国会研究服务部-美国65岁及以上人口的贫困状况（英文）-2021.4-25页_1mb

Summary: Poverty Among the Population Aged 65 and Older

Core Content

This report provides an overview of poverty among individuals aged 65 and older in the United States, focusing on historical trends, demographic variations, and the impact of federal programs. It also discusses the limitations of the official poverty measure and introduces the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) as a more comprehensive alternative.

Main Points

• Poverty Rate Trends:
  The poverty rate among the aged population has declined by over two-thirds since 1966, from 28.5% to 8.9% in 2019.
  Despite the rate decline, the number of aged individuals living in poverty has increased due to the aging population and longer life expectancy.

• Poverty Rates by Age Group:
  Poverty rates among the aged generally decline with age. In 2019, the poverty rate for individuals aged 80 and older was 11.1%, compared with 9.2% for those aged 75-79, 7.4% for those aged 70-74, and 8.4% for those aged 65-69.
  The poverty rate for women aged 80 and older was 13.6%, the highest among all age groups, compared with 7.6% for men in the same group.

• Poverty by Marital Status:
  Married individuals aged 65 and older had lower poverty rates than nonmarried individuals. In 2019, 4.7% of married women lived in poverty, compared with 14.4% of widows, 15.8% of divorced women, and 16.9% of never-married women.
  For men, the poverty rate was 8.2% for married individuals and 18.6% for never-married men.
  Poverty rates among those living with children were generally lower than those living alone, though this varied by marital status.

• Poverty by Race and Hispanic Origin:
  Poverty rates vary significantly by race and Hispanic origin. In 2019, the poverty rate was highest among Black or African American individuals (18.0%), followed by Hispanics (17.1%), Asians (9.3%), and non-Hispanic Whites (6.8%).
  The poverty rate for Black or African American individuals decreased from 36.3% in 1975 to 18.0% in 2019, while the rate for non-Hispanic Whites dropped from 13.0% to 6.8%.

• Official vs. Supplemental Poverty Measure:
  The official poverty measure is based on pre-tax cash income and does not account for noncash benefits, taxes, or medical expenses.
  The SPM, a more comprehensive measure, includes these factors and resulted in a higher poverty rate (12.8%) than the official rate (8.9%) in 2019.
  The SPM poverty rate would increase significantly if key benefits such as Social Security and SSI were excluded, highlighting the importance of these programs in reducing poverty.

• Federal Programs and Benefits:
  Social Security and SSI are the primary sources of income for the aged poor, accounting for almost 90% of their total money income.
  Noncash benefits such as housing subsidies and SNAP also play a role in reducing poverty.
  Excluding Social Security from income calculations would increase the SPM poverty rate by over 32 percentage points, while excluding SSI, housing subsidies, or SNAP would increase it by about 1 percentage point.

Key Information

• Total Aged Poor in 2019: 4.9 million individuals aged 65 and older lived in poverty.
• Poverty Thresholds: These vary by family size and composition but are not adjusted for geographic differences.
• Impact of Nonresponse Bias: Due to the pandemic, the 2020 CPS ASEC experienced a significant increase in nonresponse, which may have led to overestimation of income and underestimation of poverty.
• Demographic Vulnerabilities:
  • Older individuals (especially those aged 80 and older) are more likely to be in poverty.
  • Nonmarried individuals (widows, divorced, and never-married) face higher poverty risks.
  • Black or African American and Hispanic individuals have higher poverty rates than non-Hispanic White and Asian individuals.
• Gender Differences:
  Women aged 80 and older have higher poverty rates than men in the same age group.
  Widowed and divorced women are more likely to be in poverty than their male counterparts due to factors such as longer life expectancy, lower retirement resources, and reduced Social Security benefits after spousal death.

Conclusion

While the official poverty rate for the aged population has declined significantly over the past five decades, disparities remain among subgroups. The SPM provides a more accurate picture of the aged poor by incorporating additional factors such as medical expenses and noncash benefits. Social Security and SSI are critical in reducing poverty among the elderly, particularly for vulnerable groups like nonmarried individuals and racial minorities. The report underscores the importance of these programs and the need for further research and policy consideration to address persistent poverty issues among the aged.