Thank you senior West Virginia veterans! WV Senior Legal Aid is open on Veterans Day to serve.

West Virginia Senior Legal Aid will be open on Veterans Day 11/11/21. We thank our senior veterans for their service and are here to serve your legal needs. 1.800.229.5068 http://seniorlegalaid.org

Heads Up: Medicare Annual Enrollment now through December 7, 2021

Are conservatorships really that Toxic? Britney Spears is using her voice to show what a Circus it has been for her.

The news about Britney Spears in court trying to take back control of her life and money has raised questions about guardianship, conservatorship, legal rights to make your own choices, and how you can take back control.

Q: What is #FreeBritney?

A: #FreeBritney is a hashtag that has been used to garner attention regarding Britney Spears and the conservatorship she is under. This movement has been going on for quite some time, but has gained much more popularity in recent months as Spears has expressed to the court that she wants to regain control of her own life.

Q: What is a conservatorship?

A: Guardianships and conservatorships are governed by state law, so the definitions can vary by state. In West Virginia, a guardian is a person appointed by the Circuit Court who is responsible for the personal and medical decisions of a “protected person” (someone who doesn’t have the capacity to take care of themselves). A conservator is a person appointed by the court who is responsible for managing the financial affairs of a protected person. The same person can fill both roles or the court can assign the roles to two different individuals. Sometimes only one or the other is necessary to be appointed. Read the entire state statute here.

Q: Why is Spears under a conservatorship?

A: Beginning in 2007, Britney experienced erratic behavior in public that resulted in her mental stability to be questioned, not only by those close to her, but by her fans and the general public. In 2008, Britney’s father, James Spears, successfully petitioned a California court to appoint him as her conservator, which under California law meant Britney no longer had the legal right to make her own personal, medical, and financial decisions. Because the court granted his petition, James Spears controlled Britney’s personal and medical decisions (who she had contact with, where she lived, when she visited her children, and, most infamously, decisions about her birth control) while he shared control of her finances with a court appointed co-conservator, attorney Andrew Wallet. In 2018 the conservatorship was modified, and from that time until the present, James Spears shares control of Britney’s finances with Bessemer Trust, an estate management firm, while a court appointed professional, Jodi Montgomery, controls her personal and medical decisions.

Q: Will the conservatorship last forever?

A: Conservatorships in most states are usually ordered to be permanent, though the protected person or another individual can later petition for termination or change if the circumstances that led to the conservatorship have changed. Only a court can determine the answer to this. Beginning in 2007, Britney experienced erratic behavior in public that resulted in her mental stability to be questioned, not only by those close to her, but by her fans and the general public. In 2008, Britney’s father, James Spears, successfully petitioned a California court to appoint him as her conservator, which under California law meant Britney no longer had the legal right to make her own personal, medical, and financial decisions. Because the court granted his petition, James Spears controlled Britney’s personal and medical decisions (who she had contact with, where she lived, when she visited her children, and, most infamously, decisions about her birth control) while he shared control of her finances with a court appointed co-conservator, attorney Andrew Wallet. In 2018 the conservatorship was modified, and from that time until the present, James Spears shares control of Britney’s finances with Bessemer Trust, an estate management firm, while a court appointed professional, Jodi Montgomery, controls her personal and medical decisions. uested a hearing regarding her conservatorship. During a California probate court hearing in June, Spears was able to directly address the judge via telephone. Spears told Los Angeles probate judge Brenda Penny she is “not happy” and “traumatized.” (Full transcript here). In July, the court ruled Spears has the right to hire her own attorney in the case. Depending on what the court decides, it could go on Until the World Ends. But it sounds like Spears will seek an attorney to help achieve her goal of ending the conservatorship.

Q: Are guardianships/conservatorships always a bad thing?

A: No. For an adult who is not capable of managing money, medical, or personal decisions well enough to maintain a safe life a good guardian or a conservator can provide that help. But a guardianship or conservatorship should be the last resort imposed by a court only if lesser restrictive options cannot adequately protect the person. Sometimes an informal team of friends, family, and others is all that is needed to help a person maintain independence safely. Supported decision making can avoid the need for guardianship and conservatorship for many people.

If you are at least 60 yrs old and a West Virginia resident and have questions, you can talk to an attorney for free at WV Senior Legal Aid, 1.800.229.5068.

contributed by Alexis Schneider, Public Interest Law Fellow at WVSLA

Juneteenth: You are not free until you know you are free

Many of us never learned in school about Juneteenth. We may have learned about General Lee's surrender at Appomattox or President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation as the end of slavery in America, but for many African Americans it would actually be two and half years that they were freed.

In Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865 federal troops arrived to take over Texas and impose General Gordon Granger's order No. 3 that all slaves were free and had equal rights.

This day has been celebrated as Jubilee Day or Freedome Day in various places since then, but now nationwide we celebrate it as Juneteenth.

No matter what the law says, if you don't know you have rights you don't really have rights.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has enacted a proclamation making Juneteenth a paid holiday for state workers, to be celebrated this year on Friday, June 18. https://governor.wv.gov/Documents/2021%20Proclamations/Juneteenth-%2006-17-21.pdf

At West Virginia Senior Legal Aid we celebrate liberty and justice on Juneteenth, and everyday we strive to continue the fight for racial equity in our state and across the country and the world.

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

According to the World Health Organization at least 1 in 6 people age 60 or older experienced abuse in the past year.

Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical violence, neglect, financial exploitation, sexual abuse, or psychological abuse.

If we truly respect our elders we cannot allow this to continue. Today is a day dedicated to raising awareness about elder abuse so we can stand up and take action to protect every older person from any form of abuse.

You can learn about elder abuse here. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/elder-abuse

A small action that you can take to prevent elder abuse is to talk about it and help raise awareness. You can check on an older neighbor and let him or her know you are available to help and can be trusted. You can tell your legislators that elder abuse is an important concern in our commmunity.

Mountaineers Aging with Pride series: LGBTQ+ and Planning for Aging

Planning for aging as an LGBTQ+ senior. According to SAGE and the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, LGBT older people are 2x as likely to be single and live alone as well as 4x less likely to have children. While this is not a bad thing, it does pose some unique considerations for LGBT persons as they age. Some of these considerations include deciding who you would like to allow in a hospital or care facility with you, who can assist you in making financial decisions, and what will happen to your assets when you die. Laws frequently assume biological families will be there for the aging process, but the laws are not necessarily built for families of choice. By doing some legal planning in preparation for the aging process, you can help ensure you have the people you want by your side.

All of these issues are particularly true in West Virginia, especially in our more rural communities. It can be harder to rely on support built through social networks in more isolated areas, making planning that much more important. There are various planning steps you can take depending on your unique wants and needs. Advanced medical directives, Transfer on Death Deeds, and supported decision making clauses in Powers of Attorney are just a few of the potential tools for helping you plan for aging. WVSLA can help with these and more! WVSLA celebrates LGBTQ+ senior West Virginians, and seeks to serve your legal needs. If you are at least 60 years old and a West Virginian you can talk to an attorney for free by calling 1.800.229.5068

contributed by Alexis Schneider, Public Interest Law Fellow at WVSLA

Mountaineers Aging with Pride series: Landmark US Supreme Court decision protects rights of LGBTQ employees

Bostock v. Clayton County Who went to court and what happened?
What does it mean for WV?

Landmark Supreme Court decision protects rights of LGBTQ employees. On June 15th, 2020, The Supreme Court of the United States made a landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County Board of Commissioners.The Court heard a combination of three cases regarding employees being fired; two for their sexual orientation and one for their gender identity. The Court ruled that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employees were protected from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Act prohibits employers from “discriminat[ing] against any individual . . . because of because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin . . . .” It was decided that although gender and sexual orientation are not equivalent to sex, discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation cannot be done without a reliance on sex-based discrimination. Sexual orientation and gender identity do not have to be the only reason an employee is fired, they need only be part of the employer’s decision in order for the employer to have violated Title VII.

What does this mean for West Virginians? This decision may have wide ranging impacts for LGBTQ+ people, including those who call the Mountain State home. This particular provision applies to more than just firing employees. It prevents discrimination in hiring, compenation, terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Now, employers with over 15 employees can be sued for discriminating against applicants and employees because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. LGBTQ+ employees in West Virginia are protected from discrimination based on their gender and sexual orientation in cases where Title VII applies. So while our state human rights code does not explicitly list sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, these are now considered federally protected classes in employment.

contributed by Alexis Schneider, Public Interest Law Fellow at WVSLA

Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit coming soon! enrollment opens 5/15/21

We'll post more info about this soon, but in the meantime you can learn more about this benefit from the FCC website here https://getemergencybroadband.org/

Federal funeral assistance benefit from FEMA for COVID-19 deaths

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a program offering funeral assistance for COVID-19 deaths in the United States since January 20, 2020.

Who is eligible to apply?

Those who paid for funeral expenses since January 20, 2020 for an individual whose death in the United States was caused by or likely caused by COVID-19.

If someone else helped you pay for funeral expenses can they also apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?

FEMA will generally only provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to one applicant per deceased individual.

How do you apply?

Unfortunately there is no paper application or online application available. The only way to apply at this time is by calling FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number,
1-844-684-6333
TTY: 1-800-462-7585 Monday through Friday between 9am and 9pm Eastern Time. Callers will be asked questions to get registered for the rest of the application process. You'll probably get a busy signal many times so you might have to keep on trying to get through.

What information will you need to give when you call to apply/register?

The applicant responsible for COVID-19 funeral expenses will need to provide the following information below when they call FEMA to register for assistance. We recommend gathering this information now as we prepare to open the application process.

• Social Security number for the applicant and the deceased individual
• Date of birth for the applicant and the deceased individual
• Current mailing address for the applicant
• Current telephone number for the applicant
• Location or address where the deceased individual passed away
• Information about burial or funeral insurance policies
• Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations
• CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations
• Routing and account number of the applicant’s checking or savings account (for direct deposit, if requested)

After your registration call you will have to submit documentation which can be done online or by mail.

What documentation is required to submit after registration?

You must provide

• a copy of the death certificate,
• proof of funeral expenses incurred, and
• proof of assistance received from any other source.

The death certificate must indicate the death was caused by, “may have been caused by” or “was likely a result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution. Documentation for expenses (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) must include the applicant’s name as the person responsible for the expense, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and that funeral expenses were incurred after January 20, 2020.

The applicant must also provide FEMA with proof of funds received from other sources specifically used for funeral costs. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance or financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government programs or agencies, or other sources. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will be reduced by the amount of other assistance the applicant received for the same expenses.

What if you received life insurance benefits or expect you might receive life insurance benefits?

Funeral expenses that were paid for with pre-paid funeral insurance are considered to be a duplication. So are funeral expenses that have already been paid for with burial or funeral insurance. But life insurance proceeds are not generally considered a duplication of benefits.

What funeral expenses are covered?

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. Any receipts received for expenses that are not related to funeral services will not be determined eligible expenses. Expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation typically include, but are not limited to:

• Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual
• Transfer of remains
• Casket or urn
• Burial plot or cremation niche
• Marker or headstone
• Clergy or officiant services
• Arrangement of the funeral ceremony
• Use of funeral home equipment or staff
• Cremation or interment costs
• Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates
• Additional expenses mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances

For more information about this new FEMA benefit see www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance/faq

If you personally are at least 60 years old and a West Virginia resident with questions about this or other legal issues, you can talk to an attorney for free at West Virginia Senior Legal Aid 1-800-229-5068.

Receiving strange tax documents might mean identity theft

You may have been a victim of unemployment benefits fraud and not even known about it. Until you get a 1099-g in the mail you know nothing about.

If you get any suspicious tax documents in the mail that don't make sense to you, or if you tried to file your tax return and it got rejected by the IRS because they say your taxes have already been filed, you might be a victim of identity theft.

Ignoring it won't make it go away, and eventually it might cause you a problem. It is likely to be easier to resolve the quicker you start to take action.

West Virginia seniors age 60 and over can talk to a lawyer for free about these and other legal problems by calling West Virginia Senior Legal Aid at 1-800-229-5068.

3rd stimulus payments for many SS, SSI, SSDI starting tomorrow!

If you receive Social Security, SSI, or Social Security Disability income by direct deposit or Direct Express card and don't file federal tax returns you may receive your 3rd stimulus payment as early as tomorrow.

The Social Security Administration sent updated beneficiary contact and bank account information to the IRS in late March, and we have been waiting for the IRS to publish information about when and how the third stimulus payments would be received. The IRS online Get My Payment tool has been showing Status Unavailable for so many folks trying to find out when they should expect their payments.

However you receive your monthly benefits from Social Security Administration is how you should expect to receive this payment from the IRS, which for most folks is either by direct deposit or Direct Express card.

The income limit to be eligible for the full payment of $1400 is $75,000/yr. If you have qualifying dependents you may be eligible to receive $1400 payments for each of them, too, including dependents who are over the age of 17. If you receive your stimulus payment, but you have a qualifying dependent that should make you eligible for additional money, you may have to file a tax return next year for 2021 to get a tax credit for the amount you were eligible for but did not receive.

This third stimulus payment is not generally subject to government debt garnishment, so if you owe child support or back taxes you should still be able to receive this payment.

If you are a West Virginian age 60 or over and have questions or concerns about your stimulus payments, or other legal questions or problems you can call WV Senior Legal Aid and talk to an attorney for free at 1-800-229-5068.

Low-income Social Security, SSI, SSDI recipients: When am I getting my 3rd stimulus payment?

We still don't know. According to a statement from Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul published Friday, March 26, the SSA has turned over updated contact and bank account information for SS, SSDI, and SSI beneficiaries to the IRS for the purpose of getting payments to beneficiaries who did not file 2019 or 2020 federal tax returns. The IRS actually issues the payments. Of course, many low-income beneficiaries do not normally file federal tax returns because they aren't required to. Many of these low-income folks really need this stimulus money as soon as possible, and the delays and uncertainty are a burden for them.

The American Rescue Plan (ARP), the federal legislation that authorized the 3rd stimulus payments, has different criteria and limits than the first two stimulus payments. Generally eligible individuals should receive $1400 each, and payments at the full $1400 for each of their dependents of any age, as well.

Low-income seniors and people with disabilities make up the pool of people still waiting for payments and answers. Many are grandparents raising grandchildren or senior caregivers with adult dependents who can really use this money and would likely spend it back into the economy quickly.

For beneficiaries who have not filed taxes we still don't know if the IRS will provide a way to report your dependents so you get the correct amount of stimulus payment. For the first 2 rounds of stimulus payments the IRS had an online tool available to do that, especially helpful for folks who do not otherwise need to file taxes. The IRS has not announced whether that tool, or something like it, will be available for this third round. If these low-income beneficiaries with dependents have to file taxes it will require a huge amount of resources to make tax assistance to all these people quickly, and many will miss out on the additional dependent payments.

As soon as the IRS announces more information how and when low-income SS, SSDI, and SSI beneficiaries can get their 3rd stimulus payments we will publish it here. Every American needs to know with certainty from credible sources when and how to expect the stimulus payments so they can protect themselves financial exploitation and scams.

Any West Virginia senior age 60 or over with a legal problem or question can contact West Virginia Senior Legal Aid to talk to a lawyer for free at 1-800-229-5068.

Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program now open and accepting applications

If you are a renter who is struggling to pay rent or utilities because of financial hardship due to the Coronavirus, you may be eligible for assistance from the The Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program (MRAP). MRAP is now open and accepting applications.

Eligible tenants must have:

• household income under 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) which varies by county, see the chart here www.wvhdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Income-Limits-Eff-4.1.2020-80.pdf
• one or more household members suffering financial hardship due to the pandemic (such as a period of unemployment, reduction in household income, incurring significant costs)
• one or more household members at risk of homelessness because of past due utility or behind on rent

Kinds of payments that can be covered include rent, past due rent, past due utilities and energy costs.

Payments due April 1, 2020 and after can be eligible for coverage.

There is no cap on the assistance amount available to a renter, but there is a 15 month limit total, and there are some limits for certain kinds of payments.

Even HUD and other housing beneficiaries can be eligible for assistance but only for the amount owed by the tenant that is not covered by another benefit source.

The covered payments will not go to the tenant, but rather will go directly to the landlord or service provider who is owed the arrearage. Landlords cannot apply directly, only tenants can apply and if found eligible then their landlords will need to complete some documentation to get paid.

You can apply for Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program (MRAP) online here https://apply.wvmrap.com/

If you are a West Virginia resident age 60 or over you can call WV Senior Legal Aid for answers and help at 1-800-229-5068.

If you are under age 60 you may be able to get assistance through a local MRAP partner from this list www.wvhdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-3-5-WV-County-211-Office-MRAP-Partner-List.pdf

Government imposter scams increasing, arm yourself with preventive information

You can rest assured that if you actually owe any money to any government agency you'll get a letter in the mail from them. Not a text, chat, call, or email.

Tell your friends! There are lots of scammers who are pretending to be government agencies claiming you owe money. Government imposter scams are on the increase, and it is easy to understand how you can feel pressured to give money to these scammers. The Federal Trade Commission offers the following advice to protect yourself, and if you tell your friends, it might protect them, too.

"Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers manipulate caller ID to look like the call is coming from an official government number. Look up the agency’s number yourself, if you’re concerned, and give them a call. But don’t use the number in caller ID.

Government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Social Security Administration (SSA) won’t call, text, or email you to say that you owe money.

Nobody legit will ever tell you to pay with gift cards, money transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Never share personal information with anyone who contacts you. If you’re worried, look up the government agency’s information yourself to check with them.

Sharing these tips might just help someone you care about sleep a little more soundly. And, of course, if you spot a scammer, talk about it, and then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Each report helps protect your community."

If you are at least 60 yrs old and a WV resident, you can call and talk to a lawyer for free at WV Senior Legal Aid 1.800.229.5068.

WV Legislative session starts this week

The West Virginia state legislature meets for 2 months every year, and this year's session begins on February 10, 2021. Some pandemic precautions will be in place at the Capitol, so public participation in person will be quite limited, though the proceedings are scheduled to be done in person in the House and Senate chambers. 

You can see the calendar for the session at https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bulletin_Board/calendar/calendar_2021.cfm

Throughout the session you can see some daily highlights posted on the legislature's blog https://blog.wvlegislature.gov/

Governor Jim Justice will present his State of the State address on Wednesday night which will be broadcast live starting at 7p on WV Public radio and public television. You can find your local public tv channel here https://www.wvpublic.org/find-wvpb-television and your local public radio station here https://www.wvpublic.org/find-wv-public-radio

WVSLA celebrates the life of Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson’s extraordinary life began in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia in 1918 and took her to a long career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Hampton, Virginia. She died February 24, 2020 at age 101.

Much of her life history was revealed in the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures” and the book by the same name, ”Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race,” by Margot Lee Shetterly.

Mrs. Johnson’s love of learning and mathematics helped her excel in school and college at West Virginia State, and at West Virginia University as a graduate student. While she was enrolled in the WVU math program as a graduate student for just one semester, she played a ground-breaking role in integrating African-American students into the master’s program in 1939.

With the can-do attitude that served her well all her life, Mrs. Johnson’s work with NASA involved making complex and unique calculations of the orbital mechanics which were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights.

Her 33-year career in the space program started with the very first space flights of Alan Shepard and then John Glenn and extended through to the planning for coordinating the vehicles involved in the 1969 moon landing, Space Shuttle missions, and even a mission to Mars. The astronauts were brought home safely on the failed Apollo 13 mission because of her calculations. She was part of the high-level Space Task Group responsible for launch and landing data. She co-authored 26 research papers.

Mrs. Johnson’s attitude was: “I always tried to do my best, because I did not want anyone to bring my work back to be redone – and they never did!”

The space agency noted her ‘historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist.”

Her experiences also made her a strong proponent of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as an educational focus.

For her achievements, Mrs. Johnson received numerous honors: the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015; the Congressional Gold Medal in 2020 posthumously; and a Silver Snoopy award, often called the astronaut’s award, for her work in assisting astronauts during the space missions.

She received 13 honorary degrees, including an honorary doctorate from WVU in 2015 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2019. Four buildings have been named for her; two are major NASA facilities. The Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility is located in Fairmont, WV.

From her first marriage, she had three daughters; Joylette, Constance, and Katherine. She later was remarried for almost 60 years, and happily, her family expanded to include 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren at the time of her death in 2020.

Statewide WV online pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccine is up and running

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has created an online registration system for state residents to sign up to get notified of when they can get vaccinated. The system went online Monday 1/25/21.

You don't have to be any certain age or in a priority category to voluntarily pre-register on the site. You have to create an account in the system by providing information like your birthdate and home address. You will have to provide a way to be contacted, such as email or phone or text, for when an appointment becomes available for you to get vaccinated. You have to  create a username and password that you'll need to be able to retrieve later to log in for updates and information. 

The system will still apply the state's vaccine plan priorities, so older people should expect to be ahead of younger people as appointments for vaccination become available in your geographic area.

Learn more about the system here https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/Vaccine.aspx and click the Sign Up Here gray button at the bottom of the page to create your account.

Senior West Virginians age 60 and over who have concerns or questions about this can call WV Senior Legal Aid at 1.800.229.5068 for help. 

Tips for Avoiding COVID-19 Fraud

Fraudsters never miss an opportunity. Fear of the pandemic and confusion about the vaccine create excellent opportunities for scammers to get between you and your money.

Seniors are among the most vulnerable to both the novel coronavirus and consumer scams related to it. Of course senior West Virginians are seeking information about how to prevent getting infected, so being skeptical is as important as it has ever been. 

To help protect yourself from the opportunistic virus scammers:

- Know that vaccination and testing is FREE. If someone is asking you to pay, it's a scam.

- Recognize that URGENCY and SCARCITY are easily used by scammers to trick you into making bad decisions. Cavemen scammers probably used these tactics, they are so old and effective. Take a minute to breathe and consult your trusted sources before giving your money or your personal information to anyone no matter how much pressure you are under. In fact, the more pressured you feel the more likely you are about to get scammed.

- Know that the government IS NOT going to call you and ask for personal information for you to get vaccine or treatment. This is also true about the IRS, remember those scams? It's that time of year, they'll be coming around again soon, too.

- Don't rely on social media posts about vaccine or treatment or testing. VERIFY that information from the real sources, like your local health department https://dhhr.wv.gov/localhealth/pages/map.aspx, your Governor's website https://governor.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx, the state Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) website https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx.

- Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare number, financial information, or attempt to set up a COVID-19 test for you and collect payment information for the test. If you want to verify that a call from a contact tracer is legitimate call your local health department. Learn more about this here http://seniorlegalaid.blogspot.com/2020/06/contact-tracer-or-scammer.html

- DON'T RESPOND to text messages, Facebook messenger, or other social media direct messages about virus testing, treatment, or vaccine, and don't click any links about it in messages. Even if the message is from someone you know scammers can hack your friends' accounts and deliver fake messages.

- PROTECT your personal information and don't give it out if you aren't sure. Get help figuring it out. 

If you suspect you have been contacted by a scammer, or you have been the victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov.

If you are at least 60 years old and a West Virginia resident you can call WV Senior Legal Aid at 1-800-229-5068 for confidential advice about scams and other legal issues.