Preview: Economic Security Monitor Summer 2026 Findings

The AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor is a quarterly longitudinal survey that tracks how financial conditions are changing for U.S. adults age 50 and older with low income. By following the same respondents over time, the Monitor provides a timely view into the financial experiences of older adults with low income, helping identify economic pressures before they appear in many national datasets.

The following is a preview of findings from the Summer 2026 Economic Security Monitor (fielded June 17 - July 13, 2026). The full report will be released this fall.  

 

Preview: Summer 2026 Key Findings

Affordability pressures persist as savings decline

Summer 2026 findings show that extreme financial strain among older adults with low income is being exacerbated by affordability concerns. Notably, the share without $100 in emergency savings has risen compared with the Monitor’s Spring 2026 findings.

• Nearly 9 in 10 older adults with low income (86%) remain concerned about rising prices.
• Emergency savings offer limited protection: One-third (33%) of older adults with low income could not cover an emergency expense of $100 from savings (up from 28% in Spring 2026), while 52% could not cover $500. 

Adults 50-64 show the greatest signs of financial strain 

Among older adults, the greatest affordability pressures appear among those 50–64 with low income, years typically associated with peak earning and retirement preparation. Instead, many people in this age group are struggling to afford everyday necessities and have little financial cushion to manage a setback.

In Summer 2026, 64% of adults 50-64 with low income identify rising prices as a major concern, compared with 46% of adults 65 and older. Affordability concerns extend across everyday necessities: 

• Transportation: 54% of adults 50–64 with low income are worried about transportation costs, compared with 35% of those 65 and older.
• Food: Similarly, 54% of adults 50-64 with low income are worried about food costs, compared with 38% of those 65+.
• Emergency savings: Nearly two-thirds of adults 50-64 with low income (64%) cannot cover a $500 emergency expense using current savings, compared with 44% of adults 65+.

Income disruptions are also more common among the younger group. 30% of adults ages 50–64 with low income report a significant drop in household income in the previous 3 months, compared with 14% of adults 65 and older. 

These differences reflect the distinct financial realities facing adults in their 50s and early 60s, and suggest that many older adults are entering retirement years under significant financial strain. 

One job is often not enough

 For many working older adults with low income, one job does not provide a sufficient source of income. In Summer 2026, nearly two-thirds (64%) of employed older adults with low income report at least one additional source of paid work beyond their main job, up from 59% in Winter 2025, suggesting many are adapting to ongoing cost pressures by piecing together multiple income sources. Specifically, those taking on additional work or searching for work are significantly more likely to say affordability is a major concern.

Food hardship persists 

Food hardship continues to affect millions of older adults with low income. Nearly one-third (32%) report that their household ran out of food before they had money to buy more, a finding that has remained largely unchanged since Spring 2026. Nearly half (42%) of adults 50-64 and 24% of adults ages 65+ said they ran out of food in the last three months.  

“I bought less food and used that money to pay the increase in my rent that went up by 33% at the beginning of this year to pay for the renovations taking place.” 
Male, age 65+, Spring 2026

Coming Soon

The full Summer 2026 Economic Security Monitor results will be published in Fall 2026 and will provide a deeper analysis of economic security trends among older adults with low income, including differences by age, gender, disability status, and caregiving responsibilities.

 

About

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 Summer 2026 survey was fielded from June 17 through July 13, 2026, with 2,416 completed surveys weighted to represent U.S. adults age 50+ with low income.