LW
Actualizado
In the United States, approximately 65 million people rely on welfare programs to meet their basic needs, with around 40 million individuals benefiting from food stamps, according to the Social Security Administration.
The U.S. government offers various welfare initiatives, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid.
States with the Highest Welfare Recipients:
Based on SNAP data, California leads the pack with a staggering 1,911,000 SNAP households, followed closely by Florida (1,632,000) and Texas (1,595,000).
New York and Pennsylvania complete the top five, emphasizing the correlation between high population states and the prevalence of welfare recipients.
However, it's crucial to note that the number of SNAP households doesn't necessarily equate to the total number of individuals receiving benefits within a state.
California also stands out as the state with the highest number of welfare recipients, boasting 237,614 TANF recipients and a Medicaid enrollment of 13,812,733.
Public Welfare Expenditures:
In 2020, state and local governments collectively spent $791 billion on public welfare, representing 23 percent of direct general expenditures.
Per capita spending varied significantly, ranging from $1,093 in Connecticut to $4,119 in New York. Other states with notable per capita public welfare spending included Alaska, Massachusetts, and New Mexico.
Top Five States Spending Most on Welfare:
Unsurprisingly, liberal states tend to allocate the most funds to welfare programs.
The top five states with the highest state and local welfare spending per capita are situated on either coast:
- California: Approximately $3,403 per capita.
- New Mexico: State and local welfare spending per capita of $3,488.
- Massachusetts: Approximately $3,657 per capita.
- Alaska: Despite its low population density, Alaska spends approximately $3,729 per capita.
- New York: Leading the chart with roughly $4,119 per capita in local welfare spending.
