State Services for the Blind

Paperwork and Finances

Getting Help

Sometimes the paperwork piles up faster than we can deal with it. When this happens, a trusted relative or friend can provide help in sorting it out and getting things back on track. Other professionals may also be able to help with specific tasks:

A bank representative may be available at your branch to assist you personally with banking business, especially at less-busy hours. Ask your bank about special services.
Customer assistance telephone numbers at many businesses may offer special services to you.

Privacy is an important issue, and some feelings of loss of privacy may be inevitable. As you develop new skills to handle bills and paperwork, your confidence will grow.

Bills and Mail

Establish new routines for handling bills and mail. Once you find a workable system, use it consistently. Bills and financial business can be done on the same day of every month, as a reminder. There are other tips that may help:

Establish ground rules and a routine , if you’re working with an assistant. Both of you must be clear on how you will work together.
An efficient and well-lighted workspace should be set up. Use a combination lamp and magnifier, available in both floor lamp and tabletop models. Keep mail and bills in special containers or brightly colored file folders so you know just where to find them.
Separate mail into “paid bills,” “unpaid bills,” “medical records,” “personal correspondence,” etc. Try to handle each piece of mail only once or twice, if possible. Then file carefully.
Use bold-print checks (available from many banks) and a large-print check register . Or make your own register by enlarging the pages on a photocopier. Large-print calendars, date books and address books are widely available for purchase, or can be made on a photocopier.
Use a plastic check-writing template , a lettering guide, and an envelope template. These help guide writing in straight lines and make it more readable.
Use electronic banking for as many routine bills and deposits as possible, to eliminate check writing.
White paper with bold lines and a thick black felt-tip pen provide the greatest writing contrast.
Print computer-generated documents in large type for maximum readability.
Enlarge hard-to-read documents on a photocopier.
A large-display or talking calculator helps make quicker work of math.
Use a hand-held magnifier to reduce eyestrain.
A CCTV (closed-circuit TV) magnifier makes print appear even larger. CCTVs are widely available in many public library branches, senior centers, and senior residences. They can also be purchased for use in your home.
A daily to-do list helps some people focus on the tasks at hand, and gives a feeling of accomplishment as they’re crossed off the list.

Identifying Money

Handling cash with confidence makes shopping, dining out and other activities less stressful. Here are a few tips from people with experience.

Buy a billfold with dividers and insert bills according to denomination ($1 bills in front, $5 bills next, and so on). Use bills in denominations of $1 to $20. Avoid $50 and $100 bills to avoid confusion or expensive errors.
Fold paper money using a different fold for each denomination. (For example, leave $1 bills flat, fold $5 in half vertically, fold $10 bills in half horizontally, and fold $20 bills at one corner.)
Distinguish coins by shape, weight and texture. Sort coins and carry them in a divided coin purse or in different pockets, if that helps.
Use a hand-held magnifier as needed to help identify bills and coins.