Title: How Seniors Can Get Help With Credit Card Debt | US News
Headings: How Seniors Can Get Help With Credit Card Debt
How Seniors Can Get Help With Credit Card Debt
Address debt right away, and live within your means to prevent unforeseen problems.
Is Credit Card Debt an Issue for Senior Citizens?
Why Are More Seniors Using Credit Cards?
How Seniors Can Manage Credit Card Debt
Getting Credit Card Debt Help
Credit Card Debt After Death
How Seniors Can Avoid Using Credit Cards
Planning for a Debt-Free Retirement

Content: The median debt also went up in that time period, from $1,174 to $2,500. In 2016, 26 percent of households headed by people 75 years old and older had credit card debt, a 6 percent rise from 24 years earlier. The median also increased from $838 to $2,100, the highest ever measured. It's notable that the percentages and median amount of debt both went up because, usually, the median falls when there is a large increase in the percentage, says Craig Copeland, senior research associate at the institute and author of the study. But credit card debt is only part of the problem – mortgage debt is a major issue as well. "More families that have elderly heads are placing themselves at risk of running short of money in retirement due to their increased likelihood of holding debt while in retirement," the report states. Why Are More Seniors Using Credit Cards? Senior citizens are using credit cards more than in past generations because baby boomers, most of whom are in their 60s or 70s, grew up with credit cards and have continued using them. Also, unexpected costs in retirement, increased daily expenses and the carryover of debts from their working years have made today's senior citizens more dependent on credit cards. Credit card debt is "an issue with working Americans, therefore it becomes an issue when they retire," Copeland says. "