Seniors say they struggle to afford living in Massachusetts
“I never expected to be working into my 70s but I am afraid to retire. Everything that a person needs to live is twice as expensive.”
Many Massachusetts residents 65 and older are struggling to live in a state with a high cost-of-living state. Costs are impacting their ability to afford basic needs such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.
Take it from one anonymous Boston.com reader aged 65+ living on the South Shore. Despite having Medicare, buying food on sale, and having a very small mortgage on their house, they still struggle to afford everyday costs.
“Electric costs hurt. Even with careful budgeting of my pension and social security, I have little free cash for dining out, movies, etc.” they said.
The situation for seniors across the state is more than just anecdotal.
A study by the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston found that for single seniors and couples who rent, Massachusetts is the most expensive state to live independently.
In addition, older adults living alone in the Bay State are more likely to be unable to afford basic needs — housing, food, transportation, health care, and other essentials including clothing, a telephone, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies — than those in any other state.
When we asked readers aged 65 and older if they struggle to afford basic needs, the majority (59%) of the nearly 30 people who responded to our survey said they are struggling.
Across the country, older adult poverty continues to trend upward, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data on poverty, income, and health insurance from 2022.
The older adult poverty rate has jumped from 9.5% in 2020 to 10.7% in 2021 to 14.1% in 2022, the Census’ Supplemental Poverty Measure reported.
“For three years in a row, more Americans ages 65 and older are living in poverty — robbed of their ability to age with dignity,” Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of the National Council on Aging, said in a news release. “This is simply unacceptable in a country as rich as ours. Nor does it bode well for the 4.4 million Americans turning 65 next year,” she added.
Waitlists for affordable housing are often yearslong even as the current supply of affordable apartments fails to meet growing demands.
A WBUR and ProPublica investigation found that in a state with some of the country’s most expensive real estate, 184,000 people are on a waitlist for the state’s 41,500 subsidized apartments — but nearly 2,300 state-funded apartments are vacant, with most remaining empty for months or even years.
An anonymous reader from Williamsburg said she has been on several waiting lists for subsidized housing for years, and was recently bumped down from her number one spot on a Northampton list to number two after more than three years of waiting.
“I’m number one on two other lists,” she said. But still, “it’s challenging,” she added.
Read below to see what readers had to say about the high cost of living in Massachusetts as a senior.
‘The cost of all goods and services is too high’
“In 2019, I turned 66 and had just lost my job due to COVID. My house is paid for and my wife and I had both replaced our vehicles and had no car payments. Our retirement accounts had done extremely well over the last 4 or 5 years despite the COVID pullback. I had planned on just retiring, thinking that my wife and I could live comfortably in our house. However, in 2021, with the rapid rate of inflation and the uncertainty of the future, I went out and found a new job.
I will turn 70 soon and I am still working full time. I never expected to be working into my 70s but I am afraid to retire. Everything that a person needs to live is twice as expensive and depending on how the election goes next year it is not inconceivable that costs could double again. I am afraid to retire because I know it will be next to impossible for a person over 70 to find a job that does not involve stocking supermarket shelves. I want to move to Florida but my kids and grandkids live here and my wife would never move. I have brought it up to my kids that maybe it is time for all of us to make the move. It is too expensive to live here.” — E.S., Norwell
“No affordable housing. Tiny apartments, exorbitant rent.” – Maria L., Chelsea
“Social security is around $2000 per month, $24,000 annually. Property tax is $8,000 per year and heating costs are $7,000 per year. Electricity is another $3,000 per year. Auto insurance is another $1,500. That’s at least $19,500 for basic necessities leaving $5,500, ($450 per month) for all other necessities. Medical expenses are another $200-$300 per month. I can barely pay for food at this point.” – John R., Saugus
“The cost of all goods and services is too high” – Bob L., South Dennis
“I’m 73. I’m working 10 hours a week as a personal care attendant so that I can pay my rent, car payments, phone, food, and care for my 18-year-old cat that I’ve had since she was a tiny kitten. Vet bills are high. I get $23 a month in SNAP. That buys milk and bread and a few other items. I absolutely would sink if I wasn’t working.
I’m getting an injection in my neck for severe degenerative disc disease and I have Spondylolisthesis which causes chronic pain in my legs and feet but still, I must work. There is no choice. I live alone. All in all, I’m pretty fortunate for all that I can still do, for now. I get help from the food bank and other food resources for low-income folks. I’m grateful for the help. The Williamsburg Senior Center has been a lifesaver for me at every level — emotionally, mentally, and socially. Like I said, it’s challenging. I just need an affordable place to live. Then I’ll be laughing and smiling more often.” — Anonymous reader, Williamsburg
“You’re not entitled to a lot of available benefits (lower monthly internet costs, food stamps, etc.) if you’ve got ‘too much’ money in your savings. Whatever money I have in savings is for an emergency (co-pays). It’s an uphill battle. Worked my entire life in Massachusetts, sometimes two jobs at a time, and I ended up struggling financially in my retirement.” — CMC., Wakefield
“I am still working, don’t have a car, and struggling to pay rent living in the city. Rents in the city are outrageous. Something needs to be done.” — Jane, Boston
‘I’m doing ok so far. I feel incredibly fortunate.’
“I am a 66-year-old professional and still working, turning 67 in January. I understood the time value of money early in life and due to that, I have plenty of money allocated for retirement. When I retire, based on social security and a 4% withdrawal rate on my mutual fund investments, I will make more than I make working.” — C.V., Mashpee
“I’m a fairly wealthy senior so to my good fortune I do not have any financial problems but am aware of the struggles many of my fellow seniors have.” – Anonymous reader, Newton
“I was lucky enough to have a good enough job to buy a house in 2013 — back when houses were affordable! I retired last February and between a pension, Medicare, and some savings, I’m doing okay so far. I feel incredibly fortunate! I’ve always lived within my means; don’t eat out much and have a garden in the summer.” – Amy, Lowell
“Massachusetts is an expensive state to live in, I was born here. I’m almost 70 now, retired at 65, and saved ‘for a rainy day’ most of my life. I put away 10% of whatever I made. I planned to be self-sufficient and independent through the years and especially in my old age.” —David C., Essex County
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