After losing her retirement savings to a scam, Sherlea Dony of Rochester, New York needed help paying for everyday expenses. A local Benefits Enrollment Center connected her with programs that increased her monthly income and helped her afford groceries, prescriptions, and health care.

How Sherlea Dony found help after losing her savings

Dony had a 50-year career as a sign language interpreter. Through it all, she saved diligently for retirement.

But in her early 70s, Dony found herself facing the possibility of living in her car.

In a matter of weeks, a scammer had taken every cent of her savings. Dony went from having a comfortable retirement income to living on just $1,300 a month in Social Security.

“I am a person who has my glass half full, and this emptied my glass and all the other ones in the cupboard,” Dony said. “This is not how I wanted to spend the rest of my life living on a shoestring budget.”

Sadly, Dony isn’t alone. More than 17 million of us age 65 and over are economically insecure: meaning our incomes fall below 200% of the federal poverty line. In 2026, that means $31,920 per year (or $2,660 per month) for a single-person household; and $43,280 annually ($3,606 monthly) for a household of two.

Living on a shoestring budget is an unacceptable reality for far too many older adults in America. After decades of working, saving, and planning for retirement, many struggle to afford basic necessities instead of enjoying the financial security they've worked so hard to achieve. Women are especially vulnerable, since lifetime wage disparities and years spent caregiving often reduce retirement savings and Social Security income. Even a single unexpected event—such as a scam, illness, or the loss of a spouse—can quickly turn a stable retirement into a financial crisis.

Even those of us who don’t live at or below the poverty line can still tread on precarious ground. One adverse life event—being targeted by a scam, for example, like Dony was—can dramatically alter our financial security.

When unexpected financial setbacks happen, getting the right support can make all the difference. NCOA's Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) provide free, one-on-one assistance to help older adults enroll in programs that can lower health care costs, pay for food, and improve financial security.

What is a Benefits Enrollment Center?

Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) help older adults and people with disabilities:

• Apply for Medicare Savings Programs
• Apply for SNAP
• Apply for Extra Help
• Learn about other local, state, and federal benefits
• Save money on everyday expenses

In Dony's case, she turned to Lifespan, one of NCOA’s BECs. Funded through the federal Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), BECs help eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities enroll in government benefits programs that can help them afford daily expenses. These include the Medicare Savings Program, which helps pay for Medicare Part B premiums and coinsurance, and Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (LIS or Extra Help), which helps pay for prescription drug coverage.

Counselors at Lifespan helped Dony apply for these programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and more. Of the eight programs she applied for, she received six of them within months, adding $200 per month to her budget.

“My income went to $1,500 a month and that allowed me to buy more groceries, hearing aid batteries, and my inhaler because I have asthma,” Dony said. “Having an organization that you can go to get all your needs met when you are in crisis—big time crisis—has been amazing.”

You can help us continue—and expand—this vital work by urging your Senators and Representatives to support it. Send a letter to Congress today using our easy online form. (You can personalize your letter or use the wording we’ve provided).

FAQ

What should I do if I’ve been scammed?

First, don’t feel ashamed. Scams can happen to anyone. Aided by artificial intelligence and other technologies, criminals use sophisticated tactics that can be very hard to spot. If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, notify your bank right and credit card companies right away. Report the scam online to the FTC. (Learn more about scams here).

Where can I find a Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) near me?

With funding generously provided by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), NCOA currently supports 90 BECs across 39 states and Puerto Rico. Check our list of Benefits Enrollment Centers By State to see if yours is on it. You’ll also find the names and website links for each center we support, too.