I’m a senior citizen who lives in Oceanview, New Jersey. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the federal and state programs that help low-income seniors like myself. If it weren’t for programs like Medicaid, SNAP and LIHEAP, my very survival would be at risk and so would ownership of my small home. Before these programs, I had to keep my heat down to 50 degrees all winter and my diet consisted of mostly spaghetti at dinner and cereal in the morning. However, I’m so frightened that our politicians might even now be trying to cut some of the funding for these programs. As it is, after a two year freeze, this year my Social Security went up $20.00 a month and then my SNAP allotment decreased $10.00 a month because of it. My cost for monthly prescription drugs has gone up at least $10.00 a month after the same politicians turned Medicaid into an HMO, yet my cost of living raises day after day. I have the same cost of living problems that everyone else has: raises in car and home insurance, home and car maintenance, gas, food, electric ….I could go on and on. When you stop to think about it, I don’t receive a cost of living increase at all. I don’t know how long I can survive like this because most politicians don’t realize that if you can just barely make payment of your bills every month, you have nothing left for “extra’s”. For example, what if my hot water heater malfunctions, or my roof leaks, or I have an electric or plumbing problem? I have no “extra ” money for those things. I haven’t even been able to buy a new pair of walking sneakers for over 12 years. My greatest fears are the loss of my home and my health. That is why I’m so afraid of anymore cuts to these wonderful programs for which I am so appreciative. I would literally not be able to survive without them.

Data sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2007 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2009 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2007 through 2008.
• U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2009 through 2010.
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515
• Food Research and Action Center.