AARP&you
NEWS ; EVENTS ; PERKS
The New Retirement Riddle
THE QUESTION IS NO LONGER WHEN YOU CAN STOP WORKING BUT IF
Chalk up another casualty of the recession: retire-
ment confidence. In a December 2008 AARP study
of Americans 45 and older, 59 percent said they were
very or somewhat confident they would have enough
money to retire comfortably. This is a significant
drop from eight months earlier, when 68 percent
of respondents said they were looking forward to
a secure retirement. Some good news: In the most
recent study, fewer people ( 52 percent) reported
having difficulty paying for necessities such as food,
gas, and medicine, compared with 66 percent in the
April research. Still, that means more than half of 45+
Americans are struggling to pay for basics. To see the
full results of the survey, go to aarp.org/econsurvey.
What Older Americans Want the Government to Do
8 3%
Help workers who have
lost their jobs keep or
buy health insurance
78%
Provide unemployment
benefits for as long as people
are looking for work
7 1%
68%
Take action to make
home mortgages
more affordable
Help people who are
facing foreclosure
stay in their homes
AARP IN ACTION
; VIVA LAS VEGAS
Renew your AARP membership for three years
($43) by July 15 and get
free registration (a $25
value) for Vegas@ 50+,
AARP’s national event
and exposition, October
22–24 in Las Vegas. Call
1-888-OUR-AARP
(1-888-687-2277).
; JUST REWARDS
Each year AARP recognizes AARP volunteers and
members for extraordinary contributions to their
communities. Submit your
nomination for the 2009
Andrus Award for Community Service by June 1.
Call 1-888-687-2277, or go
to aarp.org/volunteer.
; F-U-N T-I-M-E
That’s what participants
will have at the AARP
National Spelling Bee
June 20 in Cheyenne,
Wyoming. Contestants
50 and older compete for
more than $1,000 in gifts
and prizes. To register call
866-663-3290 or go to
aarp.org /spellingbee.
WORDSMITH Bill Long has been a finalist every year since 2004.
