Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging, described the trend as a failure to provide the conditions necessary for aging with dignity. The Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for household resources and actual spending, highlights a worsening economic reality: the rate has risen steadily from 14% in 2023 to 15.1% in 2024, and now sits at 15.4%.
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Ten Million Older Americans Face Persistent Poverty
More than 10 million older Americans struggled to afford basic necessities like food, medicine, and housing in 2025, as the poverty rate for the demographic climbed to 15.4%. This figure, based on the Supplemental Poverty Measure, marks the second consecutive year of growth and exceeds the national average for all age groups.
The human cost of this economic instability is severe. Research conducted by the NCOA and UMass Boston indicates that individuals aged 60 and older earning $20,000 or less annually face a mortality rate nine years earlier than those earning $120,000 or more. While Social Security programs kept 21 million older Americans out of poverty in 2025, millions more are left behind by a system that fails to reach those in need. Currently, over 9 million eligible seniors remain unenrolled in critical support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicare Savings Programs. Alwin is calling for immediate federal and state intervention to streamline enrollment and close the coverage gap.
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