For a growing number of older Philadelphians, “retirement” is less a clean break and more a juggling act. Some step away from full-time work once pensions and Medicare kick in. Plenty of others, though, are staying on the job or heading back into the workforce, pushed by low incomes, rising prices, health worries and family caregiving duties.
What The Data Shows
The numbers are stark. Roughly 35% of Philadelphians age 65 and older are living below or just above the federal poverty line, and older households have a median income of about $35,900. The city’s older population has grown, and labor-force participation among residents 65 and older climbed from about 14% in 2013 to roughly 17.4% in 2023, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Voices From The City
Interviews collected by local outlet WHYY put a human face on those statistics. Some older workers say they are hanging on to jobs to keep employer-based health insurance for themselves or a spouse. Others describe getting edged out by injuries, new workplace technologies or a changed post-COVID office culture. As reported by WHYY, residents including 64-year-old Nancy Kenny and longtime WXPN host Kathy O’Connell have carved out very different paths to, and timelines for, retirement.
Why Many Seniors Keep Working
Pew’s focus groups and analysis highlight several recurring themes. Many older Philadelphians report insufficient savings, anxiety over the cost and uncertainty of long-term care, and a need to maintain health coverage until they qualify for Medicare. Alix Sullivan of Pew told WHYY, “There’s no kind of one-size-fits-all answer,” pointing out that financial realities, health conditions and family obligations push people toward very different choices.
Policy Response: PhillySaves
City leaders are trying to close part of the retirement gap with PhillySaves, a new program that Mayor Cherelle Parker signed into law in January. The initiative still needs voter approval to establish a governing board on the May 19 primary ballot, according to Philadelphia City Council. Supporters say PhillySaves is designed to reach roughly 208,000 private-sector workers who currently lack employer-sponsored retirement plans, per AARP.
Help And Next Steps
Regardless of what happens with PhillySaves at the ballot box, the findings from Pew point to a dual need for immediate services and longer-term policy fixes. Local organizations, including the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, offer counseling, Medicare guidance, home-delivered meals and caregiver support for older residents. The agency also maintains a helpline and an online directory of services for older Philadelphians, as detailed on the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging website.
