PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
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A large majority of state laws lack protections for individuals creating financial powers of attorney, according to the Public Policy Institute’s research report, Power of Attorney Abuse: What States Can Do About It.
A power of attorney is a critical planning tool – a legal document delegating authority to another person to handle financial matters. As the population ages, the power of attorney will be used even more often to appoint trusted family members and others. But the power of attorney can also be a “license to steal” because it grants broad powers with little oversight.
The PPI report, written by attorneys at the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, explores the problem of power of attorney abuse and how state legislatures can protect vulnerable adults against it. It explains how the new Uniform Power of Attorney Act helps prevent, detect and redress abuse, and provides resources to promote enactment of this model law. A two-page In Brief summarizes the key points in the report.
Need for Low-Income Heating Assistance Continues Despite Recent Drop in Some Home Heating Costs This fact sheet explains that low-income households continue to struggle to pay for heat and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program remains inadequate to help low-income individuals and families.
Can Advance Metering Help Reduce Electricity Costs for Residential Consumers? This paper examines advanced metering, a system to charge consumers different prices for electricity on the basis of the time of day the electricity is used, and potential benefits and concerns.
Telecommunications/Information Technology
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Energy and Telephone Assistance in the States II: Public Programs that Help Low-Income Households
Programs to help low-income households initiate and maintain energy and telephone service, which federal and state governments have mandated, funded, or approved, are identified and described in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Ann McLarty Jackson and Neal Walters. The report facilitates comparisons between and among states and across services. (266 pages)
May 13, 2008
By: Ann McLarty Jackson, AARP Public Policy Institute; Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
In Brief: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Consumer Switching Costs in the U.S. Marketplace for Wireless Telephone Service
The switching costs that consumers are charged when they change wireless telephone service providers, such as early termination fees, generally harm consumers by increasing prices and making markets less competitive. In this short summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, Christopher A. Baker finds significant evidence that the national wireless carriers strategically pursue and manage a full range of switching cost opportunities. (2 pages)
October 16, 2007
By: Christopher Baker, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Consumer Switching Costs in the U.S. Marketplace for Wireless Telephone Service
Consumer switching costs are the actual or perceived costs that customers associate with the process of changing from one wireless telephone service provider to another.
July 23, 2009
Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Into the Breach: Security Breaches and Identity Theft
Security breaches of data files can lead to identity theft. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Neal Walters analyzes 244 breaches between January 1, 2005 and May 26, 2006, and finds that 40 percent were caused by hackers or insider access targeting sensitive personal information, potentially exposing 50 million individuals’ names and personal data. (4 pages)
July 24, 2006
By: Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Cell Phone Service Bills, Long-Term Contracts, and Complaints
Cell phone consumers are often locked into long-term contracts before they have an opportunity to review their first monthly bill. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Christopher Baker, survey results show strong support for allowing consumers to cancel their cell phone contract after receiving their first bill without having to pay a penalty. (2 pages)
June 19, 2006
By: Christopher Baker, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Cell Phones for Safety and Security in Case of an Emergency
Consumers purchase cell phones for many reasons. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, Christopher Baker presents survey results that show women, low-income consumers and older consumers are among the most likely cell phone users to cite safety and security as a reason for having cell phone service. (2 pages)
June 19, 2006
By: Christopher Baker, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
E-Technology Challenges and Opportunities: Empowering a Graying Society Age of Connectivity.""
U.N. Headquarters, NY, USA
June 19, 2006
Spyware and Identity Theft
Spyware is rapidly becoming the tool of choice for cyberthieves using the Internet to commit identity theft. This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Neal Walters examines how spyware is used to gather sensitive personal information from unsuspecting Internet users, and provides policy options for combating this rapidly growing crime. (2 pages)
May 5, 2006
By: Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Older Persons and Wireless Telephone Use
While consumers age 50 to 64 are almost as likely to have cell phone service as those between 18 and 49, this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Christopher A. Baker and Ann McLarty Jackson finds that the most common reason for age 65+ users is security in case of an emergency. (2 pages)
May 31, 2005
By: Christopher Baker, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ann McLarty Jackson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Key Elements for Informed Choice and Consumer Protection in the Wireless Telecommunications Marketplace
What policymakers can do via rule-making or legislation to promote a level playing field for consumers of wireless telephone services is outlined in this AARP Public Policy Institute issue memo. (2 pages)
March 1, 2005
By: AARP Public Policy Institute
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Learn how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and how several European nations have implemented work-sharing.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
