Both men and women 65 and older who are married and living with a spouse are less likely to be poor than those who are not married. Nearly 19% of women over 80 who live alone are in poverty. Poverty rates are higher among never-married men, at 22.5%.
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Older women are more likely to live in poverty than men as a result of wage discrimination and having to take time out of the workforce for caregiving. Source: Federation of American Scientists (FAS), “Poverty Among Americans Aged 65 and Older.”
Congressional Research Service, “Poverty Among Americans Aged 65 and Older.” Accessed April 5, 2021. National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), “Social Security and the Evolution of Elderly Poverty.” Accessed April 5, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, “Current Population Survey, 2010 to 2020 Annual Social and Economic Supplements.”
Among older men, 1.6 million live in poverty based on the official poverty measure, a number that increases to 2.7 million based on SPM. Across all states, the share of people living in poverty is higher under the SPM than under the official poverty measure.
In addition to age and gender, marital status also plays a part in elderly poverty. Both men and women 65 and older who are married and living with a spouse are less likely to be poor than those who are not married. Nearly 19% of women over 80 who live alone are in poverty. Poverty rates are higher among never-married men, at 22.5%.
Older women are more likely to live in poverty than men as a result of wage discrimination and having to take time out of the workforce for caregiving. Source: Federation of American Scientists (FAS), “Poverty Among Americans Aged 65 and Older.”. Accessed April 5, 2021.
Elderly poverty by age group over time. Among older people, those over 80 are most likely to live in poverty (as of 2017). In addition to age and gender, marital status also plays a part in elderly poverty. Both men and women 65 and older who are married and living with a spouse are less likely to be poor than those who are not married.
Currently, the most important distinguishing factor between this and the original poverty measure is that SPM factors in the cost for out-of-pocket medical expenses. As of 2020, 8.9% of people ages 65 and older have incomes below the official poverty threshold under the official poverty measure.
Those living in poverty are less likely to have adequate resources for food, housing, health care and other significant needs, which can in turn affect physical and mental health. Adults 65 and older account for 16% of the U.S. population but 80% of coronavirus deaths in the U.S.
The official poverty measure is just one way to evaluate economic well-being. Since 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported on the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) with support from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Senior poverty rates over time. Each year, Social Security benefits lift more Americans out of poverty than any other program. Over 14.8 million elderly adults are lifted out of poverty by obtaining Social Security benefits.
The monthly poverty rate for adults ages 18 to 64 increased from 14.3% to 15.5%. The monthly poverty rate for children increased from 18.7% to 20.4%. Source: Center on Poverty & Social Policy, School of Social Work, Columbia University, “Monthly Poverty Rates in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”. October 15, 2020.
Among older men, 1.6 million live in poverty based on the official poverty measure, a number that increases to 2.7 million based on SPM. Across all states, the share of people living in poverty is higher under the SPM than under the official poverty measure.
In 2017, the threshold for poverty under the official measure was $11,756 for an individual age 65 or older . Unlike the official measure, the SPM poverty thresholds vary by geographic area and homeownership status, and the SPM reflects financial resources and liabilities, including taxes, the value of in-kind benefits (e.g., food stamps), ...