Wisconsin
Elder Economic Security Initiative™
Judy KarofskyInterim Administrator
Wisconsin Women’s [email protected]
608-255-9809
Supported by:
The Retirement Research Foundation
The Atlantic Philanthropies
The Helen Bader Foundation
Wisconsin Women’s Network
Wider Opportunities for Women
National and local programs
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Initiative
Wisconsin Aging Statistics
13%
87%
Over 65 65 or younger
US as a whole: 12.4%, up from 7.9% in 1990
Wisconsin Annual Income
Persons Over 65
65%
35%
Below $35,000
$35,000 or more
7%
93%
Below Federal Poverty Level
Federal Poverty Level
1960’s
Federal Poverty Level = Food expenditures X 3
Food 33%
"All other expenses"
67%
Federal Poverty Level
Food14%
Transportation11%
Miscellaneous Essentials
16%
Health Care24%
Housing35%
Food X 3
= only 42% of today’s needs
Today
Federal Poverty Level is meaningless
Federal Poverty Level
42%Today's
Gap58%
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Not Federal Poverty Level’s deprivation
Captures elders’ actual expenses
Used to benchmark against available income sources
Why do we need this Initiative?
Why do we need this Initiative?
What are the goals?
Change the public dialogue from “elder
poverty” to “economic security”
Elder
Poverty Economic
Security
WHAT are the goals?
Provide a framework decision guide for elders,
their families, caregivers, aging boomers
and service providers Elders
Family
Care Givers
AgingBoomers
Service Providers
What are the goals?
Influence the development and evaluation of public policies and programs
Public Programs
Public Policy
What are the goals?
Public Policy
Public Programs
How will the Initiative meet its
goals?
Coalition
Building
Education
Advocacy
Research
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Housing
Food
Miscellaneous
Expenses
Transportation
HealthCare
Wisconsin Elder
Economic Security
Index
Geogra
phic
ally
specific
Useful Data
Health
Marital Status
Housing
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Wisconsin Statewide Average
Single
Owners
without mortgage $18,154
Renters $19,242
Couple
Owners
without mortgage $28,057
Renters $29,145
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Dane County Average
Single
Owners
without mortgage $19,829
Renters $20,777
Couple
Owners
without mortgage $29,606
Renters $30,553
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Dane County $20,777
Elder Economic Security
SocialSecurity
Investment IncomePension
Job 1
At home
Job 2
Part-time
Social Security
Job 1
At home
Job 2
Part-time
Social Security
Job 1
At home
Job 2Early retirement or annuitization
Pensions
Job 1
At home
Job 2Early retirement or annuitization
Pensions
Savings/Investments
WallStreet
Crises
Good Intentions
Elder Economic (In)Security
20% in WI live on social
security
No savings?
No income
Less than ½ WI
women will
receive pensions
Cut back on food, medicine,
utilities
Rely on families for
financial assistance
Elder Economic Condition
Cut back on food, medicine,
utilities
Rely on families for
financial assistance
Elder Economic Condition
Wisconsin Elder Economic
Security Index
Let’s start talking about the concept
WiEESI is replacing FPL
Wisconsin Advisory Committee
Advocates
Planners
Service providers
Policy
makers
Academics
Wisconsin Activities
Legislative seminar
Policy Recommendations
Policy briefIndex report
Financial education workshop
Wisconsin Outreach
and Education
Providers
Families
FundersPolicy
makers
Consumers
Wisconsin Outreach
and Education
Providers
Families
FundersPolicy
makers
Consumers
Restore state-only SSI
Expand support for
elderly transportation
Wisconsin Policy
Recommendations
Wisconsin Outreach
Campaign for Elders
Problems with Benefit Programs
Income limits too low
(e.g., SSI)
Asset limits too low
(e.g., Medicaid, SSI)
Wisconsin Endorsements
AARP Wisconsin
AgeAdvantAge
Alzheimer’s Association
Black Women 50+ Health & Lifestyles Magazine
Care Wisconsin
Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
Community Health Partnership
Dane County Area Agency on Aging
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Milwaukee County Department on Aging
National Association of Social Workers –Wisconsin Chapter
Older Women’s League – Milwaukee
SAGE/Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin School of Nursing
Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans
Wisconsin Association of Aging Unit Directors
Wisconsin Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Wisconsin Association of Benefit Specialists
Wisconsin Board on Aging and
Long Term Care
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Wisconsin Personal Services Association
Wisconsin Retired Educators Association
YWCA – Madison
Next Steps in Wisconsin
More endorsements
Pursue policyagenda
Refine policy initiatives
Research analysis
Continued outreach
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Talk or write
• To the media about the Elder Index
Advocate
• To expand programs based on the Elder Index
Identify
• Other groups that can learn about the Elder Index
WHO should be involved?
AARP
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
Elder, women’s and low-Income advocates
Senior membership organizations
State Older Women’s Leagues (OWL)
For-profit and nonprofit service providers
Academics and research organizations
Public entities
Philanthropists
Policymakers
State administrators
Budget and tax groups
Caregivers
Elders and their families
Other States are Involved
Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Illinois
Connecticut
New Jersey New Mexico
Why support the Initiative?
Wisconsin Elder
Economic Security Index
Share valuable info and
data
All persons, young and old, should be able to meet basic
needs
Become part of a national
movement
Seniors deserve to
age in place with
dignity
We hope you will join our mission to
ensure Wisconsin elders can
age in place with dignity!
