying back federal 

student loans including:

§ Standard repayment. Most borrowers start 

with this payment plan. This repayment plan 

has fixed payment over 10 years.

§ Graduated repayment. The payment is lower 

the first year and then gradually increased 

every two years for up to 10 years.

§ Extended repayment. The payment is fixed 

or graduated for up to 25 years. The monthly 

payments are lower than the standard or 

graduated repayment plans, but borrowers 

will pay more interest over the life the loan(s).

§ Income-Based Repayment (IBR). Payment 

is limited to 10 percent or 15 percent of 

discretionary income, which is the difference 

between your adjusted gross income and 150 

percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 

Payments may be as low as $ zero dollars a 

month. Payments change as income changes 

and the terms can last 20 or 25 years. 

 

After 20 or 25 years of consistent payment, 

the remainder of the loan will be forgiven. 

People may have to pay income tax on the 

portion of the loan that is forgiven. IBR is 

also an eligible repayment plan for borrowers 

seeking to qualify for Public Service 

Loan Forgiveness. To learn more about the 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, 

visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/

what-is-public-service-loan-forgivenessen-641/.

§ Pay as you earn. Pay As You Earn, or PAYE, 

is a federal student loan repayment plan 

that is now available to some borrowers 

with newer federal loans. It caps a person’s 

monthly federal student loan payment at 10 

percent of their discretionary income. For 

borrowers who qualify for PAYE, monthly 

loan payments will be two thirds of what they 

would be under IBR. Additionally, after 20 

years of monthly payments, any remaining 

student loan balance is forgiven. PAYE is also 

an eligible repayment plan for borrowers 

seeking to qualify for Public Service Loan 

Forgiveness.

§ Consolidation loan. Loan consolidation can 

be used to simplify monthly payments by 

rolling multiple loans into one loan. While this 

generally won’t lead to an interest rate break, 

borrowers will have a single monthly payment 

for their new federal direct consolidation 

loan. If a person has federal loans originated 

under the Federal Family Educational Loan 

(FFEL) program or the Perkins loan program, 

they may be able to consolidate those loans 

into a new Direct Loan to qualify for Public 

Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). e. end of 

list. end list

For more information on student loan 

repayment see: consumerfinance.gov/payingfor-college/repay-student-debt/.

MODULE 6: DEALING WITH DEBT 63
People may also qualify for 

deferment or forbearance.

Deferments are a temporary pause to student 

loan payments for specific situations such as 

active duty military service and reenrollment in 

school. Deferments are only granted for specific 

circumstances including:

§ Enrollment in college, a trade school, 

a graduate fellowship, or a rehabilitation 

program for people with disabilities

§ Unemployment

§ Military service

§ Economic hardship, including Peace 

Corps service en end of list. eend of list

Forbearance is a temporary postponement 

or reduction of student loan payments 

for a period of time because a person is 

experiencing financial difficulty. Borrowers 

can receive forbearance if they’re not eligible 

for a deferment. A loan holder can grant 

forbearance in intervals of up to 12 months at 

a time for up to three years. Unlike deferment, 

with forbearance interest accrues whether the 

loans are subsidized or unsubsidized, and the 

person is responsible for repaying it even while 

in forbearance. 

People may also apply for loan forgiveness, 

cancellation, or discharge in the 

following situations:

§ Total and permanent disability

§ Death (someone would apply on your behalf)

§ Closed school

§ Teacher loan forgiveness (if you are a teacher 

working in certain educational settings)

§ Public services loan forgiveness (if you work 

in a public service sector and have made 120 

loan payments)

§ Getting defrauded by a college. . end of list. eend 

of list

Contact your student loan servicer or visit the 

Department of Education’s website to learn 

more about eligibility for these programs at: 

studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgivenesscancellation. 

64 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
q A CLOSER LOOK

A closer look at the 

Total and Permanent 

Disability (TPD) 

Discharge21

Based on a person’s total and 

permanent disability, a TPD discharge 

relieves them from having to: 

§ Repay a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan 

(Direct Loan) Program loan.

§ Repay a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) 

Program loan.

§ Repay a Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) 

Program loan.

§ Complete a TEACH Grant 

service obligation. end end of list. een of list

Before the federal student loans or TEACH 

Grant service obligation can be discharged, 

a person with a disability must provide 

information to the Department of Education 

to show that they’re totally and permanently 

disabled.

A person can show that they’re totally and 

permanently disabled in one of the following 

three ways:

1. Veterans can submit documentation from 

the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

showing that the VA has determined that 

they are unemployable due to a serviceconnected disability.

2. People receiving Social Security Disability 

Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security 

Income (SSI) benefits, can submit a Social 

Security Administration (SSA) notice of award 

for SSDI or SSI benefits stating that their next 

scheduled disability review will be within five 

to seven years from the date of their most 

recent SSA disability determination.

3. People with disabilities can submit 

certification from a physician that they 

are totally and permanently disabled. 

The physician must certify that they are 

unable to engage in any substantial gainful 

activity by reason of a medically determinable 

physical or mental impairment that:

§ Can be expected to result in death.

§ Has lasted for a continuous period of not 

less than 60 months.

§ Can be expected to last for a continuous 

period of not less than 60 months. end list.end

People with disabilities must continue to pay 

their student loans while awaiting approval of 

their application. 

If you have income of $600 or more reported 

to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you may 

have an income tax liability. The Department 

of Education reports the amount of the loan 

forgiven to the IRS. The IRS sees this unpaid 

debt as income.

To apply, contact the Department of Education 

at 1-888-303-7818 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

ET or send an email to DisabilityInformation@

Nelnet.net.

21 You can find answers to many questions by visiting 

the Social Security Administration website at 

socialsecurity.gov/payee or see CFPB’s Managing 

Someone Else’s Money guide for representative 

payees at www.consumerfinance.gov/educationalresources/resources-for-older-adults/managingsomeone-elses-money/#government-fiduciaries.

MODULE 6: DEALING WITH DEBT 65
WORKING TOGETHER

Debt worksheet

What to do:

To make a debt reduction and elimination plan, use the debt worksheet with the person 

you serve. The debt worksheet can also help someone get on track with paying their 

debts on time. The goal with the debt worksheet is to get all of the information about 

debts someone owes in one place.

Start by helping someone brainstorm all of the debts they owe. You can also recommend 

reviewing their credit report to identity debt that is current, in collections, or resulting 

from judgments. 

What to say:

“Making a plan to pay debt regularly, reduce debt, or get rid of debt starts with getting 

a clear picture of what you owe and who you owe money to. The debt worksheet is 

designed to help you get all of this information in one place.

Be sure to include debts owed to friends and family, credit card companies, banks, and 

other businesses. Include amounts you owe for court-ordered child support payments. 

Also include amounts you owe to local, state, or federal government for things like 

property taxes, student loans, and back income taxes. For each debt, you will need to 

know:

§ The person, business, or organization you owe money to

§ The amount you owe them

§ The amount of your monthly payment, which includes the principal, interest payments 

and any fees you may owe

§ The interest rate you are paying and other important terms. end of list.

To complete this worksheet, you may need to get all of your bills together in one place.”

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

66 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Debt type.

Monthly 

payment 

amount.

Monthly 

due date.

Interest 

rate (%).

Amount 

outstanding.

Payoff date 

or goal.

Notes 

(including any fees).

Assistive 

Technology loan.

Auto Loan.

Back Child 

Support.

Credit Card 

Debt.

Friends & Family.

Medical Debt.

Past-Due 

Fees & Fines.

Mortgage or 

Past-Due Rent.

Payday loans.

Student loans.

Other

.

Other

.

Other

.

Use this debt log to see all your bills 

and plan what you owe.

1 List all the debts you have.

2 Fill out the table to see your total monthly debt payment.

3 Circle any debts in collections.

Total Monthly 

Payment 

Amount:

Need help with...Need help with

health care bills

Need help dealing with

debt and foreclosure

Need help finding

a lawyer

Take a breath Resolve

Disability insurance Financial support

Plans I can

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Habits I can

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If I don’t pay

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If I don’t pay for

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Fees I can avoid... Utilities I can reduce...

Need help with...d help with

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MODULE 6: DEALING WITH DEBT 67
WORKING TOGETHER

Debt collectors

What to do:

A person you serve has rights when their debts have been sold to debt collectors. They 

may not know that they have rights.

Use this tool with a person you serve to review their rights under the Fair Debt 

Collections Practices Act when their debt has been sold to a debt collector. When 

companies decide they no longer want to try to collect debts that are delinquent and 

defaulted, they may assign or sell those debts to third party debt collectors.

What to say:

“Are debt collectors contacting you? Debt collection agencies specialize in collecting 

debts. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act provides you with rights when a debt 

collector is trying to get you to pay a debt. This tool summarizes some of your key rights 

in debt collection and will help you:

§ Take actions to verify whether the claim is valid

§ Know how to dispute the claim if you do not owe the debt

§ Know what to do next if you do owe the debt end of list. een

Knowing about your rights can help you figure out if a debt collector is violating 

your rights. A debt collector cannot: 

§ Call repeatedly to harass, abuse you or use obscene language

§ Threaten you to take action they can’t or don’t really plan to take

§ Publish your name for not paying a debt or lie to you end of list. een

If debt collectors harass you, they may be breaking the law. For help finding legal 

assistance visit lawhelp.org.“ 

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

68 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
 Resolve.

If the claim is legitimate, don’t 

despair! At least now you know 

what you’re dealing with. You 

still have options:

§ Try to settle with the debt 

collector for a smaller 

amount that will fully resolve 

the account. (You can do 

this yourself by contacting 

the collector.) 

§ OR, negotiate a payment 

plan that will give you more 

time to pay down your debt.

§ OR, pay the debt in full and 

move on. end of list

If the claim is not legitimate, 

don’t delay! Send the debt 

collector a letter (or use the 

form below) disputing the 

claim immediately. You may 

lose your ability to dispute the 

claim if you wait until after a 

court issues judgment.

Ask a question

Need help getting a

bank or debt collector

to respond

Need help with Need help with...

benefits

Need help with

health care bills

Need help paying

utility bills

Need help dealing with

debt and foreclosure

Need help finding

a lawyer

Be sure Take a breath Resolve

Primary job GovernmentDisability insurance Financial support

Things I can

charge for...

Programs I can

consider...

Plans I can

change...

Habits I can

change...

If I don’t pay

for obligations...

If I don’t pay for

housing and utilities...

If I don’t pay for

job-related needs...

If I don’t pay

for insurance...

Things I can sell... Skills I have... Fees I can avoid... Utilities I can reduce...

Need help finding

a job

 

✂

My name is 

My address is 

I am writing about 

 account number

Check all that apply:

 I want to ask: 

 Send me the dates the debt was incurred, and 

the name and address of the original creditor.

I want to dispute this debt for the following 

reasons (check all that apply):

 This is not my debt.

 The amount is wrong.

 I do not think that you are the right person 

to pay.

 I already paid this debt in full or settled it.

 Other: 

 Be sure.

Make sure you recognize the 

debt. Does this debt collector 

have the right to collect it? 

Be cautious. Don’t give the 

debt collector sensitive info 

like your full Social Security 

or bank account numbers. No 

matter what they say, you don’t 

have to give it to them.

Keep records. Save everything 

debt collectors send you and 

the original copies of anything 

you send them. Write down 

dates, times, and notes for 

every call. These will help if you 

have a dispute or go to court.

Reply to court documents. If 

you don’t respond, the court 

will usually assume you agree 

with what the creditor says, 

and issue a money judgment 

against you. You may want an 

attorney to advise or represent 

you at the hearing.

Ask questions.

Ask for information. If you’re 

not sure about the debt or the 

amount, send a letter (or use 

the form to the right) asking for: 

§ the collector’s name 

and address

§ the original creditor’s name 

and address 

§ the account number and 

amount owed

§ documentation proving 

you’re required to pay

§ a copy of the last bill .end.

Find out if the statute of 

limitations on the debt expired 

(when the collector can no 

longer sue you for the debt).

Dates to ask for:

§ when the account 

became delinquent

§ when the collector obtained 

the debt and what the 

amount was then

If a debt collector contacts you, 

don't ignore it!
70 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 7: 

Understanding credit 

reports and scores 

Having positive credit history and good credit can open 

doors for you. That's why it's important to pay attention 

to what's in your credit report. 

Overview

Module 7: Understanding credit reports and scores is designed to help you and 

the people you serve understand what credit reports and scores are, what goes 

into them, and why they’re important. 

A credit report is a record of an individual’s bill-paying history, public record 

information (such as a filing for bankruptcy), and prior inquiries by a creditor into 

the individual’s credit history at the time a consumer applies for credit. 

Credit scores are calculated using the information in credit reports. A credit score 

is typically a number. A higher score makes it easier to qualify for a loan or lower 

interest rates. Many scores range from 300-850, but different scoring models may 

use different ranges of scores. 

Problems on an individual's credit report can affect their ability to rent an 

apartment, secure employment or their interest rate on a loan. People should 

review their credit reports to make sure they are accurate.

MODULE 7: UNDERSTANDING CREDIT REPORTS AND SCORES 71
Using the tools

Within Module 7: Understanding credit reports and scores, you will find four tools:

§ Tool 1: Getting your credit reports and scores 

§ Tool 2: Credit report review checklist 

§ Tool 3: Improving your credit reports and scores 

§ Tool 4: Keeping records to show you’ve paid your bills .end of list.

Focus on people with disabilities

Sometimes people may dismiss the importance of good credit if they don’t plan 

to get a credit card or loan. Today, a wide range of businesses use credit reports 

and scores to make decisions about everyone. A good credit history can provide 

you with access to lower-cost financial products and other services. Having a 

good credit history is an important part of an overall asset-building and financial 

empowerment strategies that can help people reach their goals, including:

§ Getting and keep a job.

§ Getting an apartment.

§ Getting insurance coverage. 

§ Getting lower deposits on utilities and better terms on cell phone 

purchase plans. 

§ Getting a credit card. 

§ Getting and keep a security clearance for a job, including a military position. 

§ .end of list.

Persons who are at risk of identity theft or who have been victims of identity theft 

may want to place a Security Freeze or a Fraud Alert on their credit reports. 

The Security Freeze will stop potential new lenders from accessing an individual’s 

credit file. There may be fees to place and lift the freeze. Initial and Extended Fraud 

Alerts are free and require creditors to take steps to verify an individual’s identity 

before opening a new account or increasing the credit limit on an existing account. 

However, they do not prevent potential new creditors from getting access to an 

individual’s credit file. For more information visit: consumerfinance.gov/consumertools/credit-reports-and-scores/victim-fraud-identity-theft/.

72 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Anyone can request credit reports by mail, including if a person has a legal 

representative or court-appointed guardian. Requests should include: 

§ Legal name of the individual with a disability

§ Address

§ Birth date

§ A copy of the individual’s birth certificate

§ A copy of the individual’s Social Security card

And information about the legal representative’s or court-appointed 

guardian’s status: 

§ Proof of legal representation or guardianship

§ A copy of driver’s license or other government-issued identity card with 

current address

§ A copy of a current utility bill .end of list.

Make sure the driver’s license and the utility bill have the same address. 

The request and information should be sent to all three credit reporting 

agencies (CRAs).

To order reports by mail write down the address below and include the name of 

the credit reporting companies that the report is being requested from:

Annual Credit Report Request Service

P.O. Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

A person can order one free copy of their credit report every 12 months. Only one 

website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report entitled under 

the law. To order a free credit report online, visit annualcreditreport.com, or 

call 1-877-322-8228.

For information on getting your credit reports, credit score, and disputing credit 

report errors, see Your Money, Your Goals Module 7: Understanding Credit 

Reports and Scores.

If a lender or other institution denies a person a credit card or loan application, 

the lender or other institution is required under Equal Credit Opportunity Act to:

§ Explain the specific reasons the application was rejected.

§ Explain that the applicant has the right to learn the reasons if asked within 

60 days. .end of list.

MODULE 7: UNDERSTANDING CREDIT REPORTS AND SCORES 73
Credit discrimination is illegal. Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a 

creditor can’t discriminate in any credit transaction, including mortgages, against 

any applicant because of these factors:

§ Receipt of income from any public assistance program such as Social Security 

Disability Insurance (SSDI) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program (SNAP)

§ Race

§ Color

§ Religion

§ National origin

§ Sex (gender) 

§ Marital status

§ Age, unless the applicant is not legally able to enter into a contract

§ Your exercising in good faith a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act 

(such as disputing information in your credit report) .end of list.

ECOA and Regulation B prohibit creditors from discriminating in any aspect of a 

credit transaction against an applicant because all or part of the applicant’s income 

derives from public assistance programs. 

Fair lending concerns may arise under ECOA and Regulation B when a creditor 

requires additional documentation beyond that required by lawful applicable 

agency or secondary market standards and guidelines to demonstrate that SSDI is 

likely to continue, such as information about the nature of an applicant’s disability 

or letter from an applicant’s physician.

For more information on existing protections against credit discrimination see: 

consumerfinance.gov/fair-lending/.

For more information regarding the obligations of creditors under ECOA regarding 

public assistance income and the verification of Social Security Disability Insurance 

(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) received by mortgage applicants, 

see our compliance bulletin: files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201411_cfpb_bulletin_

disability-income.pdf.

74 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 8: Money 

services, cards, accounts, 

and loans: Finding what 

works for you

Choosing the right financial products and services for you 

can help you protect and better manage your money and 

financial resources to achieve your goals.

Overview

Module 8: Money services, cards, accounts, and loans: Finding what works for you 

helps people understand how to find and choose financial services, products, and 

providers that meet their needs.

Many types of financial products and services can help people protect their money 

and financial resources, better manage their money, more efficiently pay for their 

current living expenses, and set aside money for their goals.

Your Money, Your Goals takes a financial empowerment approach to financial 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 a person choose from among multiple options. With this information, 

they can make the choices that are best for themselves and their family.

MODULE 8: MONEY SERVICES, CARDS, ACCOUNTS, AND LOANS: FINDING WHAT WORKS FOR YOU 75
Within Module 8 of Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, there are five tools:

§ Tool 1: Know your options: Money services, cards, accounts, and loans 

§ Tool 2: Ask questions: Choosing where to get what you need 

§ Tool 3: Money services and banking basics

§ Tool 4: Opening an account checklist 

§ Tool 5: Money transfers and remittances: What you need to know

§ .end of list.

76 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Module 9: Protecting 

your money

Empowered consumers understand their rights. When you 

know your rights, you can take steps to protect yourself and 

your family members.

Overview

When it comes to protecting your money and financial resources, there are laws that 

give you rights. Module 9: Protecting your money focuses on how to protect your 

information and money. It explains some of the most important consumer protection 

laws, what to do if identity theft has taken place, and how to submit a complaint with 

the CFPB if you have a problems with a financial service or product.

Using the tools

Within Module 9 of Your Money, Your Goals toolkit, there are four tools:

§ Tool 1: Submitting a complaint to the CFPB 

§ Tool 2: Protecting your identity 

§ Tool 3: Red flags 

§ Tool 4: Learning more about consumer protection .end of list.

Your Money, Your Goals: Focus on People with Disabilities includes:

§ Tool: Identifying financial abuse and exploitation 

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 77
Focus on people with disabilities

While many people are at risk of having their identity stolen, people with 

disabilities may face a higher risk of identity theft, financial abuse, and financial 

exploitation. Financial exploitation is the illegal or improper use of an individual’s 

funds, property or assets. This can occur through fraud or scams, or when 

caregivers, family members, or others improperly use an individual’s financial 

resources. The following circumstances or conditions may put a person at risk for 

financial exploitation:24

§ Having regular income and accumulated assets.

§ Being trusting and polite.

§ Being lonely and socially isolated.

§ Being reluctant to report exploitation by a family member, caregiver, 

or someone they depend on.

§ Being dependent on support from a family member or caregiver to remain 

independent.

§ Receiving care from a person with substance abuse, gambling or financial 

problems, or mental health issues.

§ Fearing rejection from or retaliation by the exploiter.

§ Being unfamiliar with managing financial matters.

§ Having cognitive impairments that affect financial decision-making 

and judgment.

While cons and scams perpetrated by strangers are commonly highlighted as risks, 

family members and people that provide services or care to individuals that have 

disabilities sometimes commit these offenses.

Submitting a complaint to the CFPB

When you submit a complaint, the CFPB forwards it to the company and works to 

get a response. After the CFPB forwards a complaint, the company has 15 days to 

respond to you and the CFPB. Companies are expected to close all but the most 

complicated complaints within 60 days. You’ll be able to review the response and 

give feedback to the CFPB. If the CFPB finds that another agency would be better 

able to assist, CFPB will forward your complaint and let you know. The CFPB also 

22 The following list is from Money Smart for Older Adults. See files.consumerfinance.

gov/f/201306_cfpb_msoa-participant-guide.pdf.

78 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
shares complaint data with state and other federal agencies that oversee financial 

institutions, and publishes a database of non-personal complaint information 

so the public knows what kinds of complaints are received and how companies 

respond. These complaints also help identify areas of attention for CFPB’s 

supervisory/enforcement actions.

For more information on the complaint process and how to file a complaint, see 

Your Money, Your Goals Module 9: Protecting your money. When it comes to 

submitting a complaint to the CFPB, the options include:

Online: Visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint. If you need help while you’re 

online, click on the link that says “Form Trouble? Chat now,” to talk with CFPB team 

members for help on submitting a complaint. 

By phone: We can help you with your issue in more than 180 languages. 

Call toll-free 1-855-411-CFPB (2372), 8am to 8pm ET, Monday through Friday.

TTY/TDD: 1-855-729-CFPB (2372)

By mail: 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

P.O. Box 2900

Clinton, IA 52733-2900

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 79
Financial abuse and exploitation

Financial exploitation often goes unreported because people do not know which 

steps to take. Remember, you do not need to prove that financial exploitation or 

abuse is occurring to report it. It is up to the professionals to take action if you 

suspect abuse.

Below is a checklist of resources23 that may help if you suspect financial abuse 

or exploitation.24 

Contact your Adult Protective Services agency. To find one in your area,

visit: www.napsa-now.org/get-help/help-in-your-area/. The National Adult 

Protective Services Association recommends getting help if you notice any 

one of the following situations:25

§ Termination of vital utilities such as telephone, water, electricity / gas, 

or garbage.

§ Unpaid bills and liabilities despite adequate income.

§ Oversight of finances surrendered to others without explanation or consent.

§ Transferring assets to new “friends” assisting with finances.

§ Checks written to “Cash.”

§ Unexplained disappearance of cash, valuable objects, financial statements.

§ Unexplained or unauthorized changes to wills or other estate documents.

§ Giving away money or spending freely.

§ Appearance of property liens or foreclosure notices. .end of list.

You can also report financial fraud to your state’s attorney 

general’s office. Use this locator to find the office in your state: 

www.justice.gov/usao/find-your-united-states-attorney.

23 Like other sections in this document, this checklist includes links or references to third-party 

resources or content that consumers may find helpful. The Bureau does not control or guarantee 

the accuracy of this outside information. The inclusion of links or references to third-party sites 

does not necessarily reflect the Bureau’s endorsement of the third-party, the views expressed on 

the outside site, or products or services offered on the outside site. The Bureau has not vetted 

these third-parties, their content, or any products or services they may offer. There may be other 

possible entities or resources that are not listed that may also serve your needs.

24 The following sources were used to compile this checklist: Money Smart for Older Americans; the 

National Center on Elder Abuse within the Administration on Aging, Department of Health and 

Human Services; Eldercare Locator, within the Administration on Aging, Department of Health 

and Human Services; Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs; National Indian Law 

Library.

25 National Adult Protective Services Association.

80 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
If you suspect that identity theft has occurred as part of the overall financial abuse 

and exploitation, you can report this to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

at www.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 

personal information, with instructions and sample letters to help spot and respond 

to identity theft: Taking Charge: What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen.26 An online 

complaint form is available directly at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

You may feel you need legal assistance to help with getting back money or property 

that was taken or to get protection from additional exploitation. If the individual is 

over 60 years of age, contact a federally- funded legal assistance program known as 

Title IIIB legal services programs. Title IIIB legal services programs can provide legal 

assistance on issues such as income security, health care, long-term care, nutrition, 

housing, utilities, protective services, defense of guardianship, abuse, neglect, 

and age discrimination, as well as financial exploitation. 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. You can find out about your local legal assistance 

programs by using the Legal Services Corporation legal aid locator at www.lsc.gov/

what-legal-aid/find-legal-aid.

To locate your local Area Agency, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or 

search at www.eldercare.gov.

Submit a complaint to the CFPB if the complaint is about a consumer financial 

product or service. .end of list.

26 Federal Trade Commission. Taking Charge: What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen, April 2013. 

 See www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-charge.pdf.

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 81
WORKING TOGETHER

Identifying financial abuse and 

exploitation

What to do:

Identifying financial exploitation may be difficult. Individuals may be reluctant to say 

anything about what is happening to them out of embarrassment and shame, fear of 

reprisal, dependency on the perpetrator of the offense, or fear of further straining a 

family relationship. Family members or close friends may be unaware of the situation 

or they may be the individuals committing financial exploitation or abuse.

Use this checklist to educate others and to identify financial abuse and exploitation. 

The checklist can be used one-on-one if someone expresses concern about an 

individual and his or her living conditions, care provision, or financial situation. 

Responses to the questions included in the checklist can help you or the individual you 

are working with get assistance.

What to say:

“It’s unpleasant to think about someone taking advantage of an individual with a 

disability that needs assistance, but it happens. Since you have expressed concern 

about such a situation, we can use this checklist to see if financial exploitation may be 

happening. For additional support contact your local Adult Protective Services agency. 

To find one in your area, visit: www.napsa-now.org/get-help/help-in-your-area/.”

To access a dynamic and fillable version of this tool, visit: www.consumerfinance.gov/

practitioner-resources/your-money-your-goals/companion-guides/

82 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Identifying financial abuse and 

exploitation.

1 Read through the list of signs that financial exploitation may be occurring.

2 Check the box if any are suspected, observed, or reported.

3 Use this information to help you decide whether to get assistance.

Unusual transactions

SITUATION. SUSPECTED. OBSERVED. REPORTED.

The individual transfers title of home or other 

assets to someone else for no apparent reason.

Frequent checks are made out to “cash” from the 

individual’s account.

Unusual bank or credit card account activity is 

noticed on statements or reported by a financial 

institution.

The individual takes out a large, unexplained loan 

or reverse mortgage.

Changes are made to the individual’s will that are 

unexplainable or done when the individual is ill or 

otherwise incapacitated.

Unusual information in a tax return is spotted.

Signatures on checks, legal documents, or other 

communications do not match the individual’s 

signature.

The caregiver’s name is added to the accounts 

of the individual or the caregiver becomes an 

authorized user on credit card accounts belonging 

to the individual.

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 83
Changed environment.

SITUATION. SUSPECTED. OBSERVED. REPORTED.

Bills go unpaid or overdue when someone else 

has been charged with paying them for the 

individual.

Living conditions are below expectations in spite 

of financial resources.

The individual’s personal belongings, important 

papers, credit cards, or identification documents 

go missing.

Unusual behavior.

SITUATION. SUSPECTED. OBSERVED. REPORTED.

Caregivers or family members caring for the 

individual seem to isolate him from other family 

members, friends, and community events or 

gatherings.

The individual seems suddenly more fearful and 

becomes reluctant to talk about topics that were 

once routine conversations.

The individual does not know how much income 

she receives. The caregiver is unwilling to share 

that information when asked.

A caregiver receives an unusual level of expensive 

or frequent gifts paid for with financial resources 

of the individual.

A live-in caregiver refuses to leave or to leave the 

individual alone with visitors even when requested 

to do so.

84 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Additional resources 

Help with benefits

§ For help with benefit eligibility, visit: benefits.gov.

§ To check on Social Security and Medicare status, call the Social Security 

Administration 1-800-772-1213 or visit: ssa.gov.

Help with health care bills

§ To find out about local Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 

programs, visit: medicaid.gov.

§ To enroll in health insurance, visit: healthcare.gov.

§ To get local help with Medicare and State Health Insurance Programs (SHIP) 

programs, visit: shiptacenter.org. .end of list.

Help with housing or paying utility bills

§ To find out about public housing and eligibility, call the Department of Housing 

and Urban Development’s (HUD) Housing Counseling Office: 1-800-569-4287. 

§ Call the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to see if you qualify for a 

“Lifeline” phone rate: 1-888-225-5322. .end of list.

Help finding a job

§ Search for job: USA.gov/find-a-job.

§ Call the American Job Centers to find out what’s required for different careers: 

1-877-872-5627. .end of list.

Help dealing with debt

To find a certified nonprofit credit counselor for debt management support, call the 

National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): 1-800-388-2227. .ent

Help Finding a lawyer

§ For legal resources listed state by state, visit: lawhelp.org.

§ To find out if you are eligible for assistance from a legal services program funded 

by the Legal Services Corporation, visit: lsc.gov/what-legal-aid/find-legal-aid.

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 85
Help getting a bank or debt collector to respond

§ Submit a complaint with CFPB: cfpb.gov/complaint.

§ Contact the State Attorney General’s Office: naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/

whos-my-ag.php.

Help with student debt

§ For more about student debt, visit: cfpb.gov/paying-for-college.

§ To find out about Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge 

of federal student loans, visit the Department of Education TPD 

website: www.disabilitydischarge.com.

Help with the purchase of assistive technology 

§ For information about the federally funded Alternative Financing Program, 

contact the Administration for Community Living: acl.gov. 

§ For a listing of Alternative Financing Programs offered by state, visit the 

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation at: patf.us/who-we-are/.

Help with identify theft 

§ To protect your identify, visit: identitytheft.go.

Help with credit reports and scores

§ To order a free credit report, call 1-877-322-8228 or visit: annualcreditreport.com. 

§ To understand credit reports and scores, visit: consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/

creditquestions.

86 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
For more information, Service providers can refer to the full “Your Money, Your 

Goals” toolkit online at cfpb.gov/your-money-your-goals

If you’re having a problem with a bank account, credit card, student loan, consumer 

loan or other financial products or services you can submit a complaint with the 

CFPB at cfpb.gov/complaint

For answers to commonly asked questions you might have about other money 

matters, visit “Ask CFPB” at cfpb.gov/askcfpb

Mail

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

P.O. Box 2900, Clinton, IA 52733-2900

Email

YourMoneyYourGoals@consumerfinance.gov

Toll-free phone

1-855-411-2372

Monday–Friday

8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. ET

TTY/TDD phone

1-855-411-2372

Fax

1-855-237-2392

MODULE 9: PROTECTING YOUR MONEY 87
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau prepared the tools included in the Your Money, Your Goals: 

Focus on People with Disabilities companion guide as a resource for the public. This material is 

provided for educational and information purposes only. It is not a replacement for the guidance or 

advice of an accountant, certified financial advisor, or otherwise qualified professional. The CFPB is 

not responsible for the advice or actions of the individuals or entities from which 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 for how your information may be used if you provide it to others. The CFPB 

recommends that you do not include names, account numbers, or other sensitive information and 

that users follow their organization’s policies regarding personal information.

This guide includes links or references to third-party resources or content that consumers may 

find helpful. The Bureau does not control or guarantee the accuracy of this outside information. 

The inclusion of links or references to third-party sites does not necessarily reflect the Bureau’s 

endorsement of the third-party, the views expressed on the outside site, or products or services 

offered on the outside site. The Bureau has not vetted these third-parties, their content, or any 

products or services they may offer. There may be other possible entities or resources that are not 

listed that may also serve your needs.

88 YOUR MONEY YOUR GOALS COMPANION GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Last updated August 2017