Delaware Money Management Program


(AARP logo)

(DE Health and Social Svcs. Logo)

(Delaware MMP logo)

Many Delawareans have special needs because they are no longer able to 
handle their financial affairs. 

They either lose their benefit checks or do not
remember how they spent their money.
They forget to pay their rent or monthly bills — and
in some cases, have been evicted from their homes
or had the electricity cut off — even though they had
enough money in their bank accounts to make the
necessary payments.

Often, family and friends step in to provide
assistance. However, there are many elderly individuals 
who may not have someone to turn to for help.
The Delaware Money Management Program,
in collaboration with the Division of Services for Aging
and Adults with Physical Disabilities and AARP’s Foundation 
provides assistance to elderly adults who are on a limited income or 
adults who have a physical disability and need help organizing and
paying their bills. Trained volunteers will provide
help with financial matters so they can continue to
live independently and without worry.

Those who need assistance may: 

*	Have difficulty balancing a checkbook
or handling day-to-day financial
affairs
*	Occasionally bounce checks
Or have difficulty managing a checking account
*	Leave utility bills unpaid or
have utilities shut off
*	Are under the threat of
eviction or loss of home due to
foreclosure
*	Have problems reading or
writing due to poor vision, injury
or disability
*	Are a victim of financial
exploitation or financial abuse
*	Have a serious illness that
leaves little time to manage
financial affairs

Our Volunteers Can Help
Our volunteers help others remain financially secure and
independent. 

Bill Payer Volunteers work closely
with clients by opening and organizing mail
and bills, developing a household budget and
preparing checks for the clients’ signature. Clients
remain in control of their 
finances — but will get a little help keeping things in
order. Although some clients are served on a short
short term basis, the majority are assisted on a long-term
basis.

Representative Payee Volunteers provide
assistance to clients who are no longer able to
manage their finances. You will be appointed
by the Social Security Administration or another
government agency to manage the monthly benefits
he or she receives. Your role will be to oversee your
client's finances by writing and signing checks from
an account in which a benefit check is automatically
deposited.

To qualify for assistance, Delaware Money
Management Program clients must be low-income
seniors or adults with physical disabilities.
The annual income for a single person may
not exceed $24,837 or $2,070 per month; couples'
annual income may not exceed $35,144 or $2,929
per month. Individuals must have liquid assets of
no more than $35,000; this includes but is not
limited to cash savings, certificates of deposit,
stocks or bonds. Please note, AARP adjusts and
establishes the income and asset levels annually.
Clients may own their home. Income of all those residing 
in the home is considered. Only Delaware
residents are eligible to participate in this program.

If you or someone you know needs help, call
302.255.9381.

Delaware Money Management volunteers receive two three-hour training 
sessions before being paired with
a client. Clients will be located within close
proximity to the volunteer’s home and will meet the criteria
specified in the application. Although time
commitment will vary from client to client, most
volunteers meet with clients once or twice per
month for one or two hours per
visit. Volunteers receive semi-annual in-service
trainings each year and receive ongoing support
from the Delaware Money Management Program
administrator.

For more information or to become
a volunteer, please call 302.255.9381
or 800.223.9074.

Delaware Money Management Program
Collaborators
*	Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Services for the Aging 
and Adults with Physical Disabilities
*	AARP Foundation
*	AARP

The Delaware Money Management Program
promotes independent living for older people on a
limited income who are at risk because they cannot
manage their financial affairs and cannot get help
from friends or family.

The program's trained volunteers provide clients
with the money management assistance they need
for daily living.

Gratitude is expressed to the 141st General
Assembly for their support of legislation creating
the Delaware Money Management program.

Because of the sensitivity of the type of transactions that will be involved, 
there are a number of safeguards in place to protect both our volunteers 
and our clients including: 

*	Limited insurance coverage of client funds.

*	Volunteer background checks including state and federal criminal 
background fingerprinting as well as Adult Abuse and Child Abuse registry 
checks. 

*	Volunteers are trained and provided with ongoing support from the 
Division of Services for the Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities. 

*	Volunteers work from one designated account with a $3,500 limit.

*	Volunteer activity and client accounts are monitored on a monthly basis. 



Delaware Money Management Program
Delaware Health & Social Services
Division of Services for Aging and
Adults with Physical Disabilities
1901 N. DuPont Highway
Main Annex 1st Floor
New Castle, Delaware 19720
302.255.9381
800.223.9074
TTY: 302.453.3831
www.dhss.delaware.gov/dsaapd
www.aarpmmp.org

AARP Delaware
1100 North Market Street, Suite 1201
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
www.aarp.org/de