Poverty - Age 65+ in United States

United States

Poverty is associated with poor health outcomes. It influences environmental exposures and health-related behaviors and increases the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Among older adults, poverty is linked to an increased risk of disability, homelessness, and physical and cognitive decline. Many older adults subsist on limited incomes and modest savings that may restrict their ability to afford basic medical care. 

The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), introduced in 2011, complements the official poverty measure with metrics that adjust for government programs related to food, housing and utilities as well as other expenses such as taxes and out-of-pocket medical expenses. In 2020, the SPM-calculated rate was 2.3 percentage points lower than the poverty rate calculated using the official method. This is the first time in SPM history that it indicated a lower poverty rate than the official poverty measure. The SPM for older adults increased from 9.5% in 2020 to 14.1% in 2022.

Poverty is higher among:

• Adults age 80 and older compared with adults ages 65-79. 
• Older women compared with older men.
• Older adults of all racial and ethnic minority groups compared with white older adults.
• Older adults who are not married compared to those who are married and living together.

Many federal, state and local government programs, as well as community interventions, exist to support and help reduce the number of older adults living in poverty. Some of them include:

• Social Security: Most adults age 65 and older receive Social Security benefits. Social Security plays an important role in keeping older adults above the poverty line. The average benefit for a retired worker is $1,837 per month.
• Supplemental Security Income: This program supplements Social Security benefits with additional income for older adults who need it. 
• Medicare: This government health insurance program is offered to all adults age 65 and older.
• Medicaid: Older adults enrolled in Medicare with limited income and resources may qualify for additional assistance with paying premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses through Medicaid.
• Housing assistance: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides various affordable housing resources for older adults. More than 2.2 million low-income older adult renters were classified as either having a severe housing cost burden, living in severely inadequate housing or both, according to a 2021 HUD report.
• Food and nutrition support: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help older adults afford food. The Older Americans Act funds multiple programs that provide congregate or home-delivered meals to low-income older adults.

Healthy People 2030 has a goal to reduce the proportion of all people living in poverty.

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