Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the overall number of older adults living in poverty has increased. Even more significant is the number of seniors who have experienced an increase in economic insecurity—or those simply living on the edge.

Seniors with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level rose from 33.7 percent, or just over 13 million people, in 2009 to 34.6 percent, or 13.5 million people, now. Those living below 100 percent of the poverty line saw a modest, yet significant, increase from 3.4 million to 3.5 million.

Numbers indicate that some people age 65 and older have seen a rise in their incomes, mostly due to Social Security, as more and more baby boomers reach retirement age.

"What the numbers have shown us is that economic insecurity for older adults has definitely increased," says Sandra Nathan, senior vice president for economic security at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). "We need legislative and policy changes that take into account the needs of all age groups in poverty—while not forgetting those who are living on the edge, struggling every day just to pay for food, medicine, transportation, and a place to live."

The current official poverty measurement system also needs an update, NCOA believes. Developed in the early 1960s, the federal poverty level measures poverty by comparing a family's income to a threshold level of need, which is based on food consumption patterns of 1955 and doesn't reflect current living standards. The measure of income evaluated against this threshold doesn't reflect tax liabilities, out-of-pocket spending on health care, and other significant costs, nor does it account for important forms of public assistance. As a result, it doesn't adequately reflect who is poor, the organization asserts.

If a more modernized measure of poverty were used, there likely would be an even larger proportion of older U.S. residents living in poverty. This data was reflected in the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Poverty and Family Assistance released in 1995.

"The reality is that there is an unseen crisis occurring in this country today," Nathan says, "and that is rising economic insecurity among older Americans."

More than 13 million older adults live in or on the edge of poverty, on less than $22,000 each year. These seniors live one bad break, one accident, or one layoff away from economic disaster, NCOA contends. With continued cuts in federal, state, and local programs serving older adults, even more seniors likely will struggle to make ends meet.

Over the past six months, through its One Away campaign for elder economic security, NCOA has collected more than 5,000 stories and videos of older adults who are struggling economically. The campaign now is calling on Congress to pledge to protect and strengthen the Older Americans Act, which funds many programs that help seniors in need.

The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. NCOA's mission is to improve the lives of older adults, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. NCOA works with other organizations to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities.