July Is Military Consumer Month

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is a federal law designed to ease financial burdens on military members and their dependents during periods of military service. It covers such issues as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, eviction, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, automobile leases, mortgage interest rates, mortgage foreclosure, civil judicial proceedings, and income tax payments. Servicemembers should know their rights.

Register now for NCUA’s webinar on Fraud Prevention Resources for Servicemembers

As part of Military Consumer Month, the National Credit Union Administration is partnering with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to raise awareness on important consumer financial protection issues related to servicemembers and their families during a webinar that will take place on July 28, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern.

Staff from the NCUA’s Office of Consumer Financial Protection, the CFPB, and FTC will highlight federal resources that help servicemembers, veterans, and their families manage their finances and shield themselves against frauds and scams.

Registration for this 45-minute event is now open. Participants will be able to log into the webinar and view it on their computers or mobile devices using the registration link. Registrants should allow pop-ups from this website.

To learn more about the “Financial Readiness and Fraud Prevention Resources for Servicemembers, Veterans, and their Families” webinar, please visit our registration page.

CFPB Shares Resources for Veterans and Their Caregivers

• Managing Someone Else’s Money guide for VA fiduciaries: This guide is for family or friends serving as a VA fiduciary, managing veterans benefits for a loved one. It explains the responsibilities of VA fiduciaries, as well as how to spot financial exploitation and avoid scams. The guide is part of the Managing Someone Else’s Money series for financial caregivers, which includes guides for other types of fiduciaries: power of attorney, guardian, and trustee.
    
• VA aid and attendance fraud prevention resources: Scammers are targeting the aid and attendance benefit, which is an increased monthly pension for veterans or their surviving spouses who are eligible for a VA pension and need help with activities of daily living, are bedridden, are patients in a nursing home, or have certain vision limitations. Our handout explains how to spot these scams and how to safely apply for aid and attendance benefits.
     
• Planning for peace of mind: Social Security Advance Designation explains a new tool from the Social Security Administration that allows you to recommend someone you trust to manage your Social Security benefits if you become unable to do so yourself.
     
• Considering a financial caregiver? Know your options is a new resource to help you decide whether you or your loved one need an informal caregiver, who helps manage money on an as-needed basis, or a formal caregiver, established by a legal arrangement. The brief guide also walks you through what to consider when choosing a financial caregiver.

Order free print copies of these publications for yourself, and to share with veterans and their families at consumerfinance.gov/order.