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 The BBB has released the
"12 Scams of Christmas"
for shoppers to be mindful of during the holiday season.
"Whether you shop online or in the malls, you are exposed to a variety of holiday scams and frauds". Here is what you should look out for:
1. Look Alike Websites
2. Social Media Gift Exchange
3. Grandparents Scam
4. Temporary Holiday Jobs
5. Free Gift Cards
6. Free e-Cards
7. Fake Shipping Notifications
8. Phony Charities
9. Letters from Santa
10. Unusual Forms of Payment
11. Travel Scams
12. Puppy Scams
Unfortunately, the BBB says this list is just the tip of the ice berg. They encourage everyone to to be alert and careful especially during the Christmas season.
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 Kentucky Victims of Fraud Involving Western Union to File Claims
Attorney General Andy Beshear announced that Kentuckians who have been victims of wire transfer fraud involving Western Union need to begin filing claims as part of a global settlement reached January with the company. An estimated 7,000 Kentuckians are eligible for roughly $6.7 million in claims. Kentuckians who reported to Western Union, the Federal Trade Commission or Beshear’s office that they had been the victim of a scam using Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 19, 2017, should receive a claim form in the mail. A claim form will be sent from the settlement administrator in the next two weeks. The form will contain instructions explaining how Kentuckians may file their claim to receive compensation.
If Kentuckians believe they may have an eligible claim and do not receive a claim form in the mail, they should visit http://www.westernunionremission.com or call 844-319-2124 for more information on how to file a claim.
All completed claims forms must be mailed back to the settlement administrator by Feb. 12, 2018.
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Helping Our Nation’s Heroes:
18 Benefits for Veterans
According to Census data, more than 20 million Americans are veterans of foreign wars. Roughly half of those veterans (9.2 million) are aged 65 and older, including more than 1.3 million World War II veterans over the age of 85.
Though our nation’s heroes may have the gift of longevity, with more years often comes a greater strain on financial resources. If you or a loved one is a veteran, read on to learn about the variety of public and private benefits that can help you afford to remain independent, healthy, and secure.
Types of veterans’ benefits
Veterans’ benefits come in many forms—from cash grants and education assistance to home and community-based services. Eligibility for many programs depends upon the length and type of service, whether you incurred any service-related disability, and your household income. Many of the programs described below are available to veterans of all ages who qualify.
Financial assistance
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Veterans’ pensions are administered by the Veterans Administration (VA) and provide a monthly cash benefit to those 65 years of age or older or who are disabled at any age. The amount you receive depends on your income, number of dependents, and the program’s pension rate for the year of your application.
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The VA Death Pension is a cash benefit awarded to the surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a deceased veteran.
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Disability payments are available to veterans who suffered an injury/disease or worsening of such a condition while on active duty. Extra compensation is available if you have very severe disabilities or limb loss, dependents, and/or a seriously disabled spouse.
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Financial aid for education is also available through the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or Post-9/11 GI Bill to help pay for tuition, books, fees, examinations, and housing expenses for graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational and technical training.
Health and long-term care
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The Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound benefits are two programs that provide financial help for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. It also helps pay for care in assisted living facilities. This benefit is only available to those with a wartime service record (and their spouses) who are aged 65 and older and who also qualify for a VA basic pension.
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The Choice Program can help you find health care services in your community, as an option to bypass waiting for appointments with the VA or traveling a long distance to get to a VA facility.
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VA Blind Rehabilitation Services help you remain independent by providing services if you are blind or have low vision. The services can take place in an inpatient or outpatient facility or in your home, based on level of need.
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State veterans’ homes are facilities that provide services including rehabilitation and skilled nursing, long-term care, residential care, dementia care, and hospice care.
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Telehealth brings routine health care services to your home via technology that connects you to your doctor.
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Home hospice care provides comfort and support if you have an advanced stage of a terminal disease.
Home loans
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Special housing grants offer cash benefits to those with certain service-connected disabilities to buy a home or to remodel your home to accommodate the disability.
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Veterans’ home loans help members of the military secure mortgage loans to purchase a home. The VA administers a guaranteed mortgage loan through an approved lender. A VA loan will protect you if you end up having trouble paying your mortgage, as the VA will guarantee repayment of the loan to your lender.
State programs
State veterans’ benefit programs vary widely, and include:
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Discounted hunting or fishing licenses for those with a service-connected disability.
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License plates that recognize your time in service.
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Educational assistance to attend any state-sponsored college or university.
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Employment assistance and resources to help you find a job.
Help for caregivers
Caregivers of veterans may also be eligible to receive help through programs such as:
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Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) services, which enable the veteran to participate in supervised, safe activities outside of the home, giving the caregiver an opportunity to take time for self-care.
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Respite care of up to 30 days per year to provide a break from their caregiving duties.
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CMCS Releases Data on Experiences of Medicaid Enrollees with Disabilities
In the Fall of 2014, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
(CMCS) conducted a Nationwide Adult Medicaid Consumer Assessment of
Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey of Medicaid enrollees to
attain national and state-by-state measures of access, barriers to care, and
experiences with care across delivery systems and major population
subgroups.
The
survey interviewed a representative sample of adults ages 18 and older enrolled
in Medicaid between October 2013 through December 2013. This first-of-its kind survey provides baseline information
on the experiences of low-income adults prior to a state’s expansion of
coverage to the new adult group that took effect on January 1, 2014. These data
will be used to inform federal and state efforts to improve health care
delivery for Medicaid enrollees.
Read CMCS' issue brief: Health Care Experiences of Adults
with Disabilities Enrolled in Medicaid Only: Findings from a 2014-2015
Nationwide Survey of Medicaid Beneficiaries (PDF).
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