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Senior Poverty
About This Indicator
What Is Senior Poverty?
The share of people 65 and over below the official poverty line, from the Census Bureau, since 1966. The line is slightly lower for older people living alone or in pairs, on a 1960s assumption they need less food.
Why Does It Matter?
It shows whether Social Security keeps older people out of poverty. In 1966 they were about twice as likely as all Americans to be poor; most of that gap closed from 1970 to 1974 as Congress raised benefits repeatedly.
Can Politics Influence It?
Mainly through Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, cash aid for poor older people. The line ignores medical bills, so Medicare's help is invisible here.
Key Idea
It barely follows the business cycle. Most older people live on Social Security, not paychecks, and it rises with prices, as the poverty line does. In the 2008 and 2009 recession, poverty rose overall but fell for seniors.
Scored: A Fall Ranks Better
Source: Census Bureau. Historical Poverty Table 3 (hstpov3), all races, people 65 and over.
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