Congressional Corner: Senior Matters

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Congressional Corner: Senior Matters

By Representative J. Randy Forbes (VA)
My office floor looks more like landscaping, with a pile of envelopes from the bank, a stack of medical statements, and a mound of other documents cluttering the room.

I think of Dad and how organized he seemed in his younger years. Saturday afternoons were spent balancing the checkbook, organizing papers and mowing the yard. Of course, as he moved into retirement and began collecting military pension and Social Security, the paperwork became more time-consuming. After Dad passed, Mom and I spent hours organizing benefits paperwork and making sure that we had the appropriate military burial documentation.

Our world has changed since Dad was my age. Today we have more accounts, more policies, and more statements. We have the Internet, multiple e-mail addresses and personal computers that become obsolete within a few years. Not only is there more information, it comes at us in more formats, and it is becoming more difficult to decide what to save and how to file it all.

Since 9/11, the federal government has reorganized many procedures with significantly more emphasis on security and documentation. Increasingly, we are required to produce multiple forms of identification, original documents or certified copies.

My office often sees this documentation burden hit hardest on our seniors who are left confused at the endless maze of red tape. In response, last year we created a resource, the "Seniors Organizational Toolkit." It provides tips on what information to have on-hand, and how to protect your information from identity thieves, such as signing up for the national Do-Not-Call registry. This toolkit is available on my website, http://randyforbes.house.gov/.

There are also some simple first steps you can take to protect your identity. Here are five primary steps to begin creating better security for your personal information:

Secure your mail and trash. Thoroughly shred or tear any documents with your personal information before throwing them away.
Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place. Offer other, alternative identification whenever possible.
Place strong, unique passwords on your credit card and bank accounts and change them every couple of months. A strong password utilizes random numbers and capital letters.
Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
Be wary of promotional scams. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or know the caller.

A great deal of information, tools and experts are available to assist seniors in protecting their financial resources. Unfortunately, many individuals are not aware of these tools, or are unsure how to obtain them or best utilize each resource. With proper education and the necessary tools, individuals can obtain the necessary documents and substantially reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or a scam.

May 2007