2-28. True. Supplemental Security income does guarantee a minimum income for needy aged. In January, 1981, persons over 65 could receive monthly SSI payments of up to $238 for an individual or $357 for a couple.

2-29. False. The aged do get their proportionate share of the nation's income. In 1973 the aged received 11.2% of aggregate household money income before taxes, and they constituted 10.4% of the total population (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1974). If taxes and transfer payments are taken into account, the aged receive more than their proportionate share of the total personal income: In 1972 persons age 65 and over received 13.7% of total income after taxes were deducted and transfer payments added (Fried, Rivlin, Schultze, & Teeters, 1973).

2-30. False. The aged actually have lower rates of criminal victimization than those under 65. Persons over 65 have substantially lower victimization rates in nearly all categories of personal crime: Rape, robbery, assault, and personal theft (U.S. Department of Justice, 1977). The only category in which the rate for older persons is even equal that of younger persons is personal larceny with contact which includes purse snatching and pick pocketing.

2-31. True. The aged are more fearful of crime, despite their lower rates of victimization. In a nationally representative survey, 23% of those over 65 said that fear of crime was a very serious problem for them compared to 15% of those 18-64 (Harris, 1975). Another national survey found that 51% of those 65 and over compared to 41% of those under 65 answered yes to the question, is there any area right around here where you would be afraid to walk alone at night? (Clemente & Kleinman, 1976). Women, Blacks, and metropolitan aged have especially high proportions fearful of crime.

2-32. True. The aged are the most law abiding of all adult groups, regardless of how it is measured. For example, persons over 65 have about one tenth their expected arrest rate for all offenses (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1974). Similarly, persons over 65 are incarcerated in prisons and jails at about one tenth their expected rate according to population proportion (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1979).

2-33. False. There are not just two widows for each widower. Instead there are over five times as many widows as widowers among the aged. In 1978 there were about 6,917,000 widows 65 and over compared to 1,300,000 widowers that age (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1979).