Poverty Experience of Older Persons: A Poverty Study from a Long-Term ...

Poverty Experience of Older Persons A Poverty Study from a Long-Term Perspective

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Given that the annual official poverty rate for older persons in the United States is now lower than the poverty rate for the entire population, (1) are older Americans more or less likely than younger persons to fall into poverty for a long period, and (2) are older Americans more or less likely than younger persons to escape poverty after they become poor? To examine individual poverty status from a long-term perspective, focusing particularly on older persons, the study reported in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Ke Bin Wu uses a longitudinal survey, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), which allows the tracking of poverty status for the same individuals over a 12-year period. A comprehensive analysis finds that individuals' poverty transitions in their older years are significantly different from that in their earlier years. During the 12-year period (1981-1992), the annual official poverty rate for the older population was lower than that for persons under age 65. Yet, when the same persons were traced continuously over the same period, the picture was quite different: older persons, especially older women, still experience higher rates of long-term poverty than younger age groups do. (31 pages) Pub ID: 2003-02 Additional Related Links (PDF) (PDF) Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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