# When a health emergency puts someone’s finances in your hands Stepping into financial caregiving is overwhelming. These resources make it simple, so you can get back to focusing on your loved one. ## Resources - [The emergency financial transition guide](https://afloatfinance.org/guides/emergency-financial-transition/): The whole path in one page: the first 72 hours, getting authority, finding the bills, keeping them paid, and building the full picture for the care decisions ahead. Every step as the question families actually ask. - [Call guides](https://afloatfinance.org/guides/call-guides/): Be prepared for calls with the bank, SSA, and more. Know what to have in front of you and the questions you don't want to miss. - Power of attorney, explained (coming soon): Durable vs. springing, what a bank will actually accept, what happens when capacity is already gone, and how to get one signed in a hospital. - [Handout for care teams](https://afloatfinance.org/afloat-handout.pdf): A printable one-page for social workers and discharge planners to share. Covers the most critical steps and where to go for more resources. ## Common questions ### What is power of attorney (POA)? A durable power of attorney is a legal document that gives another person the authority to make decisions for you or "act as your agent." The durable POA allows the person you chose to do important tasks, like paying bills, filing taxes, or signing contracts, on your behalf, which is especially helpful if you're incapacitated. You'll need to work with a lawyer to get a POA in place. ### How should I choose my power of attorney? Discuss this with your lawyer before making your final decision. In general, your POA should be someone that you really trust. You should also consider their own health and memory - will they be capable of stepping in when you need them down the road? ### Do I need power of attorney to pay their bills? It depends. A joint owner (like a spouse) on the checking account can pay most bills without issue. And many credit cards accept phone payments with just the account numbers. Before writing any physical checks or initiating transfers, though, you do need POA or other authority (like guardianship) before stepping in to help with this. ### Can't I just use their usernames and passwords? Many people resort to this method as the easiest plan in an emergency, but it can cause problems later. There's a right way to gain access to the accounts, and it's not as complicated as you might think. Afloat walks you through all of it. ### The bank won’t talk to me. What now? This is typical. They can't share info with you until they've verified the POA or a court order for guardianship. Ask for details on exactly what they need to process POA. In the meantime, most critical bills can be paid over the phone using just the account and routing numbers. ### Should I pay the hospital bill that just arrived? Not yet. First, verify that any insurance has already processed. This can take a long time. Next, ask for an itemized bill so you can review it for accuracy. If the patient is struggling financially, be sure to ask about financial assistance programs. Use the [Hardship Program call guide](https://afloatfinance.org/guides/call-guides/) to help. ## About Afloat ### Is Afloat really free? How do you make money? Yes! Our guides and the Afloat emergency financial navigator are totally free. We make money from voluntary contributions (like tips) and from Afloat Plan (coming soon!), which helps families plan ahead for financial transitions and charges a subscription fee. ### How does Afloat keep our data safe? Your safety and privacy are our top priority. We'll never sell your data, and you can delete it any time. Please see our Privacy Policy for details. ### Can I share the Afloat guides with my clients/patients/community? Yes! Thanks for asking. We want to offer this info to as many people as possible. This [one-page flyer](/afloat-handout.pdf) covers all the basics of emergency financial caregiving. Have a request for a new resource? Tell us about it at [support@afloatfinance.org](mailto:support@afloatfinance.org). ### Can I use Afloat for a loved one who isn't incapacitated? Afloat is designed to help caregivers navigate the challenge of figuring out a loved one's finances when they can't communicate. If that's not true of your situation, it's not right for you. If your loved one is currently managing their finances on their own, but wants to prepare to transition those tasks to you in the future, Afloat Plan (coming soon!) is a better fit. --- Afloat offers general information and organization tools, not legal, financial, or medical advice. Laws vary by state. For power of attorney, guardianship, and Medicaid questions, consult an elder-law attorney.