Low-income people over 60 years old die an average of nine years earlier than high-income older Americans. Middle-income older Americans are also dying younger than wealthier people. About 15% of seniors with annual household incomes of roughly $60,000 died during the four-year study period, compared with about 11% in households with incomes of around $120,000. As the US population ages, many seniors reach retirement age without the money to handle shocks like a health emergency or the loss of a spouse. The difference in average mortality age by income could be due to a lack of preventative care for low-income seniors, an inability to pay for care as they age, or the stress of financial instability. The poverty rate among US seniors rose to 15% last year from 14% in 2023, the highest among all age groups. About 80% of people over 60 have few, or even zero, financial assets and would struggle to cope with a financial shock like the loss of a spouse or needing long-term care.