Older Workers in US – Some 10 million live at or below the poverty level of $11,800

Some 10 million people over 50 in the U.S. live at or below the annual federal poverty level of $11,800, with another 37 million at risk. No dreams of a beach retirement here. Even among the employed, more than 13.2 million low-income older adults don’t make enough money to meet their expenses despite working steadily. Facing uncertain futures, these are neighbors, friends and loved ones who are trying to balance employment while making difficult tradeoffs each day. Food or medicine? Rent or heat? The starkness of these choices is overwhelming.

Poverty isn’t supposed to be part of the American Dream. Yet for a startling number of older adults, it’s a fact of life — a trend that often escapes attention.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at The Paradox of Older Workers – The Atlantic Sponsor Content – AARP Foundation