What does retirement look like to you? Are you relaxing on a beach in Florida? Maybe playing golf everyday?
Unfortunately for many older Americans this leisurely lifestyle is far from reality. Due to the recession and other factors, many retirees live day-to-day on limited means. This generation worked hard for their retirement, but now are faced with a harsh reality of living in poverty.
Despite the Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security programs, millions of senior citizens are forced to live "on the edge." They have little money to provide for food, utilities, medical care or other basic needs.
However, according to the Federal Poverty Guidelines, these people are not considered to be “poor.” They are not able to qualify for federal government assistance because "they make too much money."
Why is this the case? The federal government is still using a formula from the 1960s that does not include housing costs and ever-rising medical expenses. Premiums for Medicare insurance alone have increased considerably in the last few years.
This reality might hit close to home if you have grandparents on fixed incomes. So what can you do to help the situation? You can start by lobbying your representatives to urge changes in income guidelines for assistance programs. And of course, you can support organizations like CANI that helps people at a variety of income levels (from the poorest of the poor on up to those who are very near, but not quite at, economic self-sufficiency). I know I don’t want my grandma to have to scrape by to live. Do you?
No comments:
Post a Comment