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The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), which began in 1996, is a set of large-scale surveys of families and individuals, their medical providers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, etc.), and employers across the United States. MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services, and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost, scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S. workers. MEPS currently has two major components: the Household Component and the Insurance Component.

Be prepared before a disaster strikes your community or small business. As part of a series of focus groups, the Kansas City Fed has developed an array of materials to help you be prepared before and after a disaster. Toolkit includes financial inventory forms, checklists, resources and Spanish-language resources.

A one-page infographic with steps you can take to prepare you and your family financially for a disaster

This brief shares lessons learned from three local intermediary organizations that have supported nonprofits in their efforts to integrate financial capability services into existing program. Financial capability is the capacity—based on knowledge, skills, and access—to manage financial resources effectively. 

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau compiled a list of companies that offer their existing credit card customers free access to one of their credit scores. This list also includes information on other ways to get credit scores for free.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new portal helps you find information and learn about credit scores and reports while providing links to additional resources. It includes sections on the difference between credit scores and credit reports, what to look for and how to dispute errors on credit reports, and tips for building and keeping a good credit score.

Steps and tips on how to rebuild credit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Download guide in PDF Format.

Assessing Head Start & Early Head Start Families’ Financial Capability: t his brief outlines strategies and tools Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) can use to gain a deeper understanding of how HS/EHS families are managing their finances to decide which services might help them build financial capability. Financial Coaching in Head Start Programs: t his brief discusses financial coaching in Head Start settings and presents methods for providing financial coaching as well as training resources for programs interested in building staff capacity to become financial coaches

This brief shares lessons learned about integrating financial capability services into existing programs at four organizations serving rural communities. Financial capability is the capacity—based on knowledge, skills, and access—to manage financial resources effectively. This brief is organized into three sections: selecting financial capability services, deciding who will provide services, and identifying the right points in time to integrate financial capability services.

Older adults can become targets of financial exploitation by family members, caregivers, scam artists, financial advisers, home repair contractors, fiduciaries (such as agents under power of attorney and guardians), and others. Older adults are attractive targets because they may have significant assets or equity in their homes.