December 20, 2025
By Colleen Scott, NYSOFA Advocacy Specialist
2025 has brought increased prices for daily necessities including food, fuel and heat, resulting in more individuals than ever struggling to maintain a good quality of life. These pressures disproportionately affect certain groups, including older adults. It is important to be aware that there are resources to help; see the resources section at the end of this article for more information.
In 2023, more than 36 million people were living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The causes of poverty are multifactorial and complex but include low wages, unemployment, lack of adequate affordable housing, and lack of education and access to health care, etc. The effects of poverty – particularly long-term poverty – are striking and include food insecurity, homelessness and poor health outcomes.
New York State has strengthened several important economic-security programs to help older adults, including the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). Other critical programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
In addition to directly supporting older adults with nutrition and other assistance, Area Agencies on Aging are a first line of assistance to help individuals navigate potential benefits and apply for them. Whether you are an older adult, a caregiver, or someone who provides help, it’s important to recognize the prevalence of stigma about receiving needed benefits. The National Council on Aging offers insights on how to challenge these stigmas, so that individuals feel empowered to obtain the assistance they need.
Data on Poverty
- In 2022, 5.9 million people 65+ lived below the poverty level. Another 2.7 million had incomes at or just above the poverty level (near-poor).
- New York’s older adult population is experiencing an increase in poverty. Alarmingly, the number of older New Yorkers living below the poverty line increased by 37.4 percent over the past decade.
- Food insecurity among older adults has increased 38% since 2001.
- Nearly 200,000 older New Yorkers may be eligible for, but not receiving, SNAP benefits, which help individuals pay for food.
Disparities
- The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) provides key data on disparities: Hispanic New Yorkers age 65 and older are experiencing the highest rates of older adult poverty of any population, at 23.5 percent. Asian older adults have the second-highest poverty rate, at 19.1 percent, followed by African-American older adults at 16.6 percent, and White older adults at 8.7 percent.
- The Asian groups in the New York City metro area with the highest poverty rates were: Mongolian, Burmese, Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Pakistani, and Malaysian.
- The number of Asian American seniors living in poverty increased by 67 percent, from 2010 to 2019.
- The Bronx has the highest older adult poverty rate of any county or city examined, at 25 percent. Rochester’s poverty rate for 65-plus residents was next highest, at 21.7 percent, followed by Syracuse at 21.3 percent, Brooklyn at 20.9 percent, Buffalo at 18.1 percent, and Manhattan at 16.3 percent.
- Outside of New York City, the counties with the highest older adult poverty rate are: Niagara County at 11.7 percent, St. Lawrence County at 10.3 percent, Chautauqua county at 9.8 percent, Erie County at 9.8 percent, and Saratoga County at 9.8 percent.
- Older women are more likely to live in poverty than men as a result of wage discrimination and having to take time out of the workforce for caregiving.
NYSOFA Benefits Tutorials
Did you know that NYSOFA has tutorial videos to help older adults apply for some of the most common benefits, including Medicare, Medicaid, the MSP, HEAP, the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program, STAR tax rebates, SNAP food assistance, and more? Watch and share them all here.
Other Resources