Home Repairs: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off by Home Repair Contractors
Problems and disputes with contractors that do home repairs can be difficult to resolve. It is far better to plan ahead to avoid problems down the road. This document provides some tips you can use if you are concerned about making home repairs.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society Seniors Hotline
Protect Your Investment - Don't Let Predatory Lenders Take Your Home
(Separate Website)
Senior citizens are an attractive target for unscrupulous mortgage lenders because they have a lot of equity in their homes after years of diligently paying off their mortgages, and they use that equity to finance home repairs, medical care and other needs. While these lenders may encourage seniors to use their hard-earned home equity to secure new loans - they will not tell seniors about the high fees, hidden payments or other disadvantageous loan terms that could lead to the loss of their homes.
By: National Consumer Law Center
History of Predatory Lending
Atlanta Legal Aid's Bill Brennan, as one of the nation's experts on predatory lending, was asked by Senator Grassley to testify at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on "Equity Predators: Stripping, Flipping, and Packing Their Way to Profits." Bill was warmly received and several Senators made statements at the hearing indicating the value they placed on legal service program involvement in this area. Bill's testimony (see text below) clearly outlines the problems of predatory lending and equity theft, how victims are targeted, and some historical perspective.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Predatory Mortgage Lending Abuses
This document describes the different ways that mortgage lenders can trick homeowners into giving up their homes.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Tax Relief
Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Veterans with Disabilities
Georgia law provides property tax and school tax benefits to senior citizens and to veterans with disabilities. Please be aware that this web page gives only a general description of the Georgia tax benefits. Your situation may be different enough so that the general rules will not apply.
By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia
Nursing Homes
Basic Facts about Setting Up a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) to Keep Your Medicaid
This document answers basic questions about setting up a Trust so that you can keep getting Medicaid.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program
Have You Lost Your Nursing Home Medically Needy Medicaid?
The Nursing Home Medically Needy Medicaid Program is ending as of July 1, 2004. If you receive Medicaid coverage under this program and your income is higher than the state will allow under the regular nursing home Medicaid program you will lose your Medicaid coverage after June 30, 2004. However, there is a way you may be able to protect your Medicaid. You may be able to set up a Medicaid Irrevocable Qualified Income Trust. (This is sometimes called a "Miller Trust.") If you put some of your Social Security and/or pension check into this special trust each month, it will not count against you for Medicaid eligibility. If you do this, you should be able to continue to pay for your care as you do now and still get Medicaid.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program
Related Information
Consumer Fraud and Abuse Protection for Seniors
People of all ages constantly purchase goods and services --- houses, cars, clothing, personal services, medical care, food, and so on. Being a knowledgeable consumer has a positive impact on one=s economic well-being. While most companies and businesses are legitimate, some are unscrupulous. It=s estimated that telemarketing fraud costs Americans $40 billion a year and Georgians about $500 million a year. In addition to telemarketing fraud, there are scams and swindles connected to home repairs, contests and sweepstakes, charity drives, investment offers, insurance, and health care. Many of these scams are targeted to older adults. In Georgia the Secretary of State=s office, the Governor=s Office of Consumer Affairs, and the Attorney General are coordinating resources to provide protection for Georgia consumers to stamp out telemarketing and other types of consumer fraud.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
Housing Resources for Seniors
This document contains a list of the many types of housing resources that are available in Georgia for Seniors.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
Pet Ownership for the Elderly and Disabled in Public Housing
This brochure discusses the pet rules that apply to residents who live in public housing designated for use by the elderly or those with disabilities. A different set of rules apply to residents of general public housing project. These rules do not apply if you are a person with a disability.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program
Tips for Consumers on Reverse Mortgages
(Separate Website)
A reverse mortgage is a complex home loan for senior homeowners who have built up substantial equity in their property. In a reverse mortgage the lender loans you money based on the value of your home, the amount of equity you have in the home, and your age at the time of the loan application. The lender pays you the money either in a lump sum, in monthly installments, or as a line-of-credit. Unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, repayment is not required until you sell your home, move out permanently, or die. The amount of money you owe increases over time because you do not make payments. If you sell your home, you can keep any proceeds from the sale of your home in excess of what you owe the lender.
By: National Consumer Law Center
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse affects people of all backgrounds without regard for social status, income, sex, or race. Four to ten percent of elders will be a victim of abuse. Elder abuse is grossly underreported and investigated. Victims are often ashamed and fear reporting their abusers. In addition, victims often do not know where to find help. This brochure is aimed at providing information and resources for victims as well as defining laws pertaining to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
LegalAid-GA is a project of Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Georgia Legal Services Program and the Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia. The project is funded by the Legal Services Corporation and the Georgia Access to Justice Project and produced in cooperation with Pro Bono Net, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and legal service organizations and government agencies throughout Georgia and the United States.
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