Florida Seniors Who Are Struggling To Live On Social Security Alone Or Find Work

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Many Floridians envision an ideal retirement during their working lives. Some figure if they work hard, put aside some savings and investments, and live within their means, they will be rewarded with a comfortable, predictable retirement.

However, for some Florida seniors, things don't work out quite the way they envisioned. Often, unforeseen circumstances mean seniors go through their savings and monthly income much more quickly than anticipated. Below are some examples.

A 71-Year-Old Retiree Living In Rural Florida Lives On $2,400 Per Month In Social Security Benefits: Lucy Haverfield lives in rural Alva, Florida. She is a widow and has found herself living solely on her social security benefits of $2,400 per month because she says her deceased husband did a poor job managing their finances after he became ill and she retired early to become a caregiver. Additionally, his healthcare expenses were costly.

Haverfield says hasn't eaten out in over a year and sometimes must skip paying bills to buy food. She is afraid of a major expense that would require debt that she can not repay. She has considered getting a job but because she lives in a rural community, working would likely require a 40-mile round trip each day. Haverfield says she copes by just worrying about the bills "one day at a time."

A 66-Year-Old Painter Who Gets $1400 Per Month In Social Security Wants To Return To Work: Ricky Bowman lives in New Port Richey and would like to go back to his previous profession - painting - because he is surviving on $1,400 per month in social security benefits. Bowman told ABC Action News that although he gets some help with food stamps, he's had to cut his budget to exclude most things he enjoys to survive. He said a job would allow him more flexibility when cereal currently costs $8 per box.

It Can Sometimes Be A Challenge For Seniors To Find Work: According to Kiplinger, almost 40% of seniors had considered going back to work in 2024. However, not all Florida seniors can find a job. One Community Now is an organization in New Port Richey that tries to help seniors find work. Caseworker Melissa Heid has said that sometimes, employers opt for younger workers instead, explaining:

“A lot of the fast food industries are hiring more young who move quicker. So (seniors) are having a hard time even finding a receptionist somewhere.”