How AARP is Working for You

Volunteers will be out in force around the country to make sure older adults feel loved and connected on Valentine’s Day – and you can help.

For the 11th year, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP will deliver cards and roses to hundreds of thousands of older adults on Feb. 14 through its Cupid Crew network of volunteers.

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Nearly 1 in 4 Americans lacks a retirement nest egg, and more than half worry about financial security in their golden years, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

And while people are 15 times more likely to save when they can do so at work, according to AARP research, nearly half of all private-sector employees lack access to a 401(k) plan or other retirement savings option through their employer.

That’s why AARP wrote to U.S. congressional lawmakers last week in support of the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, which would create a federal retirement savings plan for those who aren’t offered one at work.

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Know a nonprofit founder who’s tapped into their own life experience to make a difference in their community or the world?

Applications are open through February 29 at 5 p.m. for the annual AARP Purpose Prize award. Up to seven winners will receive $50,000 each for their organizations, along with support and resources to broaden the impact of their work.

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Wisconsin residents enrolled in the state’s SeniorCare program will see some relief from high prescription drug prices thanks in part to advocacy from AARP Wisconsin.

Gov. Tony Evers signed a bipartisan law Dec. 8 expanding the number of prescription drugs that qualify for a discount under the program, which provides pharmaceutical assistance to eligible state residents 65 and older.

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Drugmakers will need to disclose and justify any substantial price increases to New York state officials, thanks in large part to advocacy from AARP New York.

Under a law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last month, drugmakers must give state officials 60 days’ notice of price increases on their prescription drugs if, when combined with prior increases, the price will rise by 16 percent or more over two years. Companies that violate the law face penalties of up to $5,000 a day.

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Nonprofit and government organizations with ideas for small projects that can have a big community impact are invited to apply for our 2024 Community Challenge grant program.

Applications are open through March 6 at 5 p.m. ET for the program, which funds quick-action projects that help make communities great places to live for people of all ages — especially those 50 and older.

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AARP and other advocacy groups urged Congress this week to pass legislation to raise the limit on the amount of money people can have in their savings and other accounts while receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Under current rules, individuals receiving the benefits are only allowed to have $2,000 in financial assets (such as savings or checking accounts) and married couples can have only $3,000 — limits set by Congress more than 30 years ago.

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Millions of older Americans receive federally funded discounts for high-speed internet, and AARP wants to ensure that support continues.

We wrote to congressional lawmakers this week in favor of the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act of 2024. This new legislation would provide $7 billion in funding to ensure the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides high-speed internet discounts, will continue past April. That’s when the project’s funding is predicted to run out.

Learn more.