Seniors living in poverty continue to Suffer in Silence

Older Adults Severely Affected by Economic Downturn; In Line With Overall Poverty Numbers

September 28, 2011 -- Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the overall number of older adults living in poverty has increased. Even more significant is the number of seniors who have experienced an increase in economic insecurity—or those simply living on the edge.

Seniors with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) rose from 33.7% (13,023,000) in 2009 to 34.6% (13,549,000), and those living below 100% of the FPL saw a modest, yet significant, increase from 3.4 to 3.5 million. Numbers do indicate that some individuals aged 65 and older have seen a rise in their incomes, mostly due to Social Security, as more and more Boomers reach retirement age.

"What the numbers have shown us is that economic insecurity for older adults has definitely increased," said Sandra Nathan, senior vice president for Economic Security at the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

"We need legislative and policy changes that take into account the needs of all age groups in poverty—while not forgetting those who are living on the edge, struggling every day just to pay for food, medicine, transportation, and a place to live."

The current official poverty measurement system also needs an update, NCOA believes. Developed in the early 1960s, the Federal Poverty Level measures poverty by comparing a family's income to a threshold level of need, which is based on food consumption patterns of 1955 and does not reflect current living standards. The measure of income evaluated against this threshold does not reflect tax liabilities, out-of-pocket spending on health care, and other significant costs, nor does it account for important forms of public assistance. As a result, it does not adequately reflect who is poor.

If a more modernized measure of poverty were used, there would likely be an even larger proportion of older individuals living in poverty. This data was reflected in the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Poverty and Family Assistance released in 1995.

"The reality is that there is an unseen crisis occurring in this country today," said Nathan, "and that is rising economic insecurity among older Americans."

More than 13 million older adults live in or on the edge of poverty, on less than $22,000 each year. These seniors live one bad break, one accident, or one layoff away from economic disaster. And with continued cuts in federal, state, and local programs serving older adults, we can expect to see even more seniors struggling to make ends meet.

Over the past six months, NCOA has collected over 5,000 real stories and videos of older adults who are struggling economically through its One Away campaign for elder economic security. The campaign is now calling on Congress to pledge to Protect and Strengthen the Older Americans Act, which funds many programs that help seniors in need. The stories, videos, and Pledge are available at www.OneAway.org.  

About NCOA   
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered inWashington, DC. NCOA's mission is to improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. 
www.NCOA.org  |   www.facebook.com/NCOAging  |   www.twitter.com/NCOAging

SOURCE National Council on Aging