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Old age has its many downsides, but there are a few perks when you hit the “Golden Oldies” era.
The first time I remember one applying to me was years ago when I stopped by Taco Bell to pick up a quick lunch. The counter guy asked if I wanted a drink and when I declined, with a wink and a smile he said, “They’re free for seniors.” I was about 55 at the time, so I went home with a burrito and a bruised ego.
There are the numerous and well known small ones: 5 PM early bird dinner specials, discount movie tickets, etc. Those two, at least, mean little to me as I tend to eat dinner around 8:00, and would rather watch movies at home as there’s no talkative audience, better snacks, and the all important ability to hit “pause” for senior bathroom breaks.
But the big ticket items can be significant, for instance when it comes to taxes. Those 65 and older get a bigger standard deduction on their federal income tax—an extra $2000 in 2025. And here in Texas, there are also generous breaks on property taxes. Owners 65 and older get a larger homestead exemption. And the big chunk of taxes going to the school district freeze at the amount they were when the taxpayer turned 65.
The greatest senior perks of all, of course, are Medicare and Social Security. I know we, to some extent at least, paid in advance for these with taxes over the years. But to me they still seem like magical gifts that have floated down into our laps from heaven.
A nice thing about most golden perks is you don’t even have to ask for them. Either the entity bestowing them knows from its data how old you are, or in a face-to-face encounter, your senior status is all too obvious. (Funny how in the latter situation I’m never asked to show my ID.)
But there are a few times when, if you want the benefit, you must actively play the “old guy” card. During our recent road trip to California, as we were entering L.A., the freeways lived up to their dreaded reputation. I was driving and dutifully listening to the GPS robot as she told me in her sweet tones where to go. When she said to get in the far left hand lane, I did—only to find myself trapped for the next few miles in the carpool lane.
A week after arriving home, I received a notice in the mail from the CA toll authority imposing a fine for my transgression. The space for a defense was limited to 200 characters so I had to choose wisely. I made my soon-to-be 73 years of age a centerpiece, and shortly thereafter received notice that I was forgiven and the fine waived.
My most memorable golden perk, though, happened a few months ago and involved no monetary benefit at all. While shopping at our neighborhood HEB grocery, I made a stop in the men’s room. It was very busy that day and there was a short line in front of the urinals. When it was the turn of the fellow in front of me, who must’ve been in his 30s or 40s, he hesitated, turned and looked me over for a couple of seconds, and then with a sweep of his hand, said, “No, you go ahead.”
So, for my fellow HDers of a certain age, what are your favorite, or perhaps just most memorable, “golden perks”?
Playing from the senior tees.
When I was 54 or 55 the check out clerk at the supermarket gave me the senior citizen discount without asking me. I didn’t even know there was a discount until she told me.
There are times you don’t correct people who make mistakes.
I thanked her and went home happy I saved a dollar or two.
But when I bought hard cider at the same supermarket a few weeks ago, the check out clerk asked for age proof!
I know the law says they have to, but most appear to just make up a birthdate for the computer.
The urinal “golden” perk was a, perhaps, inadvertent double entendre.
Good catch, Ben. It was indeed inadvertent, or perhaps a Freudian slip…..
Grandchildren!
I’ve done a lot of informal research and so far grandkids have a 100% satisfaction rating. Beat that!
Very true!
I wouldn’t call Medicare and SS perks, very valuable and essential yes, but not a perk. Not only have we paid payroll taxes, but with Medicare there are premiums and out of pocket costs as well. Plus general federal revenue goes into Medicare Part B each year. Also, current workers keep both going for us, not them. A perk is a bit extra not directly paid for.
Getting to fly first class on a business trip and taking a spouse is a perk in my book.
I will take the discounts, but I don’t like being treated as old by other people even when it’s kind and well intentioned.
Interesting post and some great discount ideas I will remember.
My favorite senior citizen perk is the New Jersey Senior Citizen Learning Program. I just completed my first course /first semester at Montclair State University for FREE tuition! I can take any (up to 6 credits a semester) courses offered on a space available basis as a non- matriculated student at ANY NJ state college. Montclair is actually my Alma Mater and it’s a blast to go back to campus each week and sit in the classroom with undergrad students. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and my fellow students and the professor made me feel completely welcome. BTW, I did all the assignments (not required) and I got an “A” for the course.
One other benefit of doing this is that I have a college ID card, that gets me a few freebies around school including FREE open Skating at the campus Ice Arena for my 5 1/2 year old grandson who plays hockey! That’s a $20 savings every time he skates (I don’t skate so they let him use my student freebie!).
Check out if your states have similar programs for Seniors.
Wow, that is indeed a great senior perk. And I admire your discipline—not sure I’d have it in me to complete all the homework!
I’ve had young ladies hold a door for me many times, talk about reverse chivalry! Consumer Cellular gives a discount for AARP members that is greater than the AARP cost.
Jeff, I did sign up for AARP some years back for just that reason—the Consumer Cellular discount. I later switched to Spectrum for my cell service as it offered a better deal.
A little reverse chivalry is a nice perk!
Andrew, I’m not quite old enough for the local tax breaks, but I take the little discounts when I can. So does my wife. Years ago, she accompanied my mother and her cousins on a trip to see a movie. As the ticket seller applied the senior discount to the gaggle of old gals, she included my wife, who was age 36 at the time.
Great story, Edmund. Although it might not be your wife’s favorite….
Gotta take these perks where you find them!
Great point. I can only assume the ticket seller shares my nearsightedness, because my wife is still beautifully youthful. Oh dear, was that another comment gone awry?
Andrew, your successful note to the toll authority reminds me of my discovery of an attorney’s letter-writing skills. A number of years ago, the way I reported my required continuing education requirements to my state regulatory board resulted in a letter from them stating I was in violation of their rules. To avoid further penalty, they demanded I admit guilt and pay a hefty fine. My careful letter of explanation was rejected. I called my attorney cousin, who referred me to his partner, Roger. Roger was adept at medical liability defense and on familiar territory.
His letter on my behalf–pro bono–resulted in a gushing apology from my board and dismissal of the sanction. I may have been ambiguous about lawyers before then, but I have a healthy respect for them now.
Edmund, another great story. With lawyers, as in all professions, there are skilled and ethical ones, and there are incompetent and unethical ones. I’m glad Roger was of the former category.
Andrew…interesting article. Before Social Security and Medicare, retired older people had to manage best way they could…especially those who were bankrupt by misfortune—prior to the enactment of these benefits, there was only the almshouse. Particularly for those who had no children, or whose children, in bad straits themselves, couldn’t stretch themselves further.
So many worked until they died.
We can all be grateful we live in a more enlightened age.
You can thank FDR’s Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins (the first female Cabinet Secretary) for Social Security. She was also responsible for legislation passed which established the 40 hour work week, minimum wage, banning child labor, worker’s compensation, and even fire escapes in New York State (after watching women workers in NYC die in the Shirtwaist Factory fire).
Everyone should read about this fascinating woman by reading Kirsten Downey’s The Woman Behind the New Deal….
Frances Perkins I would argue is the least known significant woman in US history!
And the first woman to serve in a Presidential Cabinet!
That’s a great history lesson, David!
Learned about her via PBS Newshour book review. Went and got the book immediately. When I mentioned the female cabinet secretary to my at the time 100 yo mother in law, and her the 96 yo second husband the both immediately knew of her.
Agreed. Thanks, David.
Marjorie, so true. SS and Medicare are now so embedded in our culture that it’s truly hard to imagine old age in the U.S. without them. Grateful indeed.
Let’s see what the next four or so years bring. Our culture and financial system (including consumer protections) are undergoing extremely rapid changes.
Perhaps an anti-Frances Perkins agenda.
LMAO at the good Samaritan in the rest room; most of us old guys pee in morse code due to our apple sized prostates…. we take forever.
Amen to SS and Medicare; maybe the best insurance I’ve ever had. We also have free membership to two gyms that we had been paying for before Silver Sneakers. AARP discounts are nice as well.
Dan, thanks and glad you enjoyed it. We were AARP members for a while but gave it up. We never seemed to benefit from any of the discounts—maybe because we don’t travel often and eat out infrequently. Which discounts have you most used?
We probably use enough restaurant discounts to make it worth our while. Outback and Carraba come to mind.
Otherwise there are some okay articles and they advocate for seniors.
I’ve never used the restaurant discount — we don’t eat out at all — but to me the AARP magazine and newsletter are worth the membership by themselves. Lots of very helpful information there.
Thanks, Dan. I remember there were some useful articles in the magazine and newsletter.
Andrew…I agree with you. There are a few things about AARP that go against my grain. In addition United Healthcare will not accept your application for insurance unless you enroll as a member of AARP.
Their newsletters often give helpful information to retirees but it’s information you can easily access through other channels and media.
Marjorie, as to the AARP/UHC connection, I came across this article a couple of weeks ago: How AARP Shills for UnitedHealthcare – The American Prospect
Thanks for the Iink, Andrew. The information is not well known to the general public.
Nice article Andrew. Some of the comments almost made me wonder if I should spring for an AARP membership. Thanks for sharing this link.
Thanks, Michael. I don’t have any recent personal experience with UHC, but the article was attention getting.
I have been insured with United Health Care for over 40 years including 8 years in the AARP Medicare Advantage plan with no denials for medical services. The article you linked is obviously written with bias when you read the last paragraph. I volunteer for AARP in tax prep but I am not a fan of their using companies to increase their income. No one is required to insure with UHC as well as not buy from WalMart but both seem to be a target these days. Success has a way of doing that.
Dan, of course the article is biased — it’s a commentary, not a news report. I think the opinion expressed is well-supported, and I find the last paragraph inarguable.
That said, I too am a satisfied enrollee in the AARP UHC MA plan, but not because it’s AARP-endorsed. I had learned during my successful cancer battle that responsiveness from your health insurer is of supreme importance, and so before choosing an MA plan, I sat down with a patient financial/billing advisor at my new specialty care provider, UW/Fred Hutch in Seattle, and asked him who was the best insurer they worked with in terms of response time and acceptances/denials. His immediate answer was UHC. I went with his recommendation, and so far (three years) he’s been right. No denials, even for some complicated stuff related to my type 1 diabetes.
How about the senior passes for US National Parks?
Museums here and abroad often have senior discounts. Some hotel chains give discounts to AARP members (as well as AAA members).
The National Parks and Federal Lands Senior Lifetime Pass is best senior discount ever for outdoor enthusiasts!
Just to stimulate more interest to click on your link here’s some info up front:
1) $80
2) provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six Federal agencies
3) only one of a couple needs the pass for admittance
4) allows entrance to the pass holder and up to 3 adult passengers
I just ordered one!
David, I agree completely and wrote about this a few years ago.
Kathy, good examples. In recently booking a hotel stay during the CA trip I mentioned, the clerk asked if I was a member of AARP. When I said no, she replied, “Well, you’re old enough—I’m gonna give you the discount anyway.”(!)
Andrew: nice article! In response to your comment: “The greatest senior perks of all, of course, are Medicare and Social Security. I know we, to some extent at least, paid in advance for these with taxes over the years.” I agree completely, particularly with Social Security. According to the monthly reports I receive about my projected benefits is also information about how much I paid in during my working career. If I took SS benefits now at age 66 and 5 months, I would surpass how much I paid in when I turn 70 and 5 months. If I took SS benefits at my FRA, I would surpass what I paid at age 70 and 6 months, and by waiting to claim SS until age 70, I will surpass what I paid at age 73 and 1 month. Using SS’s life expectancy chart (which is acknowledged to be skewed lower than actual for those with healthy lifestyles), and my simple spreadsheet (which might not be 100% correct) I will receive $525,000 beyond what I paid if I make it to that predicted life expectancy! That’s quite a “golden perk”!
Dave, thanks for your comment, and your figures provide a great incentive to maintain a healthy lifestyle!