Managing bills and avoiding repeated payments or missed deadlines
Records, alerts and trusted help that protect your money and your say over it
The electric company sends a late notice, but you are sure you paid. Then the bank statement shows you paid the phone bill twice in the same week. Slips like these are frustrating. They can cost real money in late fees, overdraft charges and stress.
Money tasks lean hard on memory and attention. After a brain injury of any severity, from concussion to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), it is common to lose track of what was paid, when, and how. Bills follow a monthly pattern, which makes them easier to track on paper than in your head.
This guide covers simple records that catch errors and ways to bring in help while keeping your say. It also covers how to protect yourself from people who see a brain injury as an opening. It is general information. The right legal tools depend on your state and your situation.
How a brain injury can affect money tasks
Paying bills on time takes several thinking skills at once. You have to remember due dates, keep track of what you already paid, compare amounts and resist pressure to act fast. In a small Canadian focus group study of 12 people with TBI, participants named several barriers to budgeting [1]. They included memory and attention problems, anxiety and impulsive choices, and money tools that were hard to use [1].
A U.S. study followed money skills over time in people with more serious injuries. In that 2012 study, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham tested money skills in 24 adults with moderate to severe TBI and 20 adults without injury [2]. They tested the TBI group in the hospital and again six months after the injury [2]. Skills ranged from simple ones, like understanding a bank statement, to complex ones, like managing a checking account and understanding investments [2].
In the hospital, people with TBI scored below the comparison group on most money measures [2]. A large share fell in the marginal or impaired range in seven of nine skill areas [2]. By six months, both simple and complex skills had improved [2]. Even so, the TBI group still scored below the uninjured group on complex money skills [2]. The researchers suggested that complex tasks may need to stay with a family member or other trusted person, at least for a while [2]. They also stressed early education for families and naming who will be responsible for money matters [2].
That study involved serious injuries, so it does not tell us much about concussion. Many people with TBI do manage their own money. In the Canadian study, 7 of the 12 participants handled their finances on their own. Another 4 managed them with help from family [1]. The goal is to match the amount of help to what you can do now and to adjust as you recover.
Build a bill system that does the remembering
A bill system is easiest to keep when it looks the same every month. TBI Model Systems materials suggest keeping a list of the bills you pay each month [3]. Add the due date, the usual amount and how you pay it. Tape it inside a cupboard door or keep it in a folder at a home memory station, the one place where important papers live [3].
Phones and computers can carry the reminders. Calendar alerts on a phone, tablet or computer help people with TBI remember scheduled tasks [4]. INCOG 2.0, the 2023 international guideline on memory rehabilitation after TBI, favors phones and other electronic reminders [5]. Set an alert two or three days before each due date, so you have time to act if money is short. Keep a short list of the companies you pay, too. A call or letter that seems to come from a government agency is a common scam setup. The list makes an odd request stand out [6].
Automatic payments take the memory load off fixed bills like rent, insurance or a car loan. But if you forget a bill is on autopay and pay it by hand too, you have paid twice. Mark every autopay bill clearly on your list, and ask your bank what alerts it offers for low balances or large payments.
Bills and claims after a crash
A road crash often brings a wave of new paperwork: hospital and therapy bills, insurance letters, repair estimates and claim forms. These rarely follow a monthly pattern, which makes them easy to lose track of. Give them their own folder, separate from household bills. Keep a call log too, with the date, the person you spoke with, what they said and what happens next. Before paying any medical bill, check whether an insurer is supposed to cover it, and write down what you learn. A family member or friend can help sort the pile once a week while you make the decisions.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Common money slips and what helps
| Slip | Safeguard | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Paying a bill twice | Payment log with date and confirmation number | Autopay bills also paid by hand |
| Missing a due date | Monthly bill list plus phone alerts | Bills that come only once a year |
| Losing a paper bill | One folder or tray for all mail with money in it | Mail left in several rooms |
| Forgetting a new charge | Reviewing the statement each month with a helper | Free trials that turn into charges |
| Acting on a pushy call | A rule to hang up and call back on a known number | Calls that demand quick payment |
Based on TBI Model Systems tips and federal consumer guidance [3, 4, 6].
Monthly bill routine
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Open all money mail at one set time each week, at the same table.
- Check each new bill against your monthly bill list.
- Look up whether the bill is on autopay before paying anything.
- Pay, then write the date, amount and confirmation number in your log.
- Write “paid” and the date on the paper bill and file it.
- Once a month, compare the log with your bank statement, ideally with a trusted helper.
Stop double payments before they happen
A double payment tends to happen when there is no record of the first one, or the record is somewhere you cannot find it. A payment log solves both problems. Keep it in one notebook or one phone note, never both. Each entry needs the bill, the amount, the date and the confirmation number.
Make it a rule to check the log before every payment. If the bill is already there, stop. If you are not sure, call the company and ask whether your last payment arrived. Focusing on one task at a time helps, so pay bills when the TV is off and you are not rushed [4].
Split the work if a helper is involved. Decide who pays which bills, and write it on the bill list. Two people paying from the same account without a shared record makes paying twice more likely.
Imagine a 38 year old home health aide. A rear end crash left her with a concussion. For two months she kept losing track of which bills she had paid. Her fix was a single page taped inside the kitchen cupboard, with one row per bill and a column for the date paid. She checks the page before she opens her banking app. She has not doubled a payment since she started.
If a double payment does happen, call the company soon. Ask whether it can refund the extra amount or apply it to next month, and write down who you spoke with.
Getting help while keeping control
You can get help with money and still make the decisions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says anyone helping with your money should involve you in decisions whenever they can [7]. Supported decision making, a way of keeping your right to decide with help from people you trust, fits money choices too [8, 9].
The CFPB describes several informal options [7]:
- A trusted contact person on a brokerage account. This person has no access to your money. But the firm can reach out to them if it sees signs of financial exploitation [7].
- A convenience account, which lets someone help you deposit money, withdraw it and write checks without changing who owns the money [7].
- Sending copies of your statements to a family member, so a second person can spot problems [7].
- Bringing a trusted friend or relative to meetings with your banker or financial adviser [7].
A joint account is different. In a joint account the money is jointly owned. The other owner automatically gets the money when you die [7]. That may not be what you want, so ask your bank to explain the choices before adding anyone.
Ask your bank whether a helper can view statements without being able to move money, and decide together what the helper can see. Privacy still matters. A helper who reviews statements does not need your passwords. The CFPB warns against sharing account numbers or passwords [10].
It also helps to agree on the details in writing. Decide what the helper does, what they can see and how often you will sit down together to review things. A short monthly money check in, with the bill list, the log and the bank statement on the table, keeps both of you informed. A TBI Model Systems factsheet encourages helpers to work through problems with the person instead of solving them alone [4].
Powers of attorney, payees and fiduciaries
Sometimes a formal arrangement makes sense, especially for complex tasks or longer periods of help. A power of attorney is a legal document that lets another person act for you on money or property matters [7]. You pick the person who will act for you. The powers and duties that come with this role vary from state to state [11]. Get advice from an elder law or disability rights lawyer, or a legal aid office, before signing.
Two federal agencies have their own systems. The Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can each name someone to manage benefits they pay [7]. For Social Security this person is called a representative payee. For the VA it is a fiduciary [11]. These helpers can manage only the benefits from the agency that named them [7].
Guardianship or conservatorship is the most limiting option. A court names someone to manage another person’s money and property [7]. State laws generally allow guardianship only as a last resort, and other tools, such as powers of attorney and trusts, come first [8].
Anyone in one of these roles has duties. CFPB guidance says to keep good records and to keep the person’s money separate from your own [12]. A guide for representative payees and VA fiduciaries adds that the helper must act only in the person’s best interest [6].
Guarding against scams and exploitation
People who have trouble keeping track of money can be targets for scams and for people they know. In 2020, the CFPB cited an estimate of $2.9 billion lost to financial exploitation of older adults and reported that only about 1 in 44 cases reaches authorities [10]. Those figures are for older adults, but the same tactics reach people of any age.
Common scams include [6]:
- A caller or email that pretends to be a relative or friend in trouble and asks for money.
- A prize or lottery “win” that requires your bank details or a fee.
- A call or letter that seems to come from a government agency.
Imposter scams were the top fraud type reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2020 [6]. A simple house rule helps: never pay or share account details on a call you did not make. Hang up and call back using a number from your bill or card.
Exploitation can also come from someone close. Warning signs include money or property that seems to be missing [6]. Another is a caregiver, friend or relative who suddenly starts handling the person’s money [6]. A person who seems afraid of someone close to them may also be at risk [6]. Bank statements or bills that suddenly stop arriving can be another sign [10].
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 [6]. Adult Protective Services takes reports of elder financial abuse [10]. If you are younger, ask your state or county office whether it also serves adults with disabilities. You can also contact local police and report scams to the FTC [6].
Questions to ask your care team
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Do my test results suggest I need help with complex money tasks right now?
- Could a speech language pathologist or occupational therapist help me set up a bill routine?
- Which memory aid would work best for due dates, a paper list or phone alerts?
- Are any of my medicines or symptoms likely to affect my attention when I handle money?
- Can a social worker help me find a lawyer or legal aid office that handles powers of attorney?
- How will we know when I am ready to take back tasks a helper is doing?
- Can my family join a session to learn the system I use?
- Where can I get counseling if money worries are adding to my stress?
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my bills on autopay?
Autopay can lower the memory load for fixed bills, but it is not right for everyone. Make sure enough money is in the account on the due date, and mark every autopay bill on your list so you do not also pay it by hand. Phone alerts a few days before due dates add a second check [4, 5].
Is it better to add my partner to my bank account?
Not always. A joint account makes the money jointly owned. The other owner gets it when you die [7]. A convenience account lets someone help with deposits, withdrawals and checks without changing ownership [7]. Ask your bank which options it has.
Will I lose control if someone becomes my representative payee?
A representative payee manages only the Social Security benefits the agency put them in charge of [7]. They must act only in your best interest and keep your money separate from theirs [6, 12]. You can ask to see the records.
What if I think a family member is taking my money?
If you are in danger, call 911. Otherwise, talk with someone you trust, contact your bank, and report it to Adult Protective Services or the police [6, 10]. Warning signs include missing money and a relative who suddenly takes over handling your money [6].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
A written record does the remembering that a brain injury makes harder. A monthly bill list, a payment log and phone alerts can head off many missed or doubled payments. A monthly review with a trusted helper adds a second check.
Help with money can grow or shrink as you recover. Start with the least restrictive option, keep yourself in the decisions, and get advice from a lawyer in your state before you sign a power of attorney or similar document.
Sources and further reading
- 1Poncet F, Thomasson M, Prats F, et al. Towards a digital solution for inclusive budget management for people with traumatic brain injuries: a qualitative study. Conference poster. Posted August 2026. societeinclusive.ca/…/Poster_WFOT_Solution_Numeri…
- 2Dreer LE, DeVivo MJ, Novack TA, Marson DC. Financial capacity following traumatic brain injury: a six-month longitudinal study. Rehabilitation Psychology. 2012. Summary in University of Alabama at Birmingham news release. uab.edu/…/2117-traumatic-brain-injury…
- 3Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. Memory Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) infocomic, adapted from a factsheet by Hart T and Sander A. 2024. msktc.org/…/Infocomic-MemoryAfterTBI-50…
- 4Neumann D, Lequerica A. Cognitive Problems after Traumatic Brain Injury. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. 2020. msktc.org/…/cognitive-problems-after-tr…
- 5Velikonja D, Ponsford J, Janzen S, et al. INCOG 2.0 Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part V: Memory. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 2023;38(1):83-102. research.monash.edu/…/incog-20-guidelines-for-cog…
- 6Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, State Unit on Aging (adapted from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guides). Managing Someone Else’s Money: Help for representative payees and VA fiduciaries. dhhs.ne.gov/…/Managing%20someone%20else’s…
- 7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Managing Someone Else’s Money: Considering a Financial Caregiver? Know Your Options. March 2021. files.consumerfinance.gov/…/cfpb_considering-a-financia…
- 8Administration for Community Living. Alternatives to Guardianship. Last modified February 12, 2025. acl.gov/node/11325
- 9Walker E, Bishop A. Preserving the Right to Self-determination: Supported Decision-Making. Administration for Community Living blog. January 28, 2015. acl.gov/…/preserving-right-self-deter…
- 10Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office for Older Americans. Diminished capacity: tools for financial caregivers. Written statement to the ERISA Advisory Council, U.S. Department of Labor. September 17, 2020. dol.gov/…/2020-considerations-for-rec…
- 11Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Guides for managing someone else’s money. Archived copy, January 18, 2017. webarchive.library.unt.edu/…/managing-someone-elses-money
- 12Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans. Managing Someone Else’s Money Guides: A resource for libraries and communities. December 6, 2018. fdlp.gov/file-download/download/public/3277
This article reflects the safety priorities of brain injury recovery and consumer protection education. It provides general information only and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Laws differ by state, so check official sources and talk with your care team and a qualified legal professional about your own situation. Reviewed October 2026.
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