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☆ 2 maps show how Americans rely on income like Social Security more than they used to
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Allie Kelly | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Money from programs like Social Security accounted for 18% of total personal income in 2022. A growing share of income in most US counties is coming from social safety net programs like SNAP, Social Security, and Medicaid, per a report published in September by the research firm Economic Innovation Group. One in six people in 2022 were over the age of 65 — compared to one in 10 in 1970 — and just over half of the national transfer income flows from Medicare and Social Security. The report's findings come as Business Insider has spoken with many retirees — who are living solely on Social Security income because they don't have savings or retirement investments — who say they are struggling to afford basic necessities. "I don't want to be rich, I just need to be comfortable," a baby boomer living on $1,104 monthly in Social Security previously told BI.

Persons: That's, —, ALICE, EIG Organizations: Social, Service, —, SNAP, Social Security, Economic Innovation Group, Government, United Way's United, allisonkelly Locations: —, Louisiana

☆ A Gen Xer who barely lives above the poverty line sells plasma to cover her rent because she doesn't qualify for government assistance: 'There's a lot of praying and just hanging on.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kelley used to drive 30 minutes across the Kentucky border every morning to work as a security guard. A growing number of American households can barely pay their bills but make too much to qualify for government assistance. Kelley can't afford healthcare and has started selling her plasma for extra moneyKelley said her top expenses are housing and food. She also said it's a lot more difficult to qualify for government assistance since she isn't actively supporting children. "If you make too much, there's no help; if you are healthy, there's no help; if you don't have kids, there's no help."

Persons: —, Lisa Kelley, Kelley, she's, ALICE —, ALICE, I've, She's, isn't Organizations: Service, Business, Survey, United Way's, Medicare Locations: Cincinnati, Kentucky, DollarTree

☆ A low-income millennial mom was evicted from her apartment but isn't 'homeless enough to get help'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's a studio-size garage apartment that she shares with her partner, her 11-year-old daughter, and their dog. The Airbnb is the third place in southeastern North Carolina where Hedden and her family have lived since mid-January. Advertisement"I'm not homeless enough to get certain help because I have a roof over my head," she said. "But I'm too homeless to get a job because I don't know where I'm going to live in three weeks. Without help, Hedden said she's "trying not to drown."

Persons: —, Melissa Hedden, Hedden, I'm, hasn't, ALICE, ALICEs, Hedden's, She's, she's Organizations: Service, Business, BI, Survey, United Way's, Florida Medicaid Locations: Wilmington , North Carolina, It's, North Carolina, Bradenton , Florida, Florida

☆ A Gen Xer struggles to afford housing and groceries, but her income is about $100 too high to get help
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The couple is part of a growing number of Americans who live above the federal poverty line but struggle to afford basic necessities. The poverty line isn't adjusted to reflect cost-of-living differences in individual cities or states and is set at $20,440 a year for a family of two. Binkley is trying to "make ends meet," hopes to leave Minnesota one dayPrimarily, Binkley said she struggles with her rent and utility bills. AdvertisementFor food, Binkley said she is especially thankful for her local food pantries, where she often goes to pick up canned goods. "That is one thing that keeps driving me to make my payments, get things caught up, and set a little bit aside each week or each month, Binkley said.

Persons: —, Melinda Binkley, she's, Binkley, doesn't, ALICE, She's Organizations: Service, Business, Survey, United Way's, Medicare Locations: Stillwater , Minnesota, Minnesota, Idaho

☆ Meet a Gen X ALICE in Michigan who struggles to pay for prescriptions and can only afford one meal a day: 'I make too much to get help.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. As the main income earner for her household, Tobias works to support her 19-year-old son, her fiancé, and her fiancé's mother. Advertisement"I make too much to get help," she told Business Insider. AdvertisementAnd, guaranteed basic-income programs — which are being tried in cities across the US — typically only apply to families living below the poverty line. Tobias works full-time but struggles to afford utilities and healthcareElectricity and mortgage bills are Tobias' top expenses.

Persons: —, Cherie Tobias, hasn't, Tobias, ALICE, Applebee's doesn't Organizations: Service, Business, Survey, United Way's Locations: Hastings , Michigan, Michigan

☆ Meet the typical ALICE: Americans struggling to afford basic necessities but making too much to get help
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The South has the highest concentration of states with about 50% of residents below the ALICE threshold. They're either the youngest or oldest workers in the workforce, often single parents, and full-time workers — but they're still not making ends meet. Married adults with children tend not to be ALICE, as 80% reported being above the ALICE threshold. ALICE Americans are all across the country and in both rural and urban areasALICE Americans exist everywhere from the isolated countryside of the US to the country's biggest cities. The breakdown between urban and rural ALICE is somewhat consistent — the ALICE population makes up 30% of the rural population and 28% of the urban population.

Persons: —, ALICE —, ALICE, They're, they're, ALICE Americans, Gen, ALICE millennials, Xers, Stephanie Hoopes, United For ALICE, Still, Hoopes Organizations: Service, United Way's, Business, United For, ALICE, Nationwide, United Locations: America, ALICE, Florida, California, New York, Texas, Iowa

☆ More and more Americans are becoming 'ALICEs.' They can't afford rent and groceries but are falling through the cracks in the country's safety net.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Many ALICEs are workers whose wages typically aren't enough to cover their bills, meaning they live paycheck to paycheck. And while those measures might reach the most financially distressed Americans, the benefit cut-offs leave behind the still-precarious group of ALICEs. Some state-to-state benefits are often available to individuals and families earning 200% to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Simultaneously, over the last 12 years, ALICEs have been falling behind on wage increases. AdvertisementIndeed, many Americans aren't necessarily falling into poverty, but they are increasingly teetering toward becoming ALICEs.

Persons: —, ALICE, ALICEs, Stephanie Hoopes, United For ALICE, Hoopes, ALICE would've Organizations: Service, United Way's, Business, Survey, United For, SNAP Locations: Montana, Idaho, ALICEs, Florida, Utah

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