Social welfare programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Social Security, serve as a vital lifelines for many older Americans.

As the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to grow from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050, cuts to these benefits threaten the health and well-being of older adults nationwide.

At a Tuesday APHA 2025 session, “Income Inequality and Health of Older Adults,” researchers shared new studies showing how reductions in social programs could harm the nation’s aging population.

Nearly 8 million low-income older adults ages 60 and older rely on SNAP benefits. On average, this population receives about $188 of nutritious food to support their aging health. Older adults represent less than 20% of SNAP beneficiaries, with those ages 17 and below representing nearly 40% of SNAP population. 

SNAP benefits older adults beyond food

SNAP participation is linked to a slower decline in older adults, found a study by Linlin Da, a PhD student at the University of Maryland. The study identified better global cognition, memory and executive function over 10 years in participants.

Participation of this essential program is likely to falter in future years following a legislative package approved by Congress in July that significantly cut funding for food assistance programs, which could lead to worse cognition for older adults who depend on the program. 

Meanwhile, cost-saving initiatives to Social Security pose additional strain on the health of older Americans, especially those on low-incomes.

As Americans live longer and spend more years in retirement, experts warn that Social Security spending will rise at an unsustainable rate. To control costs as more people start collecting benefits, the U.S. may consider raising the current retirement age of 67. 

However, such a change could negatively affect the well-being of older Americans, said Tran Phu-Duyen, a PhD student at George Mason University.

The study looked at data from the RAND Health and Retirement Study 1994 to 2020, finding that when the retirement age increased from 65 to 66, the number of people showing signs of depression went up by about 6%. The rise in depression was strongest among middle- and low-income groups.

The findings show that delaying retirement can hurt mental health in older Americans, Phu-Duyen said. However, depression levels decreased once older Americans reached the retirement age. 

Photo by Jacob Wackerhausen, courtesy iStockphoto.