Final answer:
As of the latest data, the poverty rate for individuals over sixty-five in the United States is lower than the national average, continuing a trend from the end of the twentieth century despite some fluctuations due to economic recessions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the United States, the poverty rate for people over the age of sixty-five has undergone significant changes over the past decades. By the start of the twenty-first century, this rate had fallen markedly. In 1967, around 30 percent of people over sixty-five were living in poverty. This decreased to 9.7 percent in 2008, which is well below the national average of 13.2 percent. Although the poverty rate among the elderly rose to 14 percent by 2010 likely due to the recession affecting retirement savings and public support systems, it still does not exceed the peak rates of previous decades. Moreover, by 2019, the overall poverty rate had decreased to 10.5%, with rates for the elderly remaining relatively low compared to other demographic groups. Looking at the historical and more recent data, it is evident that the poverty rate among the elderly has generally trended lower than the national average.