APRIL IS FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH
The following financial literacy
resource links are provided through a joint project between the Legal Aid
Society of Palm Beach County and Dade Legal Aid – Put something Back:
AnnualCreditReport.com
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
This website gives
consumers access to free credit reports from the national credit reporting
agencies.
Bank On
http://www.joinbankon.org/
Provides information for
current and potential programs that provide access to safe and affordable bank
and credit union accounts.
Consumer.gov
http://www.consumer.gov/
This Federal Trade
Commission website offers free resources for people to learn about credit,
debt, identity theft, and avoiding scams, as well as budgeting, opening a bank
account, shopping for prepaid cards, and managing money in general.
Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
The bureau implements and
enforces consumer protection laws and promotes markets for consumer financial
products that are fair, transparent, and competitive. Its website includes
resources in multiple languages, including Spanish. The site includes resources
for consumers, financial practitioners, educators, and professionals and
contains research on financial education topics.
Consumer.ftc.gov
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/
This Federal Trade
Commission website offers consumer information, including videos, a blog, and
streamlined articles that highlight actionable, practical tips on a wide range
of consumer topics
Credit Reports and Credit
Scores
https://www.federalreserve.gov/creditreports/pdf/credit_reports_scores_2.pdf
The Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System offers answers to common questions about credit
reports and how errors in credit reports can be corrected.
Financial Literacy and
Education Commission
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/consumer-policy/financial-literacy-and-education-commission
Financial Literacy
Resource Directory by the OCC
https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumers-and-communities/community-affairs/resource-directories/financial-literacy/index-financial-literacy-resource-directory.html
HelpWithMyBank.gov
https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/index.html
The OCC’s
HelpWithMyBank.gov provides answers to commonly asked banking questions and
includes an online complaint form for bank customers wishing to register their
concerns to the OCC.
Identity theft
https://www.idtheftcenter.org/
Money Smart
https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/money-smart
This Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation website is a financial education program offering
curriculums designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream
enhance their financial skills. Many resources are available in Spanish and
other languages.
National Consumer
Protection Week
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/national-consumer-protection-week
The Federal Trade
Commission, other federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations sponsor this
website, which highlights free resources to help people understand their
consumer rights and avoid frauds and scams.
National financial
education web site
https://www.mymoney.gov/
This resource provides
financial education resources from over 20 different federal entities on
numerous financial topics.
National Foundation for
Credit Counseling
http://www.nfcc.org/
The foundation connects
consumers to nonprofit financial counseling agencies to help manage debt.
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
This Federal Trade
Commission website is designed to make it easier for people to report fraud,
scams, and bad business practices.
For additional resources
click here for disaster, military, housing
and elderly programs.
Social Security
Administration’s People Like Me
https://www.ssa.gov/people/
The website provides
information and tools for people of all ages. Users can sign up for a My Social
Security account to access personalized tools, including estimating future
benefits and managing current benefits. Many resources are available en Español
and other languages.
Student Loans
https://finaid.org/loans/
Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers
The Internal Revenue
Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the
Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified
individuals. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in
preparing their own tax returns, including people who generally make $60,000 or
less; persons with disabilities; and limited English-speaking taxpayers. TCE
program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age
and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related
issues unique to seniors. Resources are available in Spanish and other
languages.
