Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a lifeline for the poorest seniors in America. Unlike Social Security, it is not tied to work history but instead targets those with little or no financial resources. Despite its limitations, SSI plays a vital role in preventing extreme poverty and giving seniors access to healthcare, food, and shelter.
While Social Security remains the backbone of senior income security, federal and state assistance programs provide crucial additional support. From food and housing to energy and healthcare, these programs protect vulnerable seniors from poverty and hardship.
Medicare and Medicaid together represent the most critical lifelines for senior healthcare in the United States. They reduce poverty, expand access to medical services, and provide financial security in the face of rising healthcare costs.
Social Security is far more than just a retirement program. It serves as a lifeline for retirees, disabled workers, and survivors, offering income security when it is needed most. Its design ensures that nearly every American worker and their family members are protected against life’s uncertainties.
Social Security is not only a retirement benefit, it is the single most powerful tool for reducing poverty among seniors in the United States. By providing consistent income, it ensures millions of older Americans can live with dignity, security, and independence.
The future of Social Security funding and solvency is a pressing national issue. Without action, the trust funds face depletion within the next decade, potentially leading to across-the-board benefit reductions. However, policymakers have a range of solutions available, from raising revenues to adjusting benefits.
Major updates to Social Security are coming in January 2026. These changes will affect both current retirees and those still working. If you rely on Social Security, or if you ...
