Financial Security

With a secure and adequate income, older people can live with dignity, maintain independence, and continue contributing to their families and shaping their communities. 

Ensuring that older people have this choice means building fair systems and opportunities that promote income security, including:

Yet today, only 20% of older people in low-income countries receive a pension. Around the world, older people face discrimination and are often excluded from employment, financial systems, and skills training. Many rely on informal or insecure jobs with low pay and few protections. Older women face additional barriers. They are more likely to shoulder unpaid caregiving work, have lower wages, and receive less education and training than men, which often limits their economic security in later life.

 

Despite these challenges, older people continue to work—not only to earn an income, but to stay active, connected, and engaged within their communities. With a lifetime of skills and experience to share, they are vital contributors to families, workplaces, and local economies.

 

Through advocacy and community-based programs, HelpAge USA and our global network are helping older people achieve financial security and lift themselves out of poverty, creating lasting change for generations to come.