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What Is Considered Low Income for Seniors in Rhode Island?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Adjusted Poverty Numbers in Rhode Island
The federal government establishes a baseline amount for what it considers to be low income, which in 2022 is $14,580 a year for a single adult. States, such as Rhode Island, are free to set a higher limit to account for their higher cost of living. In Rhode Island, adults aged 64 and under must earn no more than 185% of the federal poverty line to qualify for benefits such as Medicaid and home heating assistance.
Seniors in Rhode Island have a higher limit for benefits eligibility. The state considers seniors aged 65 and over to be categorically eligible for benefits if their income is less than 200% of the federal limit or $27,192 a year in 2022. Below this level, nearly all means-tested benefits are available to seniors who need to enroll in them.
The Effect of Household Size
The low-income threshold goes up as household sizes increase. A senior married couple in Rhode Island may earn up to $3,709 a month, or $44,512 a year, and still qualify for low-income energy assistance. The same couple can earn up to $3,052 a month, or $36,624 a year, and get the maximum available SNAP benefit.
Rhode Island Medical Assistance, the state Medicaid program, sets an income threshold of 138% of the federal poverty line for income eligibility. That works out to $1,562 a month, or $18,754 a year, for a single adult. This rises to $24,353 a year for a family of two, $30,630 for three and an additional $6,277 a year for each additional household member.