ALBANY, NY (WRGB) \u2014 New Yorkers 65 and older make up more than 20% of the state’s population, according to the 2024 New York State Elder Index.<\/p>\n
That population is expected to grow as costs continue to rise for all.<\/p>\n
In this year\u2019s budget, senior advocates are calling for more investments in aging programs to support the population.<\/p>\n
Those programs include Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Supplemental Security Income, and more.<\/p>\n
Aging advocates at the New York Statewide Senior Action Council (NYSSAC) are also looking to create a master plan for aging.<\/p>\n
There have been bills proposed in the Senate and the Assembly for this effort, both with bipartisan support.<\/p>\n
With looming state and federal cuts, advocates say it could lead to more seniors putting off retirement in order to afford the cost of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you retired at 65 and you’re going to live, let’s say, another 30\u201340 years, that’s almost half of your life. What you’re expected, number one, to take that money that you haven’t saved enough of and make that last for another 30\u201340 years,\u201d said Maria Alvarez, NYSSAC Executive Director. \u201cIf that’s not the case, then you have to come back into the workforce to, you know, make ends meet and to supplement whatever retirement you have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proposals made in the one-house bills on Tuesday included senior and disability rent-increase exceptions and cost-of-living adjustments for staff at agencies like the Office for the Aging.<\/p>\n
You can read the entire Senate<\/a> and Assembly<\/a> proposals.<\/p>\n Comment with Bubbles<\/p>\n JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)<\/p>\n