Published in the Blackstone Valley Call & Times on June 30, 2026

Timing is everything. With the midterm elections looming – just 126 days away – the AARP Foundation is putting the spotlight on affordability – a key campaign issue closely tied to economic security that deeply concerns both older Democratic and Republican voters.  But for millions of older Americans living on limited incomes, the rising cost of food, housing, transportation, and health care isn’t simply a political issue to them—it’s a daily struggle

As a result, strategists in both major political parties are scrambling to tailor their policy messages to offer voters comprehensive solutions to address the high cost of living.

A new report released June 25 by the AARP Foundation highlights just how financially strained many older Americans have become. Rising housing, food, transportation, and health care costs are creating hardships long before many people become eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

A Crisis in Plain Sight

“Today, 39 million Americans age 50-plus with low incomes are living one emergency away from financial hardship. That’s not a warning sign. It’s a crisis hiding in plain sight,” said Claire Casey, president of the AARP Foundation, in a statement announcing the release of the report.

The Foundation’s new Economic Security Monitor (ESM) is based on a nationally representative quarterly survey of more than 2,000 adults age 50 and older living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

ESM is conducted quarterly, with each quarter tracking the same respondents to capture changes in financial conditions among older adults with low incomes.  The Winter 2025-2026 data was collected December 24, 2025, through January 12, 2026, and the Spring 2026 data was collected March 30, through April 15, 2026.

According to Casey, the survey is the first tool designed to track, in near real time, how rising prices and economic conditions are affecting older adults with low incomes.

“The power of the Monitor is that it helps us see change and challenges as they unfold. By providing timely, actionable data, it gives decision makers the information they need to respond faster and target resources more effectively to address the growing economic pressures that older Americans face,” says Cassey.

One finding, notes Cassey, is especially alarming: adults ages 50 to 64 are among those facing the greatest challenges, often falling into a gap where they are too young for Social Security and Medicare but increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks.

Keeping Your Head Above Water Financially

The Foundation’s new ESM report also found that 56% worry about losing government or essential public benefits, underscoring how dependent many households are on programs that help them stay afloat.

The survey found that inflation remains the biggest financial concern. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (88%) cited rising prices as one of their top worries, ahead of retirement savings (80%) and medical costs and debt (72%).

Higher prices are forcing many households to make difficult choices. Three-quarters (75%) of those surveyed said their necessary household expenses increased during the previous three months, up from 64% in the prior quarter. More than one-third said they struggled to pay at least one bill.

Among those having difficulty making ends meet, food (75%) was the expense most often mentioned, followed by transportation (63%), housing (60%), unexpected expenses (59%), and health care (51%). Thirty-eight percent of these respondents also reported running out of food before they had enough money to buy more.

The survey findings indicated that adults aged 50 to 64 appear to be especially vulnerable. Many have not yet reached eligibility for Social Security or Medicare but are already coping with rising living expenses and limited financial resources.

The survey also found that nearly one-third of respondents in that age group could not cover an unexpected expense exceeding $100. More than half said they could continue paying their bills for only one month or less if their primary source of income disappeared.

Having a job has not insulated many from financial hardship. Nearly half of the low-income adults ages 50 to 64 are employed, yet 63% of those workers admit they are struggling financially.

When money becomes tight, respondents reported taking steps that may provide short-term relief but could create larger financial problems later. Many said they cut back on household spending (41%), paid only part of their bills (39%), relied on credit cards (32%), delayed payments (24%), or borrowed money from relatives and friends (21%).

The survey also highlights the importance of public assistance. Nearly half of those surveyed receive some form of government support, including food assistance, housing assistance, health coverage, or income support. More than half worry about losing those benefits, reflecting how important these programs have become for households already living close to the financial edge.

The ESC findings are especially relevant in Rhode Island, one of the nation’s oldest states. Communities across the Ocean State are seeing steady growth in their older populations, increasing the demand for affordable housing, transportation, health care, and supportive services. For many older Rhode Islanders living on fixed incomes, rising prices are making it increasingly difficult to remain financially independent.

The ESC report warns that for older, low-income adults, “public benefits are not a supplement, they are a lifeline.”  Nearly half of the survey respondents currently receive at least one form of public assistance. This includes food, housing, health coverage, or income support.

As Congress continues to debate the future of Social Security and Medicare and hammer out policies to ensure the programs’ financial viability, 56% of the low-income older respondents say losing public benefits is a financial concern to them.

A Final Note

With the midterm elections nearing, both political parties are expected to make affordability a central campaign issue. Older voters will be listening closely, but they are likely to judge candidates less by campaign promises than by whether elected officials take meaningful steps to address the financial pressures many Americans now face.

The AARP Foundation’s survey provides a timely reminder that economic insecurity is not an abstract policy issue. For millions of older Americans—including many here in Rhode Island—it influences their everyday decisions about which bills to pay, how to buy groceries, and how to obtain needed health care. Those realities should remain part of the national debate on affordability long after the campaign season is over.

For a copy of the ESC report, go to AARP Foundation Economic Security Monitor Detailed Findings.