Six years ago, figures from AARP showed that Maine is not just the “oldest” state (15 percent are 65 or older) but it’s the poorest – especially for senior citizens. More than one in five Mainers age 65-plus receive Social Security and for 25 percent of them, it’s their only income.

The average monthly Social Security benefit in the AARP data for Maine was $946 a month.

There have been minor increases, far outweighed by increasing costs of utilities, food and drugs.

If you are an older Mainer, living on Social Security, your basic concerns must be survival and how to accomplish that. We read about the frequency of elderly being scammed and, given the financial situation of many, it’s easier to understand why people – even wise Mainers – would take a chance on a get-rich-quick scheme. But with income of less than $1,000 a month and taxes, house payments, car expenses, all coming out of that meager budget, we must be ever vigilant and make wise decisions.

Fortunately here in Maine, those who are 60 years of age or older can get free, high quality legal services. It’s called Legal Services for the Elderly and if you have a legal question, you can call the Helpline at 800-750-5353, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

When you call, you will talk to an intake paralegal who will ask you for some basic information about yourself and your legal problem. A Helpline will call you back within three to five working days. It’s very helpful to be ready with any important papers and other information when the lawyer calls. If you are calling for a senior who needs legal help, Legal Services for the Elderly may need the senior’s permission before they can discuss the legal problem.

Their website lists the typical problems or questions they often answer for callers, including these:

Will I lose my home if I go to a nursing home? What can I do if bill collectors are hassling me?, Can I change a contract that I’ve signed? Someone has talked me into taking a loan out that I can’t pay back. What should I do? Do I need a will? My husband just died, what do I do? I lost MaineCare – how can I get back on it? Does Medicare cover long-term care?, I moved out of an apartment a month ago, and my landlord still hasn’t returned my security deposit – how can I get it back from him?

These are just a handful of the questions, but most typical.

If you have a legal problem that can’t be solved over the phone, a staff attorney in an area office may be able to represent you. Staff attorneys represent seniors in more complex cases, such as MaineCare denials, elder abuse and financial exploitation, predatory lending, discharges from long-term care facilities (nursing homes), guardianship/conservatorship defense and evictions.

Legal Services for the Elderly does not handle criminal matters, divorces, or personal injury cases.

The website has dozens of “papers” with information, which can be printed. In most communities, the public library will provide this printing service for a small fee if you don’t have a computer or a printer.

Some of these forms and information sheets include: Living Wills, Self-Determination (Who tells my doctor my health-care choices when I’m too sick to do it? If something happens to me, who helps pay my bills?), Power of Attorney, Bank Accounts (joint or otherwise); Wills, Elder Abuse, Financial Exploitation, Consumer Debt, Estate Planning, Purchasing Used Cars, Reverse Mortgages, Identity Theft, Debt Collection, Benefits Checkup, Telemarketing, Home Improvement Scams, How to Handle a Bad Home Repair Deal, Grandparent Rights, Long Term Care, Nursing Homes, MaineCare, Housing, Tenants’ Rights, Eviction, Real Estate, Social Security, Utilities, Widowed Seniors and dozens more.

If you have access to the Internet, simply type in “Maine Legal Services for the Elderly” and you will find a list of specific subjects – all of which will take you to the website.

Don’t hesitate to become informed – knowledge is power and knowing your rights is essential in surviving in these times.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.

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