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How to Check If Your Tech Is Spying On You

Phones, smart assistants, and other types of tech make our lives easier, but the convenience often comes at a cost. Our personal data is often collected and exploited for a variety of purposes without our knowledge, or expressed consent. In some cases, hackers use malware to hijack our phones and spy on us. But it doesn’t have to be that way: here we’ll tell you how to avoid spies and limit nosy tech and apps.

Signs that your phone is spying on you

There are a handful of signals that indicate that your phone has been compromised, either by an app, or someone monitoring your activity. If you notice one or more of the following peculiarities, it could just be a hardware issue or software bug, but it might also be the result of malware unknowingly installed to your phone, or worse:

  • Phone feels unusually warm. When your battery heats up, and your phone is hot to the touch even when you aren’t using it, that’s a possible indicator that data is being sent to and from your phone without your knowledge.
  • Inexplicably high data usage. While newer spy apps have worked a way around this, older spyware will utilize your cellular data to transmit out collected info from your phone. A sudden uptick in data usage can be a telltale sign.
  • Battery runs out quickly. Malware working in the background can drain your battery fast. If you notice an abrupt change in battery life, the cause could be malicious software running in the background.
  • Odd text messages. Receiving text messages with unrecognizable codes is an occasional sign that spy software is operating a remote control feature. They also might indicate an attempted phishing scam.

How to end spying and tracking on an Android phone

Phones running on Android are more susceptible to malware and hacking than iPhones due to owners’ ability to download and install apps from often suspicious third-party sources.

Malware may be snuck on to your phone along with more innocuous looking apps, or even be engineered by those in cyber crime hot spots like Russia to resemble popular games and apps.

To check your phone for malicious or suspicious-looking programs or files, go to Settings -- Applications -- Manage Applications and delete any files or programs that look unusual. The problem is that a lot of spyware software is disguised under innocent looking file names, in which case installing a spyware program like Anti Spy Mobile is a more sure bet for removing malicious spy software.

However, the only surefire, guaranteed way to clear your Android phone of malware is by performing a factory reset. To perform a factory reset, go to Settings -- Backup & Reset -- Factory Data Reset - Reset Phone. Depending on the phone, the menu names may vary slightly, but the general process is the same.

How to avoid tracking on an iPhone

Luckily, iPhones aren’t nearly as prone to malware due to strong security and the fact that only Apple-approved apps are able to downloaded through the one and only App Store available to iPhone Users.

Yet, if you have purchased a second-hand, jailbroken phone, spy software may be (or already has been) downloaded and installed onto your phone. To do a check of the apps installed on your phone, simply go into Settings, and scroll to the bottom for a complete list of the apps installed on your device.

For a simple fix for getting rid of any possible spyware installed on your jailbroken iPhone, use iTunes to download the latest iOS version. The installation process will remove any non-Apple approved software from your phone. Be informed, your phone will no longer be jailbroken after the update, and you will lose the ability to download apps from rival app stores, and associated other freedoms, forever.

How mobile phone networks track people

This situation is impossible to avoid--short of trashing your cell phone entirely. Cell phones work by connecting through a cell tower, or cell for short, that beams communications through a relay of one or many other cell towers operated by your carrier.

Your phone connects to only one cell at a time, therefore your network has a pretty good idea where you are at all times. When you travel long enough, your signals will be directed to the next closest cell in the system.

Again, if this bothers you, you can either power your phone off, and take out the battery for as long as you wish to go off the radar, or stop using a cell phone. Little else can be done to avoid your wireless network from knowing your location, since that’s how the technology works. Just keep peace of mind in the fact that they generally aren’t the bad guys.

Is someone spying on you through your laptop?

It’s horrifying but true: someone might be watching you through your PC or laptop’s webcam. The vulnerability typically comes through possessing a less-than-secure variety of camera that is easily accessed through accidental user installation of malware, or through malware that was on your computer before you bought it.

How you can tell if you are being watched through your webcam:

  • The LED light next to your camera is blinking...when you aren’t using it. Sounds like something out of a modern suspense movie, but this actually happens. If the webcam light is glowing at odd times, that’s a telltale scene that the camera has been hacked. This is sort of the lucky scenario, though, as most hackers possess the knowhow to disable this function.
  • Presence of audio or video logs on your hard drive. These provide strong evidence of instances when you are being watched.
  • Slowdown, or unusual processes running when you open task manager. The malware installed to allow them to spy on you may have innocuous names, but use up a suspiciously high amount of memory.

If any of these situations apply to you, the first thing you should do is cover up the camera. Next, uninstall the webcam drivers, and do a thorough scan of your hard drives with up-to-date anti-virus software.

Is Amazon Alexa listening to conversations?

Yes, your Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, etc, is making recordings of the things you say, ostensibly to train its software to be more responsive to your voice and manner of speech. Everything spoken after, and one second before, you say one of the wake words, including “Alexa,” “Computer,” “Echo,” Amazon,” is recorded in order to analyze your speech and learn to understand it better.

Yet, you may have noticed that your Echo occasionally awakens at the sound of a word *similar* to a wake word, meaning that the backlog of recordings may be more vast than you suspect.

You’ll know when your Echo is recording since the blue ring around the product will flash momentarily. People speculate that Alexa is listening to more than just what is directly addressed towards her, although there is no proof of that. In fact, Amazon addressed a flaw in the software that allowed Alexa to listen and record indefinitely in April, 2018.

Even if Alexa is only listening when you address her with a wake word, the thought of anything being recorded is pretty concerning for some people. However, you are able to both listen to, and delete all of Alexa’s recordings, if you wish.

In order to delete Alexa’s log of recordings, open the Alexa app on your device and go to Settings -- History. There, you will be able to review each instance where you, or someone in your home, activated Alexa.

To delete recordings, simply select an entry from the same menu and press Delete. Since deleting each entry individually would take a tremendous amount of time, there is a shortcut to delete everything all at once: simply go to Manage Your Content and Devices at amazon.com/mycd and follow the instructions.

You can stop Alexa from listening entirely by muting the microphone on the device, although that will essentially render your smart assistant useless. Yet, sometimes turning it off for an evening is good for peace of mind.

Fitness tech that spies on you

Devices from popular fitness tech companies like Fitbit and Jawbone are able to tell when you are walking, exercising, going up the stairs, sleeping, and may even keep track of your caloric consumption. This is great for helping users to monitor and keep track of their fitness activity from day-to-day, but are the companies spying on you?

The University of Toronto published a study in 2016 with some alarming findings, including the fact that data from users is being exploited by top fitness tech companies in a privacy-eroding fashion while they neglect to protect user ID’s. This included the selling of data to insurance companies, court systems, possible criminals, and others. In some cases, fitness trackers took advantage of bluetooth technology to track users from place to place. This type of information can be exploited to learn more about users shopping habits and more in a coordinated attempt to best monetize user data.

In order to mitigate the tendency of fitness tech companies to use or sell your personal data, pay close attention to user agreements and terms of service, no matter how long they are, and keep track of the permissions that you grant various apps, i.e., access to photos, the microphone, etc. Since fitness tech is getting better and better at keeping track of daily activities, including when you are engaged in sexual activity, the best bet may be to swear these devices off, entirely.

Apps that track... and how to stop them

Beyond the tech that is possibly spying on you, apps are also keeping track of your location and using your personal data to their advantage.

Facebook

Facebook has gotten into a ton of heat recently, due to the Cambridge Analytica scandal where tens of millions of users’ data was taken and analyzed to influence election results. If you use Facebook, its best to know which apps are granted access to your information.

Go to Settings -- Apps for a list of the apps allowed access to your info, and click on a particular app to see the full extent of its permissions. From there, you can delete the apps, or remove their permissions.

Google

When you sign into your Gmail or Google+ and stay signed in, Google tracks your location data and stores it in the cloud. Ostensibly this information is safe there, but if someone gets a hold of your account password, they can access this detailed location information from anywhere.

For Android users, to disable location reporting, go to Settings -- Location -- Google Location Settings, and switch off both Location History and Location Reporting. You can also delete your phone’s accumulated cache by pressing Delete Location History near the bottom of the screen.

To do the same, Apple users should open Settings and go to Privacy -- Location Services, and you’ll have the option to disable location services for each installed app.

After doing this, you’ll lose the convenience factor of having your frequently visited locations stored, but the tradeoff is up to you.

Uber

Uber is another company keeping data on all of your trips through use of its app. This can be used for good; keeping data on ride histories assures that you have proof if you need to settle a dispute or opt against using a particular driver. Yet, there are several instances in the past of Uber using ride data in relatively irresponsible ways, notably in a 2012 blog post titled “Rides of Glory” detailing the number of customers using their service for one night stands.

While this is long in the past, the creepiness factor of Uber knowing so much about your comings and goings maybe be too much for you. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid them collecting data on your journeys is to stop using the service entirely. Another situation where the choice between privacy vs. convenience is a personal one.

Twitter

To see all of the information Twitter has stored on you, go to Your Twitter Data after clicking on your profile photo. There you can see how they’ve used your post history and the accounts you follow to predict your personal interests and connect you with advertisements they think you’ll respond to. Of course, this is a little scary. You can opt out of interest-based advertising in Personalization and Data Settings.

Apps that protect from spying and tracking

  • Anti Spy Mobile - A reliable and popular anti-spyware app tailored for Android users.

  • Hidden Device Admin Detector - An Android tool that combs your drive for malware and other sketchy software that can be hard to find on your own, and removes it.

  • https://donttrack.us/ - An alternative search engine that won’t store your search history or use your data for targeted ads.


Data-Driven Ways to Protect Your Home

Home security isn’t a new phenomenon. People have always wanted to protect themselves, their families, and their belongings, however, as criminals have become more sophisticated, so have home security measures.

A castle and moat were once the height of what was needed to keep a home safe, but gunpowder and ingenuity took care of these defenses pretty swiftly. Today, the threat of a cannon attack is low, but screwdrivers, hammers, and crowbars have taken their place as the tools of choice for forcible entry.

According to FBI statistics there are more than 1.5 million break-ins reported every year in the US. This amounts to one break in every 15 seconds. As a homeowner, it’s something to be concerned about, especially as only 17% have a security system installed.

The good news is that burglaries are down 30% since 2007, largely in part to online banking (less money kept at home) and improvements in home security systems.

The cost of a break-in

  • The average burglary costs the homeowner $2,361 in stolen goods. This doesn’t include the cost of refitting doors, windows, or anything else that might be damaged during a home invasion.

  • With around 4 million uninsured homes in the U.S., this cost could be catastrophic for homeowners.

  • Even though the number of Americans with bank accounts has risen, 43% of Americans are still keeping some form of savings at home. Much of this is driven by a lack of trust in banks since the 2008 crash.

  • Aside from monetary damage, one-third of all residential assaults are caused by robberies. Only 10% of robbers carry a firearm, so the chances of being robbed by gun carrying criminal might be low, but it’s still there.

How to deter burglars

On average, burglars spend 60 seconds trying to break in to a house, any longer and they risk being seen. If they do get inside, they will usually spend 8-10 minutes searching for valuables.

The first line of defense for homeowners is to make their house look unattractive to potential thieves. Houses with a security system are 33% less likely to be broken into with a home security system.

“Home security system” is a broad term that covers many different defenses, but here are some of the most effective ones that can be employed -- with the stats to back them up.

Install a home security system

According to a study by UNC Charlotte, 83% of burglars check to see if there is an alarm, and 60% look for a different target if there is one present. So even without the alarm sounding, an alarm system can protect a home. Most of these systems have a sensor on doors and windows that go off if the sensor is activated. Even simple systems that cause an alarm to go off can be enough of a deterrent to would-be burglars.

Don’t overlook the security camera

A study from Rutgers School of Criminal Justice found that the presence of security cameras reduced suspicious detections by 92% after 5 weeks. This means that the mere presence of the camera deterred crime, so it’s paramount that the camera be visible as well as in a location where burglars would gain access.

The other advantage of home security cameras is that they aid in the conviction of burglars. High quality video can aid police in identifying and finding criminals. There are also remote video systems which allows users to see a live stream of what’s happening in their house on their phones. This can allow the homeowner to call the authorities and have them catch the burglar in the act.

Save power with motion sensors

A standard 1080p HD recording will fill up 1 Terabyte of space every two weeks. Home CCTV systems add an extra layer of safety but recording 24/7 can become cumbersome. This is a huge amount of data to store and search through and this is where motion sensor cameras can be more useful.

Motion detection cameras only record when there is motion in the frame. This conserves memory and power, making them longer lasting and less cumbersome. They can also be calibrated for pets so they don’t set them off by wandering through the frame.

Deter potential break ins with indoor light timers

Convincing burglars that the house is occupied is a huge deterrent as 70% of burglaries happen when nobody is at home. Most burglars are opportunists and just want quick cash and don’t want confrontation. Another effective method of using a timer is to have one on your TV. A TV that turns on for an hour or two everyday will make a house seem more lived in and a less viable target.

Outdoor motion detecting lights

Only 12% of intruders plan their attacks, this option can have an effect on the opportunistic thief. If a house is in a particularly dark area, maybe somewhere rural or on a poorly lit street, then outdoor motion detecting lights could be an option. The theory is that a sudden beam of bright light would scare away any would-be intruder.

Put up gates and fences

Studies have shown that a house with an alarm system, motion lights, and a sturdy fence are 300% less likely to be broken into. Building a physical barrier can give great peace of mind to the homeowner and can act as a deterrent to break-ins. It’s important to be aware that although gates can be used to protect, some criminals interviewed said that they used high fences as cover for break-ins and that it indicated that the homeowner had something of value.

Improve neighborhood street lighting

A study found that improving street lighting decreased burglary by 20%. It also found that the cost of adding street lighting was less than the cost of damage caused by home invasions, making it a net gain for local authorities adding the lighting.

Although 65% of burglaries take place between 6am and 6pm, that still leaves 35% of burglaries potentially taking place under the veil of darkness. The presence of good street lighting can have an impact on burglaries, both in terms of actual break-ins and for burglars location scouting without being noticed.

Get to know your neighbors

According to a study by City Observatory, one-third of Americans don’t know their neighbors. Knowing who lives next door is crucial if a house does not have a monitored alarm system. An alarm is only useful if it notifies someone, and if it’s just making a noise neighbors are more likely to be annoyed than worried about your possessions.

Knowing your neighbors creates what is known as social cohesion , this sense of community has been shown to help create safer neighborhoods as people will look out for each other.

It’s also a good idea to ask a neighbor to park in an unoccupied driveway a few if the owners are away as burglars see an empty driveway as a clear sign that the house is empty.

Join or create a neighborhood watch

There have been many studies done on the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch and in a study of 18 major studies on this topic they found that out of every 100 crimes, 26 crimes were prevented.

People who moved in and out frequently had less social cohesion and were less likely to look out for each other. As this is increasingly common, neighborhood watch has become increasingly common and now 40% of Americans live in an area with a neighborhood watch program. These community led projects also have the advantage of introducing neighbors to each other and creating closer communities and making it more difficult for people not from the community to break in unseen.

Get a dog

According to former burglars, the main deterrent to breaking into a house was a CCTV system, but a close second place was the presence of a dog. The type of dog also had an impact on whether or not criminals chose to proceed. The obvious type that was cited was large guard dogs. Think German Shepherd, Doberman and Pitbull types. The other type was the smaller “alert” dogs. These dogs basically act as an alarm and can notify neighbors if something is wrong.

Hire a pet-sitter

Burglars are 84% less likely to burgle a house if they believe it is occupied. This gives the homeowner peace of mind for the wellbeing on the family pet and their home. In contrast to what Home Alone would have us believe, winter is when homes are least likely to be burgled. In fact July and August are the most likely times, and this coincides with school holidays.

If homeowners are going on holidays and leaving their pet behind, they could consider a pet-sitter rather than a kennel for their pooch. Not only is this less stressful for the animal, but it also means that the house is occupied while they are away from home.

Stay silent on social

Nowadays, 84% of burglars are now using social media to find out if a target’s home will be empty. A recent revelation in the world of burglary is the use of social media pages such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Homeowners can avoid this method by taking a few simple precautions. Avoid posting about being away home until after the trip, don’t share photos of the inside of the house, and make sure your address isn’t visible on any social media.

Make sure you have strong doors and windows

In reality, 70% of burglars come through a door, either front, back or garage. The romantic image of an ingenious thief lowering themselves from the ceiling or using futuristic technology to cut a hole in a window is almost exclusive to Hollywood. The second highest entry point are first floor windows.

It’s notable that 95% of break-ins require some force, and burglars will attempt a break in for 60 seconds. If a door or windows offers huge resistance, a thief is likely to give up and move on.

Keep shrubbery low to increase visibility

According to a study by The U.S. Department of Justice, visibility is a more important factor to most burglars than which security measures are in place. If burglars feel that they are concealed, they will spend more time disarming an alarm, or breaking a door.

The reasons burglars don’t like spending more than one minute breaking into a house is the risk of being seen. As a homeowner, it’s important to do everything you can to give criminals the least amount of opportunities, and that includes visibility. This can be prevented by keeping hedges trimmed, trees low, and the view of the street unobstructed from the house’s main entry points.

Look into defensive landscaping

Defensive landscaping is the practice of using short, thorny bushes around windows, or areas where visibility can’t be improved. This is a proactive way to ensure that the most vulnerable access points have some protection, and The Crime Prevention website has a list of plants and shrubs that would create a good physical barrier.

Secure valuables in a safe

The most simple option is to have a safe. Homeowners need to avoid avoid having a freestanding safe, and they need to especially avoid keeping it in the master bedroom as this is the first place burglars look.

A hidden safe is the best option. Inaccessibility is crucial. Hidden wall safes offer the best protection, and there is a list of options to suit different homes. In general, the more expensive it is, the less likely to be stolen or broken into quickly.

Find a unique hiding place

Most people have jewelry and cash in their homes, however, 21% never hide their valuables and 37% of people leave their gadgets on when they leave home. Avoid leaving items out in plain sight, some form of hidden storage is ideal. The most common hiding places are the sock drawer, under the mattress and in the freezer so they should be avoided.

Fake bottomed drawers, false stairs and inside fake potted plants are all good hiding places where a burglar won’t bother looking. Also most burglars don’t bother with children’s rooms, so finding a secure place in a child’s room can be a good idea.

Consider smart home security

According to NextMarket, the U.S. smart security market will increase from nearly 3 million users in 2014 to over 22 million by 2020. Technology now makes it possible to control household appliances with an app - including home security systems. This projected growth is based on how integrated technology is into homes now with 39 million Americans already using a smart speaker, like the Amazon Alexa.

Adding security measures to this already integrated ecosystem is simple, and Americans are taking advantage of that to add in remote door locking, live camera feeds, and alarm notifications.

Don’t forget to protect your smart home

Cybersecurity is becoming a bigger and bigger issue with a hacker attack every 39 seconds which affects one in three Americans every year. The convenience of an interconnected smart home is obvious, but it does come with some potential issues.

With hackers potentially able to connect to people’s wireless network and monitor their activity, it opens up potential threats. A burglar could get access to a live camera stream, or be able to remotely turn off an alarm if they hacked into a smart home.

To prevent this, homeowners can invest in a firewall to protect their network. Techadvisory recommends what is known as a “Cloud firewall”. This is a piece of hardware you will have in your house that works with software to create a barrier between you and cyber threats.

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Rhetoric vs. Research: 7 Facts About Guns Every American Should Know

Rhetoric vs. Research: 7 Facts About Guns Every American Should Know

As tragedies pile up, the nation keeps delving into the supercharged debate over guns. The dysfunctional dialogue – rich in rhetoric but poor in facts – keeps polarizing the society, making it increasingly difficult to tell evidence-based facts from fiction. To separate speculation from facts, here are seven frequently asked questions about gun violence, mass shootings, and stats that you should know.

1. How do the U.S. gun ownership and homicide rate compare to that of other developed countries?

Rhetoric:

According to Sen. Christopher Murphy, the US has a gun violence rate that’s 20 times that of every other industrialized country.

So, is America in a unique situation with gun violence and mass shootings?

Facts:

Gun homicide

Sen. Murphy cited a 2016 study that found the US gun homicide rate in 2010 was 25 times higher than that of more than 20 other high-income countries combined, not individually. Not all industrialized countries were included.

Still, the gap is large. The US gun homicide rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people is:

  • Seven times higher than in Canada

  • 82 times higher than in the UK

  • 513.8 times higher than in Japan

The US firearm suicide rate is eight times higher, and the unintentional gun death rate is six times higher than in other industrialized countries. Combined, 80% of all gun deaths in the studied countries occur in the US.

Mass shootings

According to an American Sociological Association study, the United States has experienced a 31% of global public mass shootings between 1966 and 2012. Between 1983 and 2013, the US accounted for a staggering 66% of mass shootings across 25 OECD nations.

Gun ownership

The US has the highest rates of gun ownership in the world – followed by Yemen – and the highest rate of gun homicides among advanced countries, according to a 2017 study Gun Violence in America.

There are an estimated 270 million civilian-owned firearms in the US, which translates to 89 guns per 100 people. Yemen has the rate of 55 guns per 100 people, Switzerland – 46, but requires military service to own a gun.

More guns don’t translate into more gun owners, however. According to the General Social Survey, three-quarters of gun owners own two or more guns, and about 3% of households own 50% of all guns in America. Today, only about 30% of the Americans own a gun., while gun sales typically go up after a mass shooting.

2. Does owning a gun make you safer?

Rhetoric:

“Owning a gun makes you safer” is the traditional NRA mantra. NRA’s Wayne LaPierre produced many quotes about how owning a gun is the only way to protect oneself and one’s family in the US, such as the one about a good woman with a gun to teach a violent rapist a good lesson.

Academics, such as John Lott and Gary Kleck, also claim that more guns reduce crime. But is this really the case?

Facts:

A growing body of statistics and research suggests that owning a gun puts you at a heightened risk of a gun-related tragedy in the home:

  • Owning a gun increases the risk of gun-related homicides and suicides, according to numerous studies.

  • Victims of domestic violence are at particularly high risk of becoming the victims of gun violence. A firearm in a household with a history of domestic violence increases a woman’s risk of being killed by 500%.

  • Guns acquired for self-defense are often involved in fatal accidents. Nationwide, higher levels of gun ownership are linked to higher occurrences of unintentional firearm deaths.

  • Criminal gun homicides outnumber self-defense related use of guns. For every self-defense gun homicide, there are 34 criminal gun homicides in the US.

  • Using a gun for self-defense during a robbery doesn’t yield significant benefits. According to the 2015 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health of the National Crime Victimization Survey, the likelihood of being injured in a robbery was almost identical between people who tried to defend themselves with a gun and those who didn’t.

3. Are increasing gun ownership rates linked to gun violence and mass shootings?

Rhetoric:

The pro-gun rhetoric suggests video games, bad parenting, and mental illnesses cause mass shootings – “people kill people, not guns.”

Facts:

The scientific studies blame it on the civilian gun ownership, however. More guns translate into more mass shootings, not less, whereas the vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent. Only 3%-5% of violent acts are attributed to mental illness, and most don’t involve guns.

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime states that countries with higher rates of gun ownership have higher rates of firearm mass murder and homicide. The US rate is higher than that of Europe, Canada, and Australia.

According to the Gun Violence in America:

  • More than 90 Americans die by gunfire every day

  • More than 21 thousand suicides, 11 thousand homicides, and 1,200 accidental deaths occur yearly

  • People in the US are ten times more likely to be killed by guns than people in other high-income countries

Countries with the highest rate of gun violence – El Salvador, The Philippines, and Iraq – don’t compare to the US in terms of GDP, life expectancy, or education. So among developed countries, the US is a massive outlier.

Guns, mass shootings, and homicides are statistically associated. The problem is the CDC is essentially prohibited from studying the connection between gun ownership rates and violence.

Nonetheless, a country’s gun ownership rate correlation to the risk of firearm death is 0.9, a nearly perfect coefficient. A recent study of four decades of mass shootings across the globe found that a country’s civilian firearm ownership rate is the most reliable predictor of mass shootings and gun violence overall.

4. Do most mass shootings take place in public gun-free zones?

Rhetoric:

According to President Trump, “a gun-free zone is 'let's go in and let's attack because bullets aren't coming back at us.”

The kind of rhetoric is often used to attempt and halt legislative efforts to limit gun carrying in places where guns don’t belong – schools, churches, and government buildings.

For example, in the aftermath of the October 1, 2015, mass shooting in Oregon, pro-gun advocates blamed the school’s policies for the massacre, suggesting schools were specifically targeted because shooters were less likely to be confronted with armed resistance.

Facts:

According to the FBI, most of the mass shooting incidents in the US occur either in private homes or public places where civilians are free to carry guns.

There were 156 mass shootings in the US from 2009 to 2016, and only 10% occurred in gun-free zones, but 63% - in private homes.

In fact, the Umpqua Community College, where the Oregon massacre took place, wasn’t a gun-free zone, nor are any of the public colleges or universities in Oregon. There were armed students near the scene, including at least two trained military veterans.

More important is there’s no evidence whatsoever that shooters target locations because they are known to be gun-free.

True motives are always personal

A Mother Jones analysis found that the primary motive for a shooter to target a specific location is a personal or emotional grievance, such as workplace disputes, school bullying, or domestic violence.

According to the FBI study, in 63% of the mass shootings, the shooter had some type of relationship with the victims. It’s the personal motivation – not the number of guns likely to be present in a place – that defines the choice of a location in most mass shootings.

According to a 2015 analysis of gun violence data, 57% of mass shooting victims in 2010-2015 were family members and intimate partners, with women and children accounting for two-thirds of victims.

Most mass shooters are on a suicide mission

Dr. Peter Langman, a clinical psychologist, and author of School Shooters: Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators, explains that many mass shooters go on a suicide mission – either by their own hand or by cop. In which case, armed security is never a deterrent “because they’re not trying to get away with it.”

Gun-free zones are relatively safe

The “gun-free zone” rhetoric also conveniently ignores the fact that these zones are among the safest in the country. According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report, less than 2% of youth homicides and less than 1% of non-fatal gun injuries occur at gun-free schools and college campuses.

On the contrary, extensive evidence suggests that more guns lead to more firearm-related deaths and injuries in public places:

  • Crime victims who use weapons other than guns for self-defense are less likely to sustain injuries than those who use a firearm.

  • 25% of US hospital-based shootings that occurred from 2000-2011 were carried out by a gun taken from a security officer.

5. Is “the good guy with a gun” an effective strategy to stop or prevent active shooter situations?

Rhetoric:

The only thing to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, according to NRA’s Wayne LaPierre, who produced yet another gem of a phrase in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre.

President Donald Trump suggests arming teachers can make schools safer, “If you had a teacher who was adept with the firearm, they could end the attack very quickly.”

Facts:

There’s little evidence suggesting civilians can stop the so-called bad guys during active shooter situations. Armed citizens often lack training in high-risk situations and can actually make it harder for law enforcement to minimize damage.

An FBI review of active shooter incidents that occurred between 2000 and 2013 found that of 160 incidents:

  • 21 were stopped by unarmed citizens

  • Armed individuals stopped five incidents (four of them were trained security guards)

  • Two incidents were stopped by armed civilians – one was a former US Marine, and the other an off-duty police officer

Armed civilians can aggravate a mass shooting incident, as was the case during the 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona, when an armed bystander almost shot the wrong person. A 2012 analysis of 62 mass shootings found that armed bystanders increased the number of innocent people injured and killed.

Unsurprisingly, law enforcement officials overwhelmingly oppose the idea of involving armed civilians in active shooter situations. It makes it far more difficult to control a situation where the first objective is to identify which of the shooters is the bad guy. Similarly, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association decidedly oppose allowing guns in schools.

6. Do stricter gun laws work?

Rhetoric:

Had gun controls worked, Chicago would have been the safest city – is one of the frequently used arguments made against stricter gun laws.

Republican Rep. Steve Scalise notes that some of the strictest gun laws in the country are in the city of Chicago, and still Chicago has the highest gun violence rate. “A lot of people want to dismiss concealed-carry permits. They do actually increase safety,” he affirmed.

While the NRA reiterates that gun availability deters potential criminals, critics argue that stricter gun control does a much better job of preventing violence.

“In states that have universal background checks, there are 35 percent fewer gun murders than in states that don’t have them. [...] States that have tougher gun laws that keep criminals from getting guns, that keep dangerous weapons like AR-15s out of the hands of civilians, have dramatically lower rates of gun violence,” said Sen. Christopher Murphy.

Who is right then?

Facts:

Evidence suggests most guns used in high profile shootings were obtained legally. According to the Annual Gun Law Scorecard by Giffords Law Center, gun laws are effective at curbing gun violence only in states that enact them. In a state-by-state comparison, the correlation between gun laws strength and gun deaths becomes evident – fewer people die from firearm violence in states with strong gun laws, such as:

Background checks

Prohibiting firearms sales at gun shows, online and in private sales helps prevent legally prohibited individuals, such as felons and domestic abusers, from obtaining guns.

The Connecticut gun homicides dropped by 40% after the state enacted its background check law. When Missouri repealed a similar law, the state’s gun homicide rate rose 25%.

Nationwide, however, 40% of gun sales still occur in the “secondary market” where federal law doesn’t require background checks.

Everytown for Gun Safety research found that states with universal background checks have significantly lower rates of femicides, gun-related suicides, and law enforcement officers killed with handguns.

Child access prevention laws

Such laws are effective at preventing unintentional death and injury and teen suicides, as well as school shootings. One-third of handguns are stored unlocked and loaded, with most children knowing where their parents keep their guns.

Concealed carry permitting

Concealed carry permitting that grants law enforcement discretion to deny carrying concealed weapons (CCW) based on factors such as the lack of good cause or dangerous behavior is only enacted in nine states.

Expansive concealed carry permitting is linked to an increase in violent crime by a 2017 study at Stanford University. Ten years after the laws were enacted, states experienced a 13-15% rise in violent crimes. With the recent gun lobby push to force states with strong CCW laws for reciprocity with the states with weak or no CCW permitting may undermine the CCW effectiveness altogether.

Surrender of firearms by prohibited possessors

29 states require domestic abusers to transfer their guns to law enforcement (or a licensed dealer) and report to the court when they've done so. Policies that prevent domestic abusers from owning firearms are among the most popular in states with strong gun cultures because they work.

An Extreme Risk Protection Order

A relatively new law, ERPO is currently enacted in three states (California, Oregon, and Washington). The law allows law enforcement and family members to petition for removal of guns from people who demonstrate signs of dangerous behavior. In Connecticut and Indiana, only law enforcement can request these orders, so it comes as no surprise that the RAND study found the evidence of ERPO’s effectiveness inconclusive. Still, ERPO laws have the potential to prevent suicide, domestic violence incidents, and mass shootings.

A ban on the sale of military-style weapons to civilians

The ban on the sale of assault weapons, silencers, and high-capacity magazines may reduce mass shootings. It’s unlikely to have any effect on the gun deaths rate overall, however. The RAND study found “inconclusive” evidence that assault-weapons ban affected mass shootings or homicides, which comes as no surprise since only six states enacted these laws fully, and four – partially.

Strong laws = fewer gun deaths

Eight of the ten states with the strongest gun laws (California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and Hawaii) are also among the top 10 states with the fewest gun deaths per capita. By contrast, ten states with the weakest guns laws with an aggregate gun violence level that’s three times higher than that of the ten states with strong gun laws.

So, what’s wrong with Chicago?

As far as Chicago is concerned, the city’s murder rate in 2013 was the lowest since 1972, less than half that of Detroit and New Orleans.

Interstate gun trafficking from neighboring Indiana and guns purchased within Illinois but outside of Chicago (where strict gun laws aren’t enacted) pump up the city’s violent crime rate. Between 2009-2013, 60% of guns recovered in crimes in Chicago were acquired in other states.

If anything, Chicago rates call for more stringent regulation of gun dealers, which proved effective in curbing gun trafficking.

7. How can stricter gun laws help control gun violence if they only make it harder for law-abiding citizens to buy guns, whereas criminals always buy guns illegally?

Rhetoric:

“When guns are outlawed, only the outlaws have guns” is a tired cliché that, nonetheless, continues to surface in the gun debate.

Facts:

First off, gun laws aren’t an attack on law-abiding citizens because if they were, the same argument could be made against any law. Following the same logic, we could argue that a driver’s license is unacceptable because it might lead to bicycling or walking licensing.

Second, most guns used in high profile mass shootings were obtained legally. Moreover, a survey of prison inmates found that the so-called outlaws chose not to use a gun to carry out their crime due to fear of a stiffer sentence (79%), and because it was “against the law” (59%).

Third, the United States isn’t the only nation in the world that’s suffered shooting massacres and increased gun violence rates, but it’s consistently failed to address the problem.

Although country-by-country comparisons are inherently hard to make, many countries have effectively curbed gun violence by enacting strict gun controls:

  • Australia – after the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy, the Australian government passed tough gun controls nationwide, banning a broad range of weapons, tightening licensing, and financing mandatory buyback programs, and gun amnesty, which reduced gun possession substantially. Between 1995 and 2006, gun homicides and suicides fell by 59% (notably, homicides by other means didn’t increase). There have been no mass gun massacres ever since, whereas in the 18 years before the 1996 laws there were 13 massacres.

  • The UK – after the mass shooting at the Dunblane school in Scotland in 1996, the British government banned private ownership of automatic and semiautomatic weapons and handguns. The strict UK laws cut the annual firearm homicide and suicide rates by half, gun offenses – by two-thirds. Roughly 50-60 gun deaths per year occur in the UK.

  • Japan – with a population of 127 million, the country seldom has more than ten shooting deaths per year (compare to 12,000 in the US). If you want to own a gun in Japan, you must attend an all-day class, pass a written test, a mental health evaluation at a hospital, a background check (during which law enforcement interviews your friends and family), and score at least 95% accuracy in a shooting-range test (and then retake the exams every three years). Japanese people can only buy shotguns and air rifles - no handguns.

If anything, stricter gun laws prevent outlaws from buying guns and keep guns confined to those who are mentally and physically fit to use them.

Guide to Teen Mental Health: Advice for Kids and Parents

teen mental health

A Guide to Teen Mental Health: Advice for Kids and Parents in the Internet Age

Teenagers deal with a host of unique challenges and threats to their mental well-being that earlier generations did not have to worry about, and it takes a coordinated effort on the part of both parents and teens alike in order to overcome them.

The ramifications for not dealing with a mental illness can be dramatic: the National Institute for Mental Health reports that around half of students with a mental illness over the age of 14 will drop out of school before graduating.

In this guide, we cover the main threats to teens’ mental health and how to address them properly.

Dangers to Teens’ Mental Health

Bullying

Bullying continues to affect the lives of millions of U.S. teens even as recent media and public health campaigns seek to raise awareness of the issue. Alarmingly, stopbullying.gov reports that more than 1 in 4 students in the U.S. claim to have been bullied at school.

Victims of bullying are at risk for developing serious mental health issues--and may even contemplate suicide--so its tantamount that parents identify and address bullying if they suspect their child is a victim. Some of the warning signs for bullying are:

  • Abrupt changes in sleeping or eating habits.

  • Slipping grades or school attendance. A child may fake sick or make excuses in order to not make it to school.

  • Unusual bruises or injuries.

  • Talk of attempting self-harm.

  • Coming home with missing possessions, like electronics or jewelry.

  • Ripped, or damaged clothing.

If you recognize any of these signs in your child or a friend, it’s time to take action.

  • Bullying doesn’t have to be physical: the most common types are verbal and social bullying, followed by physical bullying and cyberbullying. (stopbullying.gov)

  • Victims of bullying are 2 to 9 times more likely to contemplate suicide compared to those that haven’t experienced it. (Yale University study)

  • Female students claim to be bullied at a higher rate than male students (23% vs. 19%) (National Center for Educational Statistics)

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying--bullying that takes place on smartphones and laptops through text messaging and on social networks--is on the rise: the percentage of students that have experienced cyberbullying nearly doubled in the ten years from 2007-2016, rising from 18% to 34%. The increase correlates with the ubiquity of smartphones and easy access to the internet.

Due it taking place on screens rather than out in the open, cyberbullying can be harder to spot compared to other forms of bullying, but it helps by knowing its common manifestations. Here are some of the frequent varieties of cyberbullying:

  • Cyberstalking: Often occuring after a nasty breakup, cyberstalking victims receive a barrage of unwanted texts from a former partner, often explicit or sexual in nature, that may include threats of violence.

  • Harassment: An unrelenting stream of cruel hurtful messages via text or social media.

  • Denigration: Posting of rumors and gossip with the intent of destroying reputations or relationships.

  • Outing: The sharing of revealing information or photos on social media or another public forum. Outing often involves photos meant for a former partner, or rumors involving the victim’s sexual orientation.

  • Impersonation: Posing as another student in order to spread rumors or make them the object of ridicule.

  • 12% of students have cyberbullied another student at one point.

  • Overweight teens are much more vulnerable to instances of cyberbullying. (Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking)

  • Around 42% of LGBTQ students have been cyberbullied in their lives, which is a higher rate than other students. (GLSEN)

Relationships

While teen romance is often linked with the fondest memories of youth, unhealthy relationships--or the fallout from a bad break up--can lead to serious mental health issues for teens. Adolescents are inexperienced in romantic situations, and often respond poorly to relationship disappointments, impacting their performance at school and behavior at home.

  • According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, relationship issues are the most common reason behind cyberbullying. (JAMA Pediatrics).

  • Break-ups and post-relationship difficulties have been linked to resultant mental health issues (36.8%), as well as suicide (9.9%), and self-harm (22.6%). (Behavioral Sciences)

A normal level of stress isn’t a bad thing. Unfortunately, modern teens are more stressed than ever, experiencing elevated levels that lead to the development of anxiety disorders. It is unknown why stress levels are so high in today’s adolescents, yet the necessity of juggling school, extracurricular activities, sports, and relationships--with the added pressure of having to curate their social media identity--are likely to blame.

Teens often don’t have the time or tools to manage their stress: the APA reports that 42% of teens claim that they do not know how to manage their stress effectively, while 13% admit to never setting aside time for stress management.

If you think that your child is overstressed, sit them down and talk to them about lightening their activity load and taking time to relax.

  • Teens report elevated stress levels during the school year relative to vacation periods (5.8 compared to 3.9) that are also higher than adults’ average stress levels (5.1). 

  • In APA’s Stress in America survey, 30 % of teens admit to sad or depressed feelings due to stress while 31% feel overwhelmed by stress. 

Family issues and divorce

Not all of the dangers to a teen’s mental health occur at school or on the internet. In fact, adolescents dealing with family issues such as financial concerns or divorce are some of the most likely to develop mental disorders like depression and anxiety, according to numerous studies.

Parents must realize the impact that their own interpersonal conflicts and issues may have on their children. Teens have enough to worry about without having to stay up at night at night worrying about a parental separation or job layoff. Mitigate the fallout from these adult problems and let your kids know that your issues aren’t theirs to worry about.

  • A 2015 British adolescent mental health services survey concluded family relationship problems to be the number one teen mental health issue.

  • In an APA survey, family financial concerns (65%) was the third biggest stress factor for teens. 

  • A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology concluded that children of divorced families suffered from significantly higher rates of behavioral problems as compared with children from intact families. (Journal of Family Psychology)

Teen Mental Health Conditions: How to Recognize and Combat Them

Depression

Developing as a result of bullying, stressful relationships, or a genetic tendency towards the illness, depression is a serious, yet all too common disorder plaguing teens. In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that 3 million American teens had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the preceding year.

Some of the signs your teen may be experiencing a depressive episode are:

  • Leaving or running away from home for extended periods

  • Excessive internet or smartphone use

  • Slipping grades or apathy towards social interaction

  • Bullying of peers, or other violent behavior

  • Drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sex, or other reckless behavior.

If your child or a friend are exhibiting any of these behaviors, opening up a dialogue with them is the best course of action. Teen depression is both underreported, and under treated: around 60% of adolescents suffering from depression do not receive any form of treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Teens are often reticent to share their feelings, so patience is key. However, it’s important to be persistent when you confront them, as depression can lead to reckless behavior and serious forms of self-harm.

  • Of the adolescents with major depressive episode, about 70% were severely impaired. 

  • 20 to 50% of teens that had experienced a depressive episode have a family member with depression or related mental health disorder. 

  • The frequency of depression is much more common in adolescent females (19.4%) compared to males (6.4%)

Anxiety

A common result of the stress experienced by teens is anxiety: the National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately 20% of boys and 30% of girls (6.3 million teens, overall) have suffered from an anxiety disorder. While the condition is not considered as severe as depression, its mental and physical effects can be debilitating.

One way for teens to cope with anxiety is through practicing mindfulness: the use of meditation and other relaxation techniques to mitigate the effects of school-related stress. Many schools and youth organizations now teach students these techniques and they are proven effective. Left Brain Buddha hosts an excellent guide on getting teens started on the path to mindfulness.

  • The percentage of modern teens and college students experiencing anxiety and related mental health issues is five times that of surveyed teens and college students during the Great Depression. (Jean Twenge, San Diego State University)

  • Just 20% of youths suffering from an anxiety disorder receive proper treatment. (Child Mind Institute)

Body image issues

The perpetual media barrage of skinny models wearing expensive clothes has a considerable effect on the minds of teens, and girls in particular. An MACMH survey reported that an alarming 53% of 13 year-old girls in the U.S. express dissatisfaction with their bodies, a number that increases to 78% by age 17.

Let your teens know that they should be comfortable in their skin, and to ignore unrealistic media representations. While peer pressure and social media are tough to combat, you support goes a long way.

  • Over 30% of teen males and 50% of teen females use unhealthy methods like fasting, skipping meals, vomiting, taking laxatives and smoking to control their weight. 

  • 56% of teens claim that advertisements are the primary cause of their self-esteem issues.

Eating disorders

Teens especially dissatisfied with their bodies may develop a dangerous eating disorder. If your teen avoids meals, exhibits sudden weight loss, or excessively examines themselves in the mirror, they may be suffering from bulimia or anorexia.

Eating disorders can have serious health consequences. Dealing with them usually necessitates a coordinated approach involving therapy and family involvement, so early intervention is important.

  • 5.4% of American teens aged 13 to 18 (around 2.2 million) will be afflicted with bulimia, binge eating disorder, or anorexia in their lifetime. (National Institute of Mental Health)

  • 70% of those suffering from an eating disorder do not seek treatment.

Substance abuse & addiction

As with other age groups, teens often cope with stress and mental health issues by abusing illegal drugs and alcohol. While illicit drug use is down, overall, in the U.S., it remains a persistent concern.

  • The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) concluded that approximately 2.5 American teens between the ages 12 and 17 regularly use illicit drugs. (NSDUH)

  • In positive news, use of illicit drugs other than marijuana dropped to the lowest in two decades among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders according to a 2017 study. (NIH)

Overuse of social media and smartphone addiction

A PEW survey reported that 73% American teens own or can gain access to a smartphone. While responsible use of phones and social media is fine and even beneficial to a teen, overuse is linked to depression and unhappiness.

A recent study published in Emotion using data gathered from over a million 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in the United States concluded that teenagers who were physically active, played sports, and were social were happier than those who spent a large amount of time on their phones using social media apps and texting.

Talk to your teens about their smartphone and internet use. Make sure they know the dangers, and limit their use to 1-2 hours a day. We know that teens that spend less time on their phones are happier and healthier, and they will soon find out for themselves.

  • Teens are the most frequent users of social media platforms. (CDC)

  • Social media use has correlated with mental health issues such as sleep problems and eating disorders.

  • A recent study linked smartphone addiction to chemical imbalance in the brains of young people. (EurekAlert!)

Self harm

Teens that cut themselves, or practice some other form of self-harm, are looking for a means to manage their anxiety and emotional pain. While it doesn’t mean that the teen is suicidal, teens that harm themselves are far more likely to attempt suicide, rendering it an issue of the gravest concern.

Considering the severity of self-harm, psychotherapy or even a 30-day inpatient program may be necessary to deal with the problem. As in the case of depression, firmly, yet gently approach your teen and start a dialogue if you witness any evidence that they may be hurting themselves.

  • Teens that had been treated for forms of self-harm were found to have a 25 times greater likelihood than their peers to commit suicide within the forthcoming year. (Pediatrics)

  • 5% of cyberbullying victims report inflicting self-harm at some point.

Suicide

Suicide is the worst nightmare for the parents of a teen, and sadly, it’s on the rise in America. ANY evidence of suicidal thoughts or tendencies must be handled with utmost urgency. The signs of suicidal ideation are similar to depression, but also include:

  • Talk of suicide or unusual fascination with death.

  • Giving away cherished possessions.

  • Apathy towards activities that they previously enjoyed.

  • Reckless behavior and unnecessary risks

  • Marks or scars on the body indicative of self-injury

  • Calling old friends or estranged relatives out of the blue

If your child or a friend exhibits any of these behaviors, yet you are afraid to approach the situation alone, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) will help you through the crisis..

  • Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people, with about 4,400 deaths per year. 

  • For every teen suicide, there are 100 suicide attempts. 

  • Every 100 minutes a teen dies from suicide. 

Tips and Tools for Parents and Teens to Maintain Good Mental Health

Open communication

A common thread running through this guide is that communication with your teen child can help them cope with their mental health issues. Yet, it’s easy said than done. Here are some tips on how to communicate effectively with your teen:

  • Don’t lecture them. Teens respond negatively to patronizing lectures. Hit your points, but be patient, kind, and avoid coming off like a cop.

  • Listen. Yes, you are eager to let them know what you think, but listening to what your teen has to say may open your eyes to issues that you haven’t considered.

  • Let them know beforehand. Ask your kid when they are ready and open for a talk so they can mentally prepare for it and aren’t blindsided by you bringing up weighty issues.

  • Stay calm. Teens may not respond the way you want them to, but remember to keep your cool and not explode into anger, even if your teen acts dismissive or moody.

Diet and fitness

A healthy and fit teen is most often a happy teen. Unfortunately, most adolescents don’t get the right amount of exercise.

The CDC recommends 60 minutes of physical activity a day, with 3 days of moderate-to-vigorous activity a week for teens. Exercise is a proven way to relieve stress and improve mental health.

  • More than 80% of adolescents fail to meet national guidelines for physical activity. (HHS)

  • There’s a 70% chance that overweight adolescents have a 70% will become overweight or obese adults. 

Sleep

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night for proper functioning. Unfortunately, teens may consider that unrealistic in light of their academic and social demands.

However, a good night’s sleep should take priority over almost all else, as the effects of sleep deprivation can be serious, leading to depression, anxiety and reckless behavior.

Let your kid know the benefits of sleep, and the dangers of not getting enough of it. A few consecutive nights of adequate rest may be all the convincing they need to make it a greater priority in their lives.

  • 60 to 70% of American teens live with a borderline to severe sleep debt. (CMI)

  • Lack of sleep leads to teens to impulse control issues and participation in reckless behavior such as drug use and unprotected sex. 

Therapy and medication

When all else fails to help your teen cope with their mental health issues, therapy or counseling is the next logical step. Consult with your pediatrician or general practitioner for help in scheduling an appointment with a therapist.

Sometimes all it takes is someone outside the family and friend circle to talk with about the issues they are facing, while in other cases more intensive psychotherapy or medication prescribed may be necessary.

  • 40.2% of adolescents suffering from serious mental or behavioral issues received non-medication mental health services in a community clinic within the past 6 months. (CDC)

  • Around 50% teens who take antidepressants see improvement. It may take up to six weeks of taking medication at the appropriate dose to start feeling better. 

Mental Health Resources for Teens and their Parents

  • National Institute of Mental Health: The institute’s website provides facts and information on a large swath of mental health issues.

  • Teens Health: A friendly, accessible source of doctor-approved information on the many concerns teens face, regarding mental health and otherwise.

  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: An excellent site with guides on coping with various mental health issues, educational videos, and a directory of places where teens can seek help for mental issues.

  • Girls Health.Gov: A government-sponsored website focusing on the specific issues facing young girls and woman, and advice on how they can navigate the traumas and feelings associated with being a teenage girl.

Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health

Resources for Financial Hardship in the U.S.

Being in debt is often considered a way of life in the U.S. Student loans, mortgages, credit cards and medical bills are the norm and they burden people of all ages and all walks of life. Financial hardship can be a slow, drawn-out process where debt builds up over time or it can be thrust upon people without notice.

The average American has over $6,000 of credit card debt, which isn’t a problem for some, but what happens when that debt becomes too much? What are the options when the money coming in doesn’t cover the money going out and minimum payments become a struggle?

This list of resources for financial hardship covers programs to assist with financial hardship, apps that help with basic budgeting from everyday expenses to the more serious issues surrounding bankruptcy and loan refinancing.

This handy guide covers programs that assist with debt relief and financial hardship, budgeting apps that help manage finances, and online resources with a wealth of information and advice to walk you through the difficult processes of bankruptcy and loan refinancing.

Debt Relief and Financial Hardship

If people find themselves swamped by various forms of debt and unable to pay monthly bills, there are programs that may alleviate the financial burden. While such programs vary in their qualifications, they can generally be a huge help to those without recourse.

There aren’t simple shortcuts out of massive debt, but resources do exist that will help you attack certain forms of debt with much greater ease. They range from government programs to help people refinance their mortgage, to debt settlement companies that help pay off high-interest credit card bills quickly.

HARP

Created in 2009 in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis, the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is a federal program designed to help homeowners in negative equity refinance their mortgages. While the program was specifically set up to cover those hit hard by the collapse of the housing market a decade ago that owe more on their mortgage than the value of their house, the program was extended through December, 2018, and many in the U.S. are still eligible for assistance.

The qualifying criteria have changed several times over the years, but now specify that a homeowner’s mortgage must be owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, and was acquired by these organizations on or before May 1, 2009. Also, the property’s loan-to-value ratio has to be above 80% and the homeowner should be able to benefit from the loan by lower monthly payments.

While the number of people suffering from mortgage issues still eligible to benefit from HARP has certainly declined since its founding, it’s still possible for over 143,000 homeowners to benefit from the program, according to FHFA.gov.

Benefits.gov

Often, crippling debt and financial hardship can impede on an individual’s ability to provide the basic needs for his or her family. For a situation like this, the federal government’s site Benefits.gov is a great resource to mitigate the most severe crises related to financial hardship.

The site lists all of the government benefits one may be eligible to receive based on the state the individual resides in, including food stamps, low income energy assistance, unemployment insurance, and others. Though some are reticent to accept so-called “handouts” from the government, desperate times require people to set aside their prejudices and seek the assistance that they need. That is the reason the social safety net exists, and continues to help people when they are down-and-out.

Benefits.gov provides portals to specific programs so that people can determine whether or not they qualify for the various forms of aid offered.

InCharge Debt Solutions

A non-profit organization focused on helping people rid themselves of debt and move towards a brighter financial future, InCharge claims to have helped over 3 million people handle their debt and has been written up in such publications as The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and The New York Times.

Depending on the amount and severity of their debt, InCharge offers a number of resources to people in need of help, including credit and student loan counseling, debt management and consolidation programs, and debt relief solutions. Their non-profit status helps assure people that their financial hardship will be the focus, rather than schemes to somehow further profit off of needy individuals. The financial literacy education options offered by the organization reduce the likelihood that people will make unwise monetary decisions going forward.

To get started with InCharge, you can create an account on their website by filling your personal information and the specifics of your debt, or by calling (866) - 254-8734 and speaking to a counselor. Though emerging from a debt crisis will still be tough, utilizing the services of InCharge can ease the process significantly.

National Debt Relief

National Debt Relief is a Better Business Bureau-accredited, top-rated debt settlement company that focuses on debt settlement as a primary alternative to other routes of debt relief, such as bankruptcy or consolidation. In debt settlement, a company’s lawyers negotiate with creditors to lower outstanding balances and reduce both the number and cost of payments.

National Debt Relief is not an option for everyone, as mortgages, IRS debt, auto loans, and various other forms of debt are not able to be settled by the company. Furthermore, if a person is unable to handle the minimum monthly payment, the individual may not qualify for its services. However, for those suffering under heavy credit card debt or unable to pay large medical bills, National Debt Relief’s debt settlement option is an effective way to eliminate debt within three years. Visit the website to see if you qualify for the company’s services.

COVID-19-related Financial Hardship 

While most Americans received at least a $1,200 stimulus payment (visit this page for more info) from the Federal Government, that modest amount was likely not enough to sufficiently aid families and small businesses beset by financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Here are some of the best resources for folks struggling to make ends meet as a result of business shutdowns or a loss of work, along with fundraising ideas for whomever it may help. 

SBA.gov: Paycheck Protection Program

The PPP loan program is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and allows businesses to borrow funds to help them keep workers on the payroll and take care of other expenses during pandemic-related stoppages. Businesses that meet certain criteria, including retaining the majority of their workforce, are eligible for loan forgiveness.   

One Fair Wage: Emergency Coronavirus Tipped & Service Worker Support Fund?

A fund providing cash assistance to restaurant workers and personal service workers that rely on tips for income.

Freelancers Relief Fund

A fund set up to help freelancers and gig workers that have experienced a loss of work due to the pandemic. 

Feeding America: Find Your Local Food Bank

Many have been so affected by the coronavirus pandemic that they cannot afford to feed their families. This resource enables individuals to locate the nearest food bank to stock their pantries and put food on the table. 

Red Rover COVID-19 Emergency Resources for People and Pets

Pet owners that need financial assistance to feed or provide veterinary care for their animal(s) can apply for a grant of around $200 from this organization. 

Budgeting

Whether hardship is on the horizon or if a person suddenly finds themselves in a tight spot, knowing the options and resources available to mitigate the problem is crucial.

The first step to avoiding or alleviating financial hardship is learning how to budget. Seeing where money is going is often a surprising exercise for people, with small, everyday buys purchases building up to become big expenses at the end of the month.

Take a medium Latte from Starbucks which costs on average $4. One coffee a day at five days a week works out to $80 dollars a month. This alone may not seem like a huge amount but small costs do add up.

Keeping track of spending is key to getting a hold on these costs. Luckily, there are apps that make this process easier.

Pocketguard

This app makes it possible to link checking and savings accounts, credit cards, investments, and loans. This is especially useful once users input bills as Pocketguard figures out how much disposable income there is to play with. It does this by calculating income and expenses across the whole month so even if a bill isn’t due yet, it will give a clear picture of what can and can’t be spent. It also looks at what services people are paying for and suggests switching companies or plans based on their needs and spending.

Home Budget

This app is particularly useful for managing family finances. It has a lot of the features of Pocketguard, but allows multiple users with varied budgets. This can be a great asset for single income families so they can see exactly how much each person can afford to spend and what they should be saving.

Another feature this app offers is their debt strategy management. This looks at all debts and figures out the best repayment plan for each loan. Depending on interest rates, it may make sense to pay off one loan before the other. For example, an unpaid credit card bill may come with significantly higher penalties than a late phone and utilities bill.

Home Budget also categorizes all spending into various categories automatically. Food, gas, bills, and entertainment are all recognized and organized into easy-to-read pie charts so it’s easy to see exactly where money is going.

Dollarbird

For those where timing is key in managing debt, Dollarbird is based around a calendar. It allows people to organize debts by the date they are due. It also shows days when income is expected, which can be particularly useful for those who are sending out multiple invoices

The free version allows one calendar for one user, but an upgrade to pro is $40 per year. This allows for three users and up to 20 separate calendars, which is great for freelancers and small businesses to keep their personal finances separate.

Clarity Money

This app makes use of computer AI to analyze all subscriptions and look for services that would save a person money. It looks at your interests and shows products that users may be interested in that would also save money.

They use simple graphs to show income and expenditure and it also guides people through applying for the credit card that suits their spending best.

Digit

Digit is an app for those who really aren’t sure how much they can save each month, but know they want to start saving. Digit looks at current spending and analyses how much people can send to a separate Digit savings account.

Users can set savings goals, but Digit won’t send your bank account into overdraft by only taking out what can be afforded.

It’s free for the first 30 days and then after that it’s only $2.99 per month. They also have a 1% bonus if users save for three consecutive months.

Tax returns

Tax returns can be a minefield and all too often people will file their taxes late or incorrectly resulting in fines. Filing taxes can be daunting, especially if money is already tight. However, it’s worth remembering that it’s better to be late paying a tax bill than to be late filing taxes. If taxes aren’t filed on time, interest is charged at 5% per month on what is owed. However if the taxes are filed without payment, the interest is only 0.5%.

So if a person owes $1,000, after five months they could either owe $1,250 by filing late or $1,025 by paying late. Needless to say, it’s worth getting taxes in on time, and there are ways to help get everything in order.

IRS Website

As obvious as this one is, the IRS Website is a good place to start (assuming the site is up and running properly). Surprisingly easy to navigate with articles explaining the process very clearly, it not only has all the forms you need but also explanations on why and how to file them correctly. Browsing through the articles will help anyone who is nervous about filing taxes.

H&R Block Tax Calculator

The most difficult part of the return is figuring out how much is actually owed. H&R Block has a whole host of free tools to use related to paying taxes, and they can be used along with the IRS website. There is also the option to have the company file taxes for a fee, but with all the information available for free, it’s easier than ever for an individual to submit their own returns.

Turbotax

These guys have been around for years and for good reason. The user-interface of Turbotax couldn’t be easier, it uses question-and-answer based survey rather than confusing form filing.

If people are submitting multiple W-2 wage statements their app has the ability to take a photo of the document and automatically fill in the information.

This functionality does come at a price with varied packages offering different levels of filing. They do have a free basic package but it only allows the filing of 1040EZ or 1040A forms. These forms can only used if earning less than $100,000 and the user doesn’t need to itemize any deductions.

Their most expensive package isn’t bad and comes in at $179 for Turbotax Live. This will include any form that the IRS can request, a one on one review of returns and live tax advice from on-screen CPAs or EAs.

Bankruptcy

According to a study by Comet 80% of Americans are living in debt. Much of this debt is considered a “good debt”, meaning an investment, usually in the form of mortgages for a house.

The next highest areas of debt are student loans and medical bills followed by credit card and personal loans. The problem occurs when people consistently fall behind on multiple loans and bills. If people are struggling to even make minimum payments for consecutive months then filing for bankruptcy might be the best option.

There are different procedures for personal vs business bankruptcy as well as different consequences for the sale of assets. There are a host of online tools and information available to guide people through this process and help them figure out what kind of bankruptcy filing they are going to make.

Glossary of Bankruptcy Terms

Declaring bankruptcy can be stressful enough without the extra issue of not understanding the terms used during the process. This glossary is from the U.S. Courts site and contains simple explanations of the most common terms. Knowing and understanding these terms will help expedite the process and this is a useful tool to keep bookmarked throughout the filing.

Debt.org

This organization helps people understand their debt via a huge amount of information about the specifics of the bankruptcy process, from the initial application to restructuring debts. It’s simple to use and their tools can be tailored to specific situations. The site asks a few questions about the amount of money owed along with the type of debt and comes up with options from refinancing to which forms to fill out.

Legal Match

The thought of hiring someone while broke may seem like a bizarre idea, but a specialist financial lawyer can help people hold on to their assets. For most people this means that they may be able to hold on to their home, and with the right representation loans can be written off and allow people to start fresh. Legal Match asks people for information on their debts, and helps find a lawyer in their area. There is no charge to present a case to Legal Match so it’s worth it to see if it can help.

Business Bankruptcy

Declaring bankruptcy as a business has different consequences for the individual declaring it than declaring bankruptcy as an individual. An individual may be able to protect their personal assets unless they were used as collateral for business loans. In this case, the assets may be seized and used to repay debtors. For small business owners, personal and business finance may be combined in one bank account, so it’s important to know the different processes and how to proceed.

There are two ways of declaring bankruptcy as a business:

  1. The first is to file under Chapter 7 bankruptcy where the business is liquidated and all non-exempt assets are used to pay debtors.
  2. The second is Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows for a restructuring and repayment plan to be put in place. This allows a business to stay operational and gives the opportunity for a business to recover.

Understanding these differences and how to approach each of these is difficult, but the following resources will make the process much easier.

Nolo.com

Nolo is an amazing resource for information on what to expect from the bankruptcy process. They aim to guide those who plan to undertake the process of declaring bankruptcy themselves. They have enough free information on their site to give people an understanding of what lies ahead of them. However, they also sell e-books that give an outline of processes and expected outcomes of bankruptcy cases.

If the DIY approach seems overly daunting, they also have a lawyer finding tool. They can put you in contact with a local lawyer who specializes in fiscal law and can make the process even smoother.

Recovering your credit score

A bankruptcy will stay on a person’s credit report for 10 years and obviously damages a credit score. However there are things that can be done to mitigate this. Hiring a credit counseling agency can help people get back to decent credit and allow them to look for credit once more. Making sure that the agency is legitimate is key here and the Department of Justice has a list of approved agencies by state.

TotalBankruptcy.com

Total Bankruptcy are a site that can put business owners in contact with financial lawyers nationwide. The advantages of having a lawyer who knows how to navigate the financial world can be invaluable and lead to a quicker recovery.

As well as their law services their site also has advice on how to rebuild after going through a bankruptcy. Following their advice can help rebuild a credit score and also help to restructure any new venture to be more fiscally responsible than the last venture.

Consolidating Loans

People will often have several different types of loans, and the constant pressure of repayments can be overwhelming. Consolidating a loan simply means combining all existing loans into one payment. Not only does this make it more manageable in terms of one payment instead of several payments, but also has other advantages.

If a person has a lot of credit card debt they most likely have quite high interest repayments. If they aren’t even making the minimum payments on those debts the penalties can be severe. By consolidating it gives people an opportunity to have a repayment plan that they know they can pay off.

USA.gov

When looking for financial advice it’s important to understand where the information is coming from. The USA.gov site has impartial advice to help people in debt know where to turn. The site suggests where to get free counseling, how to check if organizations or companies are legitimate, and offers advice and information that is trustworthy.

The Financial Counseling Association of America

This is one of the many resources recommended by the USA.gov site. The FCAA can help people find a counsellor who can begin the process of consolidating loans. They also have a range of services that includes viewing and evaluating a credit score, repayment structures, and also a very informative blog. Going through a councillor can be beneficial to make sure that the interest rates charged on the new consolidated loan will actually be beneficial.

Lendkey

Lendkey is a company that consolidates loans through non-profit Credit Unions and banks rather than large banks and lending institutions. The biggest advantage of this is that interest rates in non-profit organizations are generally a lot lower than in for-profit banks. Lendkey searches a vast network of these non-profits and finds the best deal for consolidating loans.

Federal Student Aid

Students loans are one of the biggest debts in the U.S. and the Federal Student Aid has information on how to consolidate loans without the help of an extra agency. This is for people who have multiple federal education loans but want to make them a single payment. This site walks though the process of applying for a consolidation by themselves along with some pros and cons of it.

Loan types to avoid

Unfortunately, when people are in financial difficulty there are those who try to take advantage. This practice has been around for a long time, and targets those who believe that they have very few options left.

As a general rule, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Companies that offer loans without any collateral or don’t require a credit check can be incredibly dangerous to deal with.

Companies that offer small personal loans or “payday loans” have high interest rates or fees. These fees are usually between $15 and $30 per $100 borrowed, and if you can’t afford to pay off the loan when the date comes around, those fees will double.

Before considering these quick-fix options, people dealing with financial difficulties should look at all the options.

Credit Karma

This site is mainly for people to check their credit score, but they also have a function to see ratings of companies that are offering loans.

Companies offering short term loans often try to warn against these types of loans while also offering them, but claiming that they are different. It’s important to reiterate that if it seems too good to be true, it is.

Check the company of Credit Karma and see what others are saying about them. While on the Credit Karma site, users can look at their list of loan providers that they can apply for safely.

Find Legal help

This site is run by the American Bar Association to help people access

legal aid. This can be especially useful for anyone who has already borrowed money from a payday loan or short-term personal finance company.

These types of companies are illegal in many states and people borrowing from them should know their rights. Find Legal Help can give advice on how to proceed and even help find a lawyer to represent them if needs be.

Bankrate - Spotting a personal loan scam

Bankrate is similar to Credit Karma in that they will help find the best rates for loans, credit cards and investments. However they also have a lot of useful information on spotting scams.

Using their guide to figuring out if a loan is a scam or not, users will be able to protect themselves from getting involved with unsavoury schemes.

Moving out of debt

The main takeaway from this list of resources is that there are options for anyone going through financial hardship. Debt is a part of life and the worst thing that anyone in a tight situation can do is to pretend that the problem doesn’t exist.

The sooner that a person can get a hold of their expenses and income and figure out a viable plan for their future (e.g., building additional income online, such as by dropshipping), the better. It's worth mentioning that if you do decide to try to make an income online, there are many beginner-friendly web design software options to help. Understanding what services and options are available to people going through a tough financial time can go a long way to returning to a less stressful life.

Resources for Divorce

divorceresources

According to research from the American Psychological Association, between 40 and 50 percent of married couples in the U.S. get divorced. The divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher than that.

With divorce being so common today, there are a huge number of online resources that can help people experiencing the big breakup.

Divorce is a difficult legal process with procedures varying all around the world and so finding the correct information is paramount to getting through the process. Even aside from the legal difficulties of the actual break-up, many divorcees struggle with life after marriage and need help re-adjusting to single life.

The sheer number of tools online to cope with these things can be overwhelming, so this list of resources will help people going through a divorce regardless of their exact situation.

Thinking about divorce

Once the honeymoon period is over, after a child is born, or for no obvious reason, couples can find themselves in an increasingly loveless marriage.

One of the first steps when divorce is potentially on the table is to consider couples’ counseling. There are online counseling tools available, as well as ways to find a couples counselor by location.

Couple Communication - This company aims to help couples communicate with each other better and potentially avoid divorce. They have instructors all over the US and their directory lists them by state. They look to create and maintain strong communications lines between couples and teach them how to convey accurately what they want to say to their partner.

Pairs Foundation - This organization helps couples understand themselves first. They run in- person courses but they have an online course available to begin right away. On their site, they have a host of quizzes and videos to help couples and individuals. They believe that to help each person in a couple, they need to be able to understand what they’re feeling before trying to explain it to their significant other.

Divorcenet - If divorce is the only option, then it’s important that both parties have their house in order. Divorcenet has a list of things you should do immediately, including what you should prioritize like household inventory and making a realistic appraisal of your earning potential. These are aspects of divorce that if overlooked will be to your detriment when it comes to the nuts and bolts of your future finances.

Going through the divorce

Once a couple has decided that divorce is the best way forward, there’s a huge amount of work and expense involved. Unless the couple are familiar with divorce law, it can be a good idea to seek the help of a divorce advisor or mediator.

Your Divorce Advisor - There are a huge number of Divorce advisors available online and locally. Before lawyering up and getting yourself locked into a contractual agreement, this resource outlines a solid roadmap on what steps to take throughout the divorce. This is a great first step in understanding the processes that will help avoid lengthy and expensive discussions with a lawyer.

Legal Jargon - Given how complicated divorce settlements can be, the legal terminology can be confusing. From Ab Initio to Voir Dire, legal language often includes latin and french terms, and it’s imperative that people going through a divorce understand them.

Amicable Divorce App - This app aims to make the divorce process as painless as possible. It reduces the amount of time spent with a lawyer by creating a checklist of all documents needed from both parties. Couples can also share documents and information all in one place.

Recently divorced and moving on

After the legal process of divorce ends, both parties can have a rough time adjusting to their newly single lives. Many people struggle to find an identity for themselves after a break up, but there are tools to help with this.

Since my divorce - This Blog focuses on adjusting to life after a divorce. They cover a large range of topics, all tailored to those who have recently divorced. There is the option of signing up for their weekly newsletter which delivers their newest blog post to your inbox every week.

Moving Past Divorce - This unique mother- daughter team have the interesting perspective of being able to discuss divorce from both the parent’s and child’s side. This website is updated bi-weekly and focuses on many aspects of divorce including divorce adjustment for adults, children, and adult children of divorce. It also offers well researched blogs on how individuals can succeed in marriage and remarriage. They also have a book called “Daughters of Divorce” which explores the effects of divorce on children as they experienced it and the first chapter of the book is available to read for free on their site.

Match.com - Getting back into the dating scene might sound scary, but online dating has come a long way. It’s now a common place to meet someone new and the social stigma is all but gone. There are dating sites just for divorced people, but Match.com is the largest with over 7 million users.

U.S. resources

Since divorce law varies all over the world and even within each state the divorce law can be different in relation to division of assets and taxation. It pays to be aware of the locals laws governing marriage and divorce.

Divorce Abroad - The U.S. Department of State has information pertaining to divorce on an international basis. The process to have a foreign divorce recognized and in the U.S. is outlined here on their site. This includes US citizens who obtain a divorce while in a foreign country and also a US citizen divorcing a non-US citizen.

Foreign Service employees - This resource is for employees of the U.S. Government abroad seeking divorce. Information varies on whether both parties are outside the U.S. or if one is abroad and one is in the U.S.

Total Divorce - With divorce laws varying state by state in the U.S., Total Divorce allows users to search by state. Their divorce lawyer directory is a useful asset as users can get the contact information of a local lawyer. As well as this contact list, the site also breaks down the divorce laws by state.

UK resources

Many online resources cater to U.S. divorce, but the process and costs are vastly different in the UK than in the U.S. These resources are particular to the UK and can make the whole operation a lot smoother.

How much does a divorce cost - Fixed fee consultations so couples can plan out their finances. More complicated, contested divorces can be charged more than simple amicable ones, so this service may be more useful if the couple sees difficulties in splitting assets or custody.

Divorce Procedure Guide - This resource guide from Mills and Reeve includes a simple infographic flowchart that walks through the divorce process in the UK. It also includes the prices for requesting forms and consulting fees which can be useful when trying to budget.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - The NSPCC has a great section on their site about how to protect children during a divorce. They are obviously focused on the welfare of the child and they have links to trusted UK based councillors and mediators.

Divorce for women and mothers

Divorce is experienced differently by men and women and the online tools reflect that. The three main areas of difficulty are finances, child custody and recovery after the divorce.

Women’s Divorce - This site aims to walk women through the whole process step by step. It has guides on filing for divorce, how to react when your spouse seeks divorce, and what to expect during the whole legal process.

SAS for Women - SAS (Support and Solutions for Women) offers a huge range of resources for women looking to move on after their divorce. Many questions that women have are addressed here with in-depth articles. They have an especially helpful 46 step guide to give women a clear path to feeling in control after a divorce.

Divorced Girl Smiling - This blog is an incredible resource for women going through and recovering from a divorce. It was initially a personal blog written by Jackie Pilossoph about her divorce, but since then it has grown. Jackie now has a team of experienced writers covering topics from the first thoughts of separation to re-entering the dating pool.

Divorced Moms - This is the leading site for resources for Moms. They have an abundance of articles aimed at every particular issue that can come up for divorced mothers. They cover topics such as introducing a new relationship to a child, having a healthy relationship with an ex, and how to make the decision to get a divorce.

Divorce for men and dads

The intricate ins-and-outs of divorce are incredibly difficult to understand, and learning what to expect for men is crucial. The main two things men tend to worry about in a divorce are: 1. finances and 2. child custody. These tools can help guide men on how to deal with these issues.

The Good Men Project - Not solely focused on divorce, but they have a whole section dedicated to divorce. Their articles are insightful and cover topics from how to get over the divorce, to how to deal with an ex-wife meeting a new partner, and how to maintain a relationship with kids.

Dadsdivorce.com - Covering topics from financial planning to how to deal with Father’s Day, this site is a phenomenal resource for men. A lot of their articles deal with how to keep a strong relationship with your kids, and how to rebuild bridges and trust with older kids.

Expert Beacon - This site has multiple articles about divorce and how to protect your assets and children. It has suggestions on how to deal with a spouse who may try as much legal trickery as possible to gain the upper hand in the divorce settlement.

Divorce and children

Often the most difficult part of any divorce. Even in the most amicable of breakups, this can be a contentious issue. Bringing up the issue of divorce with kids can be tough too. Finding the right way to tell children that their parents are going to get divorced can be crucial to maintaining a positive relationship between kids and both parents.

The Talk - A 60-minute video course created by Lisa Gabardi, PHD, teaches you how to explain to kids about their parents divorce. It costs a reasonable $37 and will provide information on how to make sure kids understand what is happening and why. Gabardi also has a book on co-parenting after a divorce to help both parents try to minimize the effect of the divorce on their children.

Our Family Wizard - In this app parents can manage their child’s calendars, expenses, and family details like medical bills or issues. It also allows the addition of third parties, so grandparents and new partners can be added also. Parents can also choose to let children have access to the account to see their calendar and message family members, but conversations between other family members are not available to them.

Broken Circle Project - This project aims to give a voice to the children of a divorce. They interview adults whose parents divorced when they were younger to find out how it affected them. They give insights into what they wish their parents had done differently and their relationships with their parents now. It’s an interesting resource and one that may shape how parents going through a divorce act.

Divorce and victims of abuse 

Some marriages simply slowly lose their zeal, but unfortunately many marriages have an element of abuse in them. Both physical and emotional abuse are grounds for divorce, but can be difficult for the person being abused to firstly recognize it, and then to take action. These resources aim to help people in abusive marriages.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline - The NDVH website is a great resource for people who need to talk to someone or find out information. They have a 24/7 phone line and online chat with help available in over 200 languages. They can guide victims of abuse to safety and through the difficult process of divorcing an abusive spouse.

Divorcenet - Divorcenet is a site that allows people to find an attorney, but they also have an information bank on getting a divorce while in an abusive marriage. They have explanations on how to protect yourself and your children, getting a temporary restraining order and preparing for a court hearing.

Divorce Support - This site is where you will find a huge list of questions about spousal abuse, the legal framework for divorce, and more general questions about abuse. It is a useful resource help people in an abusive relationship to see what they can do to get out of the situation.

Financial resources about divorce

One of the biggest difficulties of a divorce is finances. Divorces are expensive processes and the division of assets can be a huge sticking point for couples. There is also the issue of separate tax filing for both parties after the divorce, which can be confusing and difficult to navigate, especially if one partner generally took care of the tax return each year.

Divorce and your Money - Shawn Leamon is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and MBA. His site has a huge amount of free information to get you started with getting your finances in order. His podcast is especially useful, each episode has a focused theme, and with almost 200 episodes already, he has covered a lot of areas of divorce financials.

Community Tax - Taxes can be especially confusing after a divorce, there may be income from the sale of a house, income tax from alimony and changes in rates for single people rather than a couple rate. Using the service provided by Community Tax can help avoid any complications and make sure that both parties are tax compliant in their new life.

Legal Zoom - Legal Zoom are a large online based legal firm and they have a reasonably priced guided divorce solution. At $950 per couple excluding legal fees, couples will have access to all the information they need for a divorce and can call advisors on the phone. This is a useful option for those who are seeking a divorce without a large disposable income.

Podcasts about divorce

With so many reading resources available, it can be beneficial to use a different way of getting your information. Podcasts tend to be very niche, which means that there are podcasts that deal with all facets of divorce.

Over Divorce - this podcast series focuses on men going through divorce. The hosts Tom and Adrian both went through their own divorces and this podcast is their reaction to that. They discuss their own experiences, but also have guests on from fields such as psychology, finance and law to make sure they are giving expert advice.

Divorce Conversations for Women - This podcast from the Women’s Financial Wellness Centre is a great starting point for women going through a divorce. Whatever the financial situation this is a great starting point for women. On their site they offer a free 30 minute consultation as well as running events all over the US.

Women of a certain age - This podcast describes themselves as “two single, divorced women laughing their way through dating and relationships”. With divorce being a testing time for everyone, these two women have found a way to laugh about it. It’s a nice break from the stressful reality of divorce, but with over 200 episodes and counting, they deal with some difficult issues.

How to Find Anyone’s Email Address

howtofindanyonesemailaddres

A perfect pitch, stuffed with relevant information and incentive, can still result in radio silence from a potential client. However, the issue might not be sending the wrong message, but that it’s being seen by the wrong person. 

Specific job roles and industries, like PR, would be at a disadvantage if their email address wasn't accessible -- so they opt in -- and they post it online somewhere. But finding the email of someone who hasn’t put it online is another issue. 

These days, people are more aware of what they have online and what they don’t (especially with GDPR). So if your name shows up in their inbox unannounced, their first thought could be about how you got their email instead of focusing on what you're offering them. This is the online version of doorstepping, and there’s a reason (respectable) sales/PR/journalists look down on this practice. Having a potential client or employer start off on the defensive is hardly the best move -- but there are ways to negate this and get your message read.

Simple methods of finding an email address

Check the “Contact Us” section 

These emails are usually a general info@company.com but it's worth noting that some companies have their department heads listed with their contact information and/or full name (which might be all you need... see below).

Guess from a known email address

If you know their full name, simply apply the framework of the company email domain with their name.

If the general email address is hello@company.com, you know it's a small company, and you're looking for John Doe, you could try john@company.com.?

However, if the company is bigger it could have multiple people named John so you could try another standard email format, firstname.lastname@company.com, or john.doe@company.com.?

Leverage the general email address

If the only contact available on the site is a general info@ email address, it doesn’t mean that it's completely useless. However, this isn’t the best place to send a pitch or specific enquiry. What you should do instead is request the contact of the person in charge of the appropriate department.

Include a brief explanation so the person receiving the emails won’t think they’re adding their colleague to a spam list. An email along the lines of this would be appropriate:

Subject: Correct email address?

Email: info@company.com

Hello,

I’m looking to get in touch with the sales manager in relation to an on-going project I’m running that relates to your recent product launch. Could you send me their email or CC them to this email?

Many thanks,

Make a phone call

Another simple thing that people tend to forget in this digital age: the phone call. The majority of companies will list a phone number on the site. This will generally be beside the info@email or at the footer of the site.

General number or not, it’s a lot easier to ignore an email than an actual person. But keep in mind that being prepared for this call is important. Calling with a general enquiry for an email address will most likely be fobbed off with the general email. To avoid this, use language that asks to confirm contact information rather than requesting it.

“Hi, I’m just looking to get in touch with your Sales Director, can I confirm that her email is jane_doe@Companyname.com”

The person on the phone is more likely to correct an incorrect email than give the email outright.

This is a great technique if you’ve extrapolated what the email may be based on another known company email.

To recap...

The above methods of obtaining an email should be the first stop. If a company has their sales director’s email on their site, they won’t appreciate a call to the office to request it. To recap, the first ports of call should be:

  1. Check the company website to see if the contact has their email publicly available.

  2. Use a known email within the company and insert the contact’s name in the formula.

  3. Email the info@ email address requesting a contact.

  4. Call the company and confirm the email address.

If the above options aren’t viable, or are resulting in dead ends, then there are a myriad of online tools to help. Selecting which to use, however, depends on the purpose of your email.

Reasons for wanting an email address

The reasons for wanting someone’s email are as diverse as the potential responses to those emails.

  • For jobseekers, finding the exact person to get a CV in front of is as crucial as the content on it.
  • For those in sales where relationships are key, making sure that a pitch is reaching the person who ultimately makes the decision is the crucial factor.
  • For bloggers, having their posts linked to and shared by the right person from the right publication can make or break their site.

For these reasons, we’ve divided up our resources into the categories of who will find them the most useful. This isn’t to say that these tools are restricted, simply more applicable in these instances. Often finding an email takes a creative approach, using a few different methods combined.

Finding emails as a job seeker

The first point of call for job seekers should be the company’s recruitment page. If there aren’t any job openings listed, then sending a CV to a generic jobs@company email is going to ensure that a CV is seen by nobody.

If a job seeker believes that they could add value to a company they’ve found, and want to preemptively strike, then getting directly to the HR head is crucial. Here are three ways to get the correct email address:

Clearbit Connect

This is one of the most simple and useful tools out there for finding emails linked to a domain. Clearbit is a Gmail plugin that takes a few seconds to install from the Chrome store and is crazy easy to use.

Note that Clearbit seems to hold on to emails even after people have left the company, so just double check that it’s the correct contact. You can also check this while you’re on LinkedIn via the company’s profile.

Just type in the name of a company and it will bring up all email accounts linked to that domain. For bigger companies, it will have their full name and title, but sometimes it will just have the address. (This means that, again, there will be a little digging on LinkedIn to find the right person.)

For example, if we search for Clearbit Connect themselves, all the staff, their emails, and their job titles are visible.

However, when searching for a company like reviews site TechRadar, we can see that it only has two job titles. (This is when a search on LinkedIn can help.)

Email Permutator and Hunter.io

If you scour a company’s website and come up empty-handed on how they structure their employee’s emails, then this is a slightly convoluted method, but it works.

On the email permutator site type in the target’s name and the company domain. The site compiles the most common permutations of what the email could be. It’s important to remember that the email you’re looking for may not be here if the company use unique usernames, but most companies will have a standard structure.

Then, you can verify each address using Hunter.io. You’ll need to sign up for free, but once you’re in, it’s a simple copy and paste from the Email Permutator.

The best thing about Hunter is that even if it can’t verify the exact email address it will look at the general structure of emails on that domain and suggest which one is most likely.

Finding emails as a sales rep

This is a big one. Using Clearbit Connect can be useful here, but it does set you up for a cold pitch email, which can get thrown by the wayside. Anyone working in sales knows that it’s not just about selling the product, but selling yourself too. Here are some tools that are useful in not only gathering emails, but also to help with extra ways of contact to ensure a smoother sale.

LinkedIn Forums

Rather than cold pitching, make a habit of joining LinkedIn groups and participating in discussions. Not only will it keep you informed on changes in your industry, but you will be able to see what is being offered and what people are looking for. You know, networking. 

There are thousands of groups on LinkedIn for every market imaginable, so the more niche, the better. When searching for broad terms such as “B2B Marketing” LinkedIn shows over 800 groups on this topic, or variations of it.

In these groups members can answer questions and become known in the community as an authority. Here you can recognise potential clients, and interact with them.

Once contact has been established within the group, members have the option of adding each other as direct contacts. This gives both members full access to each other’s contact information on their LinkedIn page. Not only does this reveal an email address, but also establishes rapport or at least a certain level of trust.

Pipl.com

This is a great tool if the information you have is partial or incomplete. For example, if a company has the names of their department heads, but no contact details for any of them.

Pipl.com allows users to search by name, phone number, email, or even usernames. It isn’t just restricted to finding emails, but it gives an even more full picture of the contact.

If searching by name, this tool will also pull up their usernames from social media sites, again introducing another point of contact to help build a more full picture of the contact. It’s also possible to narrow down the search by selecting a location and age range.

Personal Website

Even if your desired contact is already working for a company, many understand the importance of creating a personal brand. This is especially true of freelancers and independent contractors, where they may have a company website, but also a separate online presence.

They will be more likely to have an email address on their site that will allow people to get in touch with them directly. Check the “About” or the “Contact” section again and follow the earlier steps of checking the simple steps first.

Data.com Connect

This is a powerful search tool with a huge amount of contact information. This site is completely free, but it does come with a caveat. It is essentially a crowdsourced list of data where all the information is user generated.

It works on a give one, get one system. Users add contacts to build up points on the site which they then spend to get contact information.

If users meet a potential contact at a conference, but forget to get their contact information, they can search for them with the information they have. Searches can run with names, job descriptions, job location or a huge amount of other factors. If looking for one particular person, users can be super detailed.

It’s also a useful tool to generate leads if the search is kept general. Searching by job level and department and location will show a list of email contacts of clients that could fit.

This is a mainly crowdsourced site, and as such should be treated with caution. Think of it as the Wikipedia of contacts; a great place to start, but not to fully rely on.

Finding emails as a blogger

In the blogging industry, contacts are key. Cold calling is a rough game to play in any area, and with everyone calling themselves an influencer now, what makes one stand out?

It’s important to remember that bloggers are now an important part of marketing campaigns. They lend authenticity to a project and are the person people can relate to and rely on. They have to be an expert voice that people know they can follow.

The contacts that they’re looking for are going to have to be ones that are congruent with their online presence. Luckily there are a few tools and tricks to do that.

Niche Facebook Groups

Much like LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups are a great place to find contacts and turn them into clients. The key is to find the right niche.

For example, a travel blogger looking for new clients in South America should find and join as many South American travel and expat groups as they can. These groups will not just have people traveling, but often tourism boards and businesses will be there too, promoting services.

Here bloggers can see what kinds of things travellers are interested in, and what kind of services are lacking. Interact with the potential clients here and you’ll be able to request a contact either on a comment thread or by DM.

Hunter.io

Hunter.io was mentioned earlier but it can be used slightly differently. This time there’s no need to go to the Hunter Homepage, but this is an unobtrusive Chrome extension.

When you’re researching potential clients on their website, all you need to do is click on the Hunter logo in the browser and it will pull up all available email addresses.

It has a scale of verification, a small green shield with a tick is completely verified, a green circle is likely, down through orange and finally to red.

The Complete Guide to Social Security Disability Benefits

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How disability benefits can change your life

Developing a disability can be frustrating for many reasons, and the inability to work is one of the hardest things to deal with. In the U.S., 12.8% of people are disabled, and more than half of them (51%) are within the prime working ages of 18-54, according to an annual report funded by the NIDILRR, and the employment rate of disabled individuals ranges from 27.4% to 54% between the states. This leaves many unemployed, and not being able to work leads to depression and the feeling of being a burden on your family and loved ones.


Fortunately, disability benefits provided by the Social Security Administration can offer relief, giving a disabled person back their agency and dignity, though many are unaware of the rules and qualifications regarding the available benefits.


That’s why we’ve compiled this guide: to provide everything you need to know on the topic in a clear, concise manner. We’ll cover the available benefits, necessary qualifications for different age groups, how benefits are paid out, alternative sources of benefits, and more. After reading, acquiring the benefits that you deserve will be a whole lot easier.

What types of disability benefits are available through Social Security?

For most people, disability benefits will come through the Social Security Administration, which runs two programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While the criteria determining whether you are disabled are the same, there are other important differences between the two programs.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is the Social Security program set up to give out monthly payments to those who have no employment history, or haven’t worked long enough to save up the necessary “work credits” (which you earn by paying federal income taxes each year) to qualify for SSDI. They are funded by general federal taxes, rather than payroll taxes like SSDI. If you’ve been significantly disabled for much of your life, you likely fall into this category.

Benefits begin to be paid out directly after the application process, is complete, although Social Security does not pay out retroactive benefits going back to the beginning of the disability, as in the case of SSDI.

Do you qualify for SSI benefits?

Qualifying for SSI benefits is not based on your work history, but rather your means, assets and disability status. Approval is based on the following criteria:

  • Being in possession of assets under $2000 for a single person, and $3000 if you are in a couple. This does not include the value of your residence.
  • Meeting the Social Security Administration’s criteria for disability. Here is the official list of impairments that render someone eligible for SSDI.

How much in SSI benefits are you eligible to receive?

The standard monthly payment in 2018 is $750 a month for an individual, up $15 from the previous year. Families are eligible to receive a bit more: $1,125 a month, $22 more than in 2017.


Your SSI benefit amount also subtracts any countable income you’ve received that month. So, for example, if you’ve earned $200 in given month, that amount will be subtracted from $750, leaving you with $550 in SSI benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is an insurance program that people qualify for based on their accumulated work credits that they’ve earned through years of paying FICA taxes during their time in the workforce. Unlike SSI, SSDI will pay back benefits beginning from five months after the onset of the disability (the designated waiting period to receive benefits.)

For example: if you applied for benefits in April, 2017, but became disabled in March, 2015, you are eligible to receive back payments beginning though August, 2015, along with future monthly payments.

Do you qualify for SSDI benefits?

As mentioned, qualifying for SSDI benefits isn’t means-tested, like SSI benefits, but instead based on your earnings history. To qualify you need a certain amount of work credits at the age you apply. Remember: working full-time for a year earns you 4 work credits.

  • Below age 24: Young disabled people need to have six credits earned within three years before the onset of disability.
  • From ages 24 to 31: In this age bracket, you must have earned half the credits you could have received by working full-time between age 21 and your age when becoming disabled. For example, if the disability happens when you are 29, you’ll need 16 credits (32/2).
  • Age 31-42: 20 credits earned in the past 10 years before disability.
  • Age 43-61: Your work credits must meet the sum of the years between age 21 and the year prior to the beginning of the disability. For example, if you are 54, you will need 32 credits (53-21=32)
  • Age 62-Retirement Age: 40 credits are required. After a person reaches retirement age, disability benefits become standard social security benefits.

How much in SSDI benefits are you eligible to receive?

The payment amount of monthly benefits is based on the person’s earning history, with the average being $1,197 and the current maximum monthly benefit totaling $2,788. Individuals are also eligible for Medicare once they’ve received SSDI for two years.

When and how do SS disability benefits get paid out?

  • SSI: SSI benefits are paid on the 1st of every month once you’ve been approved. Post-approval, you will receive back pay starting from the date of your application, but not dating back to the beginning of your disability.
  • SSDI: The payment scheme for SSDI benefits is a little more complicated. Those that have been receiving benefits since before 1997 get their payment on the 3rd of the month, while those approved more recently receive their payment on a date that depends on their birthday. If it falls between the:
    • 1st and 10th: Paid on the 1st Wednesday of the month
    • 11th and the 20th: Paid on the 2nd Wednesday of the month
    • 21st and the 31st: Paid on the 3rd Wednesday of the month

How to apply

If you become disabled, you should apply for benefits immediately, as the application process and waiting period could take some time depending on your individual case. Usually, the wait for a decision on your case will take 3 to 4 months, but an initial rejection can tack on an additional 4 months, if you decide to pursue a reconsideration.

To apply, you must call or visit your local Social Security Office, which you can find by calling 1-800-772-1213, or using the online SSA office locator. Once you meet with Social Security representatives, they will determine whether you qualify for SSI or SSDI.

Frustratingly, 60% of disability applications are denied the first time, but appealing the decision is possible if the request is submitted within 60 days of receiving the denial letter.

Since the application process could take a while, you can hasten it by gathering the following documents beforehand. Having a wealth of information to give to a representative will also help your chances of being approved for benefits.

  • A list of your employers and job titles held
  • A copy of your recent tax return
  • Pay stubs from the past six months, if you have them
  • A letter from your current physician that states that you will be unable to work for a year or longer
  • Medical doctors from doctors, hospitals, therapists, etc.
  • Any recent laboratory results
  • The names of medications that you are currently taking

Helping a loved one receive benefits

A disabled friend or family member may hesitate to file an application for a variety of reasons: they may feel too embarrassed to apply for benefits, be too disabled to do so, or simply need that extra push.

Fortunately, there’s nothing wrong with helping an important person in your life receive the long-term care they deserve by assisting them with the application process. You do not need to be married or related to the person in order to help them complete--or even sign--their application, although the individual may appoint you as an authorized representative for dealing with Social Security business, if they desire. Visit the official Representing Social Security Claimants website for more info and a copy of the necessary form.

Alternative sources of disability benefits

Receiving benefits through Social Security isn’t the only route to go if you’re are disabled. Here are two alternatives:

Private disability insurance

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 33% of workers had long-term disability insurance in 2014, while 39% had a short-term insurance plan.

Disability insurance is offered by many employers, and typically holds significant advantages over federally-funded SSDI. For one, the qualifications for what determines a disability are much less stringent, and an individual is not burdened with proving the nature of their disability to such an extreme degree.

However, the definition of “disability” that decides whether you may receive payments varies from plan to plan. Some plans offer benefits for those limited to performing only some of their job duties, while others only award benefits to those completely unable to work, as in the case of SSDI. One more bonus is that you may be able to receive private insurance payments in tandem with SSDI payments.

Of course, the downside to private disability insurance is that you’ll need to have acquired it before becoming disabled, either by employment through a company that offers it, or having previously signed up for a plan on your own.

State disability benefits programs

In the United States, only five states offer disability insurance funded by state taxes. These are: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, also provides its own disability insurance.

Additional resources

  • Social Security Disability Benefits Website: The official SS website covering SSI and SSDI benefits. You can learn more about the programs and application process here.
  • Consumer Guide to Disability Income Insurance: Put together by the National Association of Health Underwriters, this resource includes information on the costs and varieties of private disability insurance policies. It can also help you to find an insurance agent that will personally help you sign up for a plan.
  • Disability Statistics: An exhaustive resource of disability statistics dating back to 1981 put together by Cornell University.
  • Live Well with a Disability: A guide with advice on accepting and coping with a disability by helpguide.org, a trusted voice in mental health.
  • Coping With Disabilities: A guide giving advice and suggestions for dealing with the difficulties caregivers of those with disabilities face.
  • Disabilities Message Board: A message board where individuals with disabilities can discuss their struggles, give advice and offer support to people going through a difficult time.



























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