Many seniors living on Social Security face a difficult and painful choice between buying food and paying for medicine. Social Security benefits often form the backbone of income for older adults, but these payments frequently fall short of covering all essential expenses. Rising costs in healthcare, housing, and food mean that seniors must carefully prioritize their limited funds, sometimes sacrificing nutrition to afford medications or vice versa.
Social Security provides a monthly income to over 58 million seniors, with a significant portion relying on it for at least half of their income. However, the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) designed to keep pace with inflation do not always fully cover the increasing expenses seniors face, especially in medical care and food. Medical costs, including prescription drugs, have been rising faster than many other expenses, forcing seniors to allocate a larger share of their income to healthcare. This leaves less money available for groceries, leading to food insecurity among older adults.
Food insecurity among seniors is a serious and growing problem. Millions of older adults live in poverty, and many struggle to afford enough nutritious food. Certain groups of seniors are at higher risk, including those with low income, disabilities, chronic illnesses, or those who rent their homes. Food insecurity can worsen health outcomes, creating a vicious cycle where poor nutrition exacerbates medical conditions, increasing the need for costly medications.
To help address this issue, programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offer food assistance to eligible seniors. SNAP provides monthly benefits that can be used to purchase groceries, helping to reduce hunger and improve health. Despite its availability nationwide, only about half of eligible seniors participate in SNAP, often due to lack of awareness, stigma, or difficulty navigating the application process. Other programs, such as Meals on Wheels and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, also provide food support to older adults.
Even with these programs, many seniors still face tough trade-offs. The rising prices of housing, transportation, and medical care continue to strain fixed incomes. Seniors may skip doses of medication, cut back on healthy foods, or delay medical care to stretch their Social Security benefits. This balancing act between food and medicine is a harsh reality for many, highlighting the need for stronger social safety nets and policies that better reflect the true cost of living for older adults.
The annual COLA increase, announced each October, is intended to help seniors keep up with inflation. It is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which tracks price changes i
