Financial Difficulties

Financial difficulties can result from a variety of reasons. These problems can
be due to unexpected illness or injury, loss or employment, death, divorce, or a
reduction of employee benefits. Sometimes money problems are a result of wages
not keeping up with inflation. Sometimes credit card debts, loan debts, and interest
costs pile up too quickly.

Some families are dealing with too many large, long-term debts. Some have
fewer debts but are looking for ways to get a loan or make a purchase at the most
reasonable cost.

How is Your Financial Situation?

This list can help you pin-point where your financial difficulties are. Answer yes
or no to the following statements.

1. I do not have enough money to buy adequate amounts of food.
2. I do not have enough money for adequate health or dental care.
3. I do not have health insurance.
4. I do not have auto insurance.
5. I hide bill notices so my family or spouse doesn’t know about my debts.
6. I let payments slide so someone else has to make payments for me.
7. I often need to use the automatic loan overdraft protection on my checking account.
8. My credit cards are charged to their limits.
9. I have been threatened to have my utilities or phone service shut off.
10. I have many large debts.
11. My parents or siblings regularly give me “gifts” of money to help me meet payments, buy the children clothing, etc.
12. My spouse spends the money, leaving little or nothing for me.
13. My family often argues about money.
14. My debt(s) have been turned over (or are threatened to be turned over) to a credit collection agency.
15. I delve into my retirement savings or non-matured savings bonds to pay for debts.
16. I have had items repossessed.
17. I have lost friends because I failed to pay debts I owed them.

Help is Available

Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help you get in contact with
skilled financial counselors. There is no charge for our contact with the EAP; however,
some of our referrals may charge a fee. These fees often depend on income level. At
times there is no cost to the client at all.

Your EAP makes referrals to agencies that can help with a variety of financial issues:

• Budget planning
• Buying techniques
• Debt reduction plans
• Debt prevention
• Debt repayment programs

How Do I Get Help?

1. Your first step is to get in contact with your Employee Assistance Program
and set up an appointment. Any family member is eligible to use the EAP.
2. Talk to a trained assessor at the EAP office about your situation.
3. The assessor will work with you to analyze your situation and help you get
into a personal program that deals specifically with financial issues.
4. Once you make contact with the appropriate agency, you may work with
them for 3 to 5 sessions. The number of sessions varies depending on
the agency and your present needs.

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