Background on Low-Income Assistance Programs: General

Federal and state programs help many older people with low incomes. These programs provide access to vital services like income support and health care. They also offer energy assistance, as well as disability and nutrition assistance. But many eligible people do not take part in the programs. 

One explanation for low participation rates is the cumbersome application processes. For example, some programs require in-person interviews. This can be a burden for people with inflexible work schedules or limited transportation options. In addition, some application forms are longer and more complicated than necessary. And some application processes are inefficient, with applicants needing to fill out the same information on multiple forms for different assistance programs. 

Efforts are being made to make application processes easier. One example is the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. It is a U.S. Department of Agriculture demonstration project. The aim is to simplify applications and reduce processing burdens for households with members age 60 or older (and sometimes households with members who have disabilities) that have no earned income. States with ESAP may choose from a menu of policy options, including streamlined application forms, waived recertification interviews, and extended certification periods. 

Strict asset limits in public-benefit programs also overly restrict participation. People with low monthly incomes may be denied benefits if their assets, though meager, still exceed the limit. Assets must be valued at less than $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The SSI asset limits were set decades ago and have not been adjusted to reflect changes in the economy. Similar situations exist in other low-income assistance programs. 

Older Adults released from the criminal justice system: The U.S. has 2.2 million people in prisons and jails. They are disproportionately Black and Hispanic/Latino. The number of older adults in prison is growing rapidly. By 2030, people age 55 and older are expected to make up one-third of the U.S. prison population. Consequently, a growing number and percentage of prisoners being released are older. In addition, incarceration is one of several upstream causes of poor economic outcomes and decreased longevity for people from communities of color, particularly Black men. The aging-services community has increasingly recognized the need to address the significant challenges for older prisoners, their families, and their communities when they are released. These challenges include accessing employment, housing, and health care.