The Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC is looking for volunteers to help seniors pay their bills.
The council’s “Bill Payer Program” has for the past seven years enlisted volunteers to help older adults remain independent by assisting them with making sure their monthly bills are paid on time, and the organization said they are searching for additional volunteers to address a growing need for help throughout Queens – as well as Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.
New York’s population is quickly graying, with the percentage of people over the age of 65 projected to jump from today’s 13 percent to 20 percent by 2030 – and with that comes a new set of challenges to help people remain independent.
Older adults needing assistance with bill payments can be vulnerable to premature nursing home placement, fraud, and financial abuse, and help with these payments can enable to them to age safely in their own homes, the council said. In 2009, the Bill Payer Program was pilted by the CSCS in the city.
While the council’s clients make all their own financial decisions, they need hands-on help with the bill paying tasks, such as writing out checks, balancing the checkbook, and reconciling bank statements.
Volunteers are screened, undergo background and credit checks, and receive training and ongoing supervision. The commitment is for one year, with one or two visits a month for approximately four to six hours each month. Multilingual volunteers, particularly those who speak Spanish, are needed.
Client bank accounts are monitored monthly by a third party to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud.
Those interested in volunteering may call (718) 858-2164 or email volunteerbpp@cscs-ny.org.
