There are a number of financial and tax-related topics that newly widowed people need to understand. It’s ironic to have to deal with additional complexity at a time when you are least capable. Fortunately, there are organizations that give free financial planning and tax preparation help.

Three months or so after my husband died, I received a call from Ayco, a financial services company that offers free financial planning to newly widowed employees of their clients. I had free access to Ayco’s services for a year, I think, thanks to my employer. At the time I already had a financial planner so didn’t leverage their services beyond the introductory call and follow up assessment. They walked me through topics including Social Security survivor benefits, filing taxes as a widow, and transferring my husband’s IRA to me. While I was already aware of survivor benefits, the other topics were new to me and very helpful. Truth be told, I didn’t have the brain space to absorb much else at the time.

When it was tax time, I didn’t know if I was supposed to file taxes on behalf of my daughter since she was receiving benefits from Social Security. I must’ve forgotten that I had access to Ayco’s services because I ended up reaching out to another widow who forwarded the question to her accountant. (Turns out I did not need to file taxes on behalf of my daughter.)

Check out the list I created of organizations that give free financial planning and tax preparation help and let me know if you know of any that I missed!