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Economic Security Monitor: Tracking the Harsh Realities of Aging in Poverty
AARP Foundation’s quarterly Economic Security Monitor tracks economic conditions for those experiencing both aging and poverty in the United States.
A New Way to Track the Economic Security of Older Adults
The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor tracks the financial lives of adults age 50 and older with low income. Every quarter, we survey more than 2,000 people from households living at or below 250% of the U.S. federal poverty level, interviewing them on matters ranging from living expenses to employment stability and access to public benefits.
This group represents a vulnerable population of more than 39 million people, or 1 in 3 adults over age 50. The results tell a story of a group being squeezed by rising costs in 2026.
28% couldn’t cover an emergency expense of more than $100.
Spring 2026 Main Findings
Rising prices are being felt more acutely. The share of respondents reporting that household expenses had increased rose from 64% in Winter 2025-2026 to 75% in Spring 2026. The change comes on top of heightened concern over the rising cost of living. 88% of respondents cited rising prices as a financial concern—higher than concerns about retirement savings or medical costs.
While the jump was largely driven by rising transportation costs (which include the cost of gas), food remained the top daily expense category causing concern.
45% of adults age 50-64 with low income said food actually ran out before they could afford more.
One-third (33%) of respondents reported that they ran out of food before they had money to buy more. The burden fell hardest on adults ages 50-64, 45% of whom said they ran out of food, compared with 25% among those 65 and older.
Financial Vulnerability is Greatest for Adults Ages 50-64
While financial hardship is widespread among older adults with low income, adults ages 50-64 are in an especially precarious situation. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents in this age group said they were struggling financially, compared with 47% of adults 65 and older. The availability of public benefits such as Social Security and Medicare for those in their 60s may help to explain the gap.
For those working, employment alone is not enough to escape financial hardship. Nearly half of adults with low income age 50-64 are working, yet 63% of those employed are still struggling financially. Financial cushions are extremely thin — more than half (54%) of this age group could only cover expenses for one month or less if their primary income were lost through an event like job loss.
Downloads
- Download the Findings
- Download the Fact Sheet
- Wave 1 Methods Report and Annotated Questionnaire – Questionnaire | Methods report
- Wave 2 Methods Report and Annotated Questionnaire – Questionnaire | Methods report
Related Resources
- About AARP Foundation
- NORC at the University of Chicago
- Media Inquiries| media@aarp.org
For data questions or to be notified about future research releases, contact aarpfoundationresearch@aarp.org.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor
A: Most national datasets lag economic change by a year or more. The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor helps fill that gap by providing timely, recurring insight into how financial strain is changing for older adults with low income, including where pressure is intensifying, which groups are most exposed, and what those shifts may mean for action.
A: The Spring 2026 AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor shows cost pressure is widespread and worsening: 75% of respondents said their necessary household expenses increased in just the last three months, up from 64% one quarter earlier.
A: The Spring 2026 AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor suggests many are extremely vulnerable to even modest financial shocks: 28% said the largest emergency expense they could cover with savings is under $100.
A: The Spring 2026 AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor findings show that food hardship is a serious and immediate issue: 33% of respondents said food ran out before they had money to buy more.
A: The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor is a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 U.S. adults age 50 and older with low income, defined as living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. This population represents approximately 39 million people, or about one-third of all U.S. adults age 50 and older.
A: The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor is conducted quarterly, with each quarter tracking the same respondents over time to capture how financial conditions change for older adults with low income. The Winter 2025-2026 data was collected December 24, 2025, through January 12, 2026, and the Spring 2026 was collected March 30 through April 15, 2026.
A: Future waves will follow the same respondents throughout 2026, creating a longitudinal record of how financial conditions evolve for this population. This design allows researchers and policymakers to identify trends and compare conditions quarter over quarter as they develop.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is the nation’s leading organization serving older adults living in poverty or one life event away from slipping into it. The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor is a quarterly longitudinal study conducted in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, tracking the financial experiences of U.S. adults age 50 and older with low income.
The Winter 2025-2026 data was fielded December 24, 2025, through January 12, 2026, with 2,548 completed interviews weighted to represent the national population of U.S. adults age 50+ living at or below 250% of federal poverty level. The Spring 2026 survey was fielded March 30 through April 15, 2026, with 2,112 completed interviews weighted to represent the national population U.S. adults age 50+ living at or below 250% of federal poverty level.
Download the Findings
Access key findings from AARP Foundation's latest Economic Security Monitor report.
Download the Findings
Access key findings from AARP Foundation's latest Economic Security Monitor report.