Lifestyle

Olivia, 70, Lives on Social Security in Santa Fe. Then She Went to the Library to Look for Work: “I Did Not Think That Being 70 Would Be Like This”

By Erica Coleman · November 10, 2026

Olivia Moreno Carlson starts her day calling for her cat. Then she heads out to look for a job.

“My name is Olivia Moreno Carlson. I’m 70 years old. I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I cannot afford to retire. I live off of Social Security, which does not pay all my bills. That’s why I’m looking for work,” she says in a segment from CBS Evening News.

The piece aired in June 2025 as part of the broadcast’s series “The Cost of Living,” in which Americans describe, in their own words, how they are trying to make ends meet. Co-anchor John Dickerson introduced her as a widow on Social Security and said that after rent she has less than $200 to live on.

She explains how she got there. Her husband was a mechanic who developed MS, and she cared for him until he died. She had been working retail, lifting boxes, which she describes as very hard.

Now her job search runs through the public library, where she uses the internet to look for openings. “I did not think that being 70 would be like this,” she says.

The cameras follow her as she asks about work in person. At one stop she is told nothing is open right now but to keep an eye out. She checks on an application she filed at a Walgreens and learns there is no update.

Food is another pressure point. She says the cost has gone up, and “every time I blink it goes up.” She shops where she gets better prices, and the total at the register in the segment comes to $10.25.

She leans on a Bible study group. “There are times when I do feel like giving up,” she says, adding that the group helps her continue on.

You can see her story in the CBS Evening News video on YouTube.

Near the end, she is asked about her biggest challenge. “My greatest obstacle right now is being able to support myself,” she says. “It is hard for me just to survive.”

Her closing words are about effort. “It is hard for me to accept that I’m not able to enjoy the rest of my life because I have worked hard all my life.”

The national numbers help put her situation in context. The Social Security Administration’s Monthly Statistical Snapshot for September 2026 lists an average monthly benefit of $2,088.79 for retired workers and $1,935.32 for nondisabled widows and widowers. Those are averages. Many people receive less, depending on their work history and when they claimed, and rent in many cities can take a large share of a check that size.

Olivia’s situation is her own, and CBS did not report her exact benefit amount. Her story still reflects questions many people in their 60s and 70s are asking.

If her story sounds familiar, here are a few things you can check or do:

Look up your own benefit. A my Social Security account at ssa.gov shows your current or estimated payment.

Ask about survivor benefits. A widow or widower may be able to receive a benefit based on a late spouse’s record, and Social Security can tell you which amount is higher.

Look for local help with work. Many libraries, senior centers and state workforce offices offer job listings, computer access and help with applications for older job seekers.

Check for other support. Programs for food, rent and utility costs vary by state, and a local Area Agency on Aging can point you to what is available.

This article is for general information and is not financial advice. Social Security amounts and rules can change. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.