ElderWeb

The U.S. Treasury reports that over 15,000 savings bonds and 2,000 interest payments return to the Department of the Treasury as undeliverable each year. In addition, over $8 billion worth of savings bonds have stopped earning interest, but haven't been cashed. To help find the rightful owners of these bonds the Treasury has developed online search capabilities for old savings bonds. The database is still in development, but part of it is online now, and you can search by name, social security number, city, and state to see if they have any bonds in your name, or in that of a family member.

This service will also be a great help to people who are trying to discover and account for assets and records for family members who are no longer able to manage themselves, especially if the older person is no unable to remember or communicate about the location of these assets.

>> U.S. Treasury Savings Bond Hunt Site

AARP reports that few older people are taking time to investigate bargains in long distance rates. Long-distance carriers have multiple plans that generate confusion, making it difficult to find the best value. AARP has published some guidelines to help people cut through the confusing options.

They point out that long distance companies don't automatically lower rates to existing customers when they introduce new low cost plans, consumers must ask for them. They suggest that consumers prepare themselves by tracking their own phone patterns for a few months, including:

- Total minutes of state-to-state long-distance calls made each month. - Total minutes of in-state long-distance calls made each month. - The days (during the week or weekends) and the time of day (before or after 7 p.m.) when most long-distance calls are made.

A study by the Federal Communications Commission last year found that people who make only a few long-distance calls each month are actually paying more than they used to, even with the competitive pricing. Consumers need to carefully read the fine print in the contracts to find out what fees and restrictions apply to any plan they use.

Newsday reports that New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and City Council Speaker Peter Vallone announced a $5 million supplement to the city's Home Energy Assistance Program. This was triggered in part by Vallone, who said his 94 year old aunt was socked with an $805 fuel bill last month, and an elderly neighbor of hers got a fuel bill that topped $1,000. The money will be available through the Department of Aging. Seniors whose income is less than $1,030 a month, or less than $1,383 for a two-person household, qualify for federal aid to pay heating bills. This year, eligibility thresholds are being raised by as much as $5,000 per person per year, making at least 50,000 additional households eligible to receive the aid.

MSNBC talked to Jack Gillis, public affairs director for the Consumer Federation of America, on the Today Show. He said that his organization estimates that senior discounts can range from from 10%-50% on things like travel, medical and health, food and basic household items and recreational activities. Assuming the average older person spends $10,000 to $15,000 a year on these items, the discounts could save them up to $7,500 a year, if they're willing to ask for them.