Good for the elderly
It is estimated that 37.8 percent of older Americans would have incomes below the official poverty level if they did not get Social Security payments. The majority of persons over the age of 65 rely on Social Security to provide the majority of their income.
The guidelines for poverty in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia for the year 2021 are available here.
Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
---|---|
1 | $12,880 |
2 | $17,420 |
3 | $21,960 |
4 | $26,500 |
Taking the money from Social Security away would nearly double the poverty rate to 44.4 percent. Missouri, Oregon, and New Hampshire would witness a sevenfold rise in the number of elderly people who are living in poverty. If this were to happen, the number of pensioners living below the poverty level in Wisconsin and Iowa would more than double.
People above the age of 80 have a greater rate of poverty than people of other ages groups. Furthermore, the elderly frequently face obstacles to accessing sufficient health care, such as a lack of financial resources, a paucity of food, or the inability to drive.
Premium tax credits on the Health Insurance Marketplace may be available to you if your household income is between 100 percent and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. In the event that you (or your family) earn less than 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and your state has extended Medicaid eligibility, you may be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP benefits.
The 48 contiguous states plus Washington, D.C.
Persons in Household | 48 Contiguous States and D.C. Poverty Guidelines (Annual) | |
---|---|---|
100% | 400% | |
$13,590 | $18,075 | |
2 | $18,310 | $73,240 |
3 | $23,030 | $92,120 |
The HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2022 are available here.
2022 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | |
---|---|
Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
1 | $13,590 |
2 | $18,310 |
3 | $23,030 |
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), out of the more than 46 million Americans who receive Social Security retirement benefits, around. One in every five married couples and one in every four unmarried people rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their annual income.
Workers may construct a retirement income foundation on top of Social Security benefits, allowing them to better prepare for their golden years. Workers who become handicapped as a result of their jobs and families whose breadwinner dies benefit from this vital social insurance protection.
21.4 percent of older Americans live below the poverty line, which is 150 percent of the national average.
In most nations, the likelihood of being poor increases with age. They are less able to work than younger older people; they are more likely to have squandered their resources; and they are more in need of age-appropriate health and long-term personal care services than younger older people (those under the age of 80 years). 4.
The number of elderly people living in poverty is increasing. Pensions are disappearing, and retirement benefits are inadequate, causing more elderly Americans to be left behind. Women, particularly women of color, are more likely than males to fall into poverty as they get older.