Wilmington – In partnership with the State of Delaware, United Way of Delaware (UWDE) has been offering free financial coaching to Delawareans for more than 10 years through its Stand By Me initiative. As part of the program, Stand By Me 50+ offers financial advice and resources designed specifically for Delawareans who are retired, or preparing to retire. Recently, UWDE launched a Stand By Me podcast series, and the latest episode focuses on Stand By Me 50+. The episode features Stand By Me coaches Kathleen Rupert and Nanci Glindmyer, who explain how older Delawareans can access and navigate a wide range of programs and resources designed to help them prepare for and enjoy retirement. “Stand By Me 50+ is an economic empowerment and stabilization program for people age 50 and up that provides financial coaching, benefits access and advice, and financial planning before and after retirement,” Rupert says in the podcast. She says government benefits is one topic that many seniors don’t always understand.  “We assess how people might qualify for benefits and help them apply.  An example is the Medicare Savings Program whereby people under a certain income limit can get their Medicare premium paid by Social Security, which can result in a raise of nearly $145 in their monthly check,” Rupert says. “The service is driven by the individual,” Glindmyer adds. “One person may need only one meeting or call, while others may need more calls over a longer time to reach their own goals.” “We introduce people to programs they may not know about, such as fuel assistance, emergency home repairs, online banking and bill pay and lowering the tax burden,” says Glindmyer. “So many of the individuals we meet with are unaware of these programs.” To learn how Stand By Me 50+ might assist you or someone you know, listen to the podcast here: https://standbymede.org/tips-tools-stand-by-me-podcasts/