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Welcome to the Senior Resource Connect blog. You can visit the blog each Wednesday at 10am for the latest information about aging, caregiving, COVID, and local resources.

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Building Financial Freedom

As we celebrate the 4th of July, we often think about the meaning of independence and the freedoms that matter most in our daily lives. Financial freedom looks different for everyone; it might mean paying bills without stress, saving for the future, enjoying retirement, or simply having enough to cover life’s essentials. Today’s blog post invites you to reflect on what financial independence means to you as we explore the basics of financial literacy, share local resources to build financial confidence, and highlight programs that can help with necessities like food, utilities, healthcare, and benefits so you can gain a little more peace of mind and flexibility in your budget. 

 

What is Financial Freedom? 

What comes to mind when you hear the term financial freedom?  While there’s no official definition, there are some common themes: having some money left over each month after paying bills, having a small emergency fund, living debt-free, being able to buy something small without worrying about how much it costs, etc. This is the goal; the first step to financial freedom is financial literacy– having the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to make informed financial decisions.

 

Financial Freedom Steps

Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 

  • What information I need to request a credit report? 
    • Name 
    • Address 
    • Social Security number 
    • Birthday
    • Previous address (if you’ve moved recently)  
    • They may also ask security questions (e.g. your monthly mortgage payment) 
    • Reports are available in Braille, large print, or as an audio file. Be sure to ask if you would prefer to have your report in one of these formats. 

 

Financial Literacy Resources 

  • Friends in Deed– Circles Washtenaw County program combines financial education, career development, and mentorship with meaningful connections across socioeconomic lines.  
    • Time commitment: must enroll in a 12-week training class and attend community meetings for 18 months.  
    • How to get involved: 
      • Call (734) 484-4357 to learn more or apply to the program.  
  • GreenPath Financial Wellness– offers free financial counseling, as well as debt counseling and management. The website also has educational resources.  
    • How to get involved: 
      • Call (877) 281-3998 to speak with a counselor (no appointment required).  
        • Phone line hours: 
          • M-Th 8:00 am- 10:00 pm 
          • F 8:00 am- 8:00 pm 
          • Sa 9:00 am- 6:00 pm
          • Closed Sundays
  • Michigan Ability Partners– offers a variety of services to help remove barriers for veterans and people with disabilities, including financial coaching and budgeting.  
    • How to get involved: 
      • Call (734) 975-6880 for more information. 
  • MSU Extension– provides resources and education on money management, foreclosure prevention, home buying, retirement planning, and more. Offer both in-person and self-paced online classes.  
  • Thrivent– offers free financial coaching through their Money Canvas® program. Includes three sessions with a financial counselor. Visit their website to learn more. Services also available in Spanish.  
    • How to get involved: 
      • Choose a date and time to meet with your counselor using their online calendar.  
      • Need help using the online calendar? Call Client Care at (800) 847-4836 (available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT) 
  • The Women’s Center of Southeast Michigan– offers private one-hour sessions with an experienced financial coach for $15 per session or a sliding-scale fee. Can include multiple sessions.  
    • How to get involved: 
      • Call the center at (734) 973-6779 to make an appointment.  

Check your local bank or credit union 

 

 

Help with Basic Needs 

It’s no secret that the cost of living in Michigan continues to rise.  While the following community resources won’t solve that completely, by sharing them we hope that it can lighten your load and free up your budget a little so you can have the funds to put towards bigger needs, such as paying utilities, rent, or medical needs.  

Food  

 

 

Medical Care/Medication  

  • Hope Clinic (734) 481-0111 
    • Offers free primary care for the uninsured and under-insured. 
    • Can also receive certain medications, both prescription and nonprescription, provided onsite and at no cost through our Hope Pharmacy. 
    • Offers neurology and sleep clinics on a rotating basis. Call for more information.  
    • Provides limited dental treatment (focus on preventative care). 
  • Packard Health (734) 971-1073 
    • Board-certified providers care for everyone, from infants to seniors. Provide annual exams, cancer and other screenings, and treatment of short-term illnesses. Sliding fee scale available for qualified patients. 
    • Offer medication assistance program. 
    • Also help with enrollment in insurance and drug assistance programs.  
  • Prescription Assistance Resources via Senior Resource Connect 
  • Blog Posts 

 

 

Utilities  

  • Assistance Programs 
    • DTE  
      • BudgetWise Billing– this program avoids seasonal spikes in utility bills. The user is charged the average energy cost the address used over the past year.  
      • Low-Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP)– this program creates a monthly payment based on your income and energy usage. The plan is reviewed every six, 12, and 24 months.   
      • Payment Agreement– this program allows you to pay off your past-due balance over a period of time without any late fees. It requires an initial down payment, with the remaining balance paid in monthly installments.    
      • Senior Citizen Provision Credit– this program offers head of households who are age 65 or older a savings of $3.75 per month, saving them $45 per year.   
      • Shutoff Protection– this program creates a monthly payment based on a total amount of your account balance, plus an average of your energy costs over the past year.  
  • Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA)  
      • Budget Billing– this program creates a monthly payment based on the past year of usage, allowing clients to pay a consistent amount.  
      • Water & Sewer Rebate– this program, which is a collaboration of Ypsilanti Township and YCUA, offers water bill assistance for Ypsilanti Township residents who meet eligibility criteria. If approved, $40 will be applied to YCUA invoices for a full year.   

 

  • Shutoff Prevention 
    • Department of Health and Human Services (734) 481-2000 
      • Can help with signing up for SNAP/food assistance 
      • Can also help with State Emergency Relief utility assistance (SER) 
      • Temporary heat and utility assistance may be available for eligible low-income families and individuals when heating or electric service has been or will be shut off. You’ll get a letter that says whether you were approved or denied for the program. Keep the letter in a safe place– many agencies need it in order to assist you.  
    • Friends in Deed (734) 484-4357 
      • Can help with urgent needs, including utilities, furniture, and transportation.  
    • Salvation Army 
      • Can help with food and utilities. Requires a picture ID, proof of income, and copy of your lease. You will need an SER letter in order to receive Salvation Army’s utility assistance. 
        • Ann Arbor: (734) 668-8353 
        • Ypsi: (734) 482-4700 
    • SOS Community Services Resource Center (734) 484-5411 
      • Can help with urgent needs, including utility assistance, food, and bus tokens. Can also help with applying to the State Emergency Relief program (SER).  
      • Walk in hours: 
        • Mondays 9:00 am- 1:00 pm 
        • Thursdays/Fridays 9:00 am- 5:00 pm 

 

Applying for Benefits 

  • BenefitsCheckUp 
    • This website, run by the National Council on Aging, searches for support programs by zip code to make sure that you’re signed up for all the benefits you qualify for.  
      • HelpLine available at 1-800-794-6559 
        • Hours: 
          • M-F 8:00 am- 7:00 pm EST 
  • Faith in Action 
    • Case managers can help file an application for SNAP, Medicaid, and other publicly funded programs, help set up an online MI Bridges account, or check the status of your application. Must live in Chelsea or Dexter School District. 
      • Call the office for more information: 
        • Chelsea: (734) 475-3305   
        • Dexter: (734) 426-7002   
  • Public Benefits Advocacy Project (734) 274-9077 
    • This program of the University of Michigan Law School enables law school students to help community members apply for and maintain public benefits, including food assistance, cash assistance, state emergency relief, and Medicaid. All students are supervised by attorneys from Legal Services of South Central Michigan. 
  • Washtenaw County Healthy Neighborhoods Team (734) 544-6801 
    • The Healthy Neighborhoods Team is made up of community health workers who work with individuals and families to help them get the care they need.   
    • Can help connect clients with resources related to urgent needs such as food, utilities assistance, health insurance, and mental health referrals.  
  • Washtenaw Health Project (734) 544-3030 
    • Helps low-income and uninsured people access high-quality healthcare and health-promoting services.   
    • Helps with Medicare and Medicaid navigation. 
    • Administers the Washtenaw Health Plan. This plan is not health insurance, but helps with medical care including doctor visits, x-rays and lab tests, emergency room visits, and prescription coverage.  
  • Blog Posts: 
    • Enrolling With Ease via Senior Resource Connect Blog (highlights local Medicare Navigation agencies)