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Deceptive Answers Given to Seniors With Debt

by Eric Olsen, attorney and Executive Director HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm I recently read a question on a website that helped persons with credit card debt. The answer given is typical of the deceptive, incomplete, and false answers many websites and their experts provide to seniors with financial problems. Here is the question posed from …

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How Should a Representative Payee Deal With an Economic Impact Payment?

Question: Dear Steve, I need to ask for some advice. When the Economic Impact Payment was approved it included those who receive SSI, SSDI, and Veteran benefits. When the IRS was sending out the $1,200 and $2,000 I think for family’s they deposited in bank accounts that was used to file taxes, bank accounts if …

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An Open Letter to The National Council On Aging “Please Stop”

“Dear Mr. Knickman and the Board of Directors of the NCOA: My Name is Eric Olsen, Executive Director of HELPS, a national 501 (c) nonprofit law firm that assists lower-income and poor seniors. I am writing concerning a topic of grave concern where the NCOA may be providing harmful information to seniors. Your website makes …

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Garnishment of Poor Seniors by Federal Agencies- a Shameful Practice

By Eric Olsen, Executive Director, attorney, HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm In 1996 a federal law was passed governing the collection of debts owed to federal agencies. It is called the “Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.” This law authorized a 15% garnishment of social security for various debts owed to federal agencies. Each agency is …

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Do Seniors Need Debt Settlement or Debt Management?

By Eric Olsen HELPS Nonprofit Law Firm Whether you’re relaxing in front of the TV set or working in front of the computer screen, it’s hard to miss advertisements for so-called “debt settlement” and “debt management” companies. Both claim to offer relief from debt. Both like assuring they can, “get you back on your feet …

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When Bankruptcy for Seniors Might be a Bad Idea

This guest post by Eric Olsen is a great example that not all debt experts need to agree all the time. Eric presents a very valid point of view and mine is slightly different. Eric describes a situation where seniors may consider it unnecessary to file bankruptcy. In my experience, bankruptcy in similar situations can …

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Seniors and Income Based Repayment of Student Loans

By Eric Olsen Executive Director HELPS Nonprofit law firm, www.helpsishere.org You may have received a notice about a defaulted student loan and do not know what to do. There are many articles on the internet with incomplete information that scare seniors into thinking that they are going to lose their social security. This article will …

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