{"id":11038,"date":"2023-04-10T09:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T15:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/?p=11038"},"modified":"2025-06-06T14:38:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T20:38:08","slug":"welfare-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/finance\/welfare-statistics.html","title":{"rendered":"50 important welfare statistics for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"570\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Helping-hand.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11039\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/disclaimer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See Lexington Law\u2019s editorial disclosure for more information<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c0fa17a74a81e45ab9bccfebb4a3ff8b\" style=\"background-color:#00204f\">How many people are on welfare? There were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/policy\/docs\/chartbooks\/fast_facts\/2022\/fast_facts22.pdf\">70 million people<\/a> on the Social Security Administration (SSA)\u2019s welfare programs in the United States in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Welfare programs like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid<\/a> provide vital financial support for individuals and families who are in difficult situations. According to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/us_welfare_spending_40.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">analysis of government spending<\/a>, estimated welfare spending in 2023 will account for around 14 percent of the federal budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While general welfare spending is projected to be overshadowed by spending on healthcare in 2023 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/us_health_care_spending_10.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1.64 trillion<\/a>), it does cost more than national defense ($1.17 trillion) at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/us_welfare_spending_40.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">$1.3 trillion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve compiled a number of statistics that highlight the cost, demographics and effects of welfare spending in the United States. Read on to see all of the welfare statistics that will be important to know in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> We reference the most updated data available\u2014check each individual source for specifics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-welfare-spending-in-the-united-states\"><a><\/a>Welfare spending in the United States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The United States spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year on welfare programs that provide food, housing and income to those in need. Many of these programs have their roots in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/history\/pdf\/histdev.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">response to the Great Depression<\/a>, when President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, which eventually led to the creation of dozens of other state and federal assistance programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>In 2022, the federal government spent over <strong>$1.6 trillion <\/strong>on welfare programs in the United States. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/welfare_spending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, the United States is projected to spend <strong>$1.3 trillion<\/strong> on welfare programs. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/us_welfare_spending_40.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-6.png 975w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-6-768x410.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>In 2023, the U.S. is estimated to spend <strong>$147 billion <\/strong>on nutrition assistance, including over <strong>$28 billion <\/strong>on child nutrition programs. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/food_stamps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, around <strong>$111 billion<\/strong> is budgeted for SNAP. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/2023-usda-budget-summary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Housing assistance programs are projected to cost nearly <strong>$81 billion <\/strong>in 2023, which is about the same as they cost in 2022. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/federal_budget_detail_fy22bs22022n_4046#usgs302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The largest share of housing assistance spending goes to tenant-based rental assistance (<strong>$31 billion<\/strong>), the public housing fund (<strong>$19 billion<\/strong>) and project-based rental assistance (<strong>$14 billion<\/strong>). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/federal_budget_detail_fy22bs22022n_404641_604#usgs302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"865\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-7.png 975w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-7-768x681.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li>In 2023, the U.S. will spend an estimated <strong>$25 billion <\/strong>on unemployment programs, down from <strong>$53 billion<\/strong> in 2022. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/federal_budget_detail_fy22bs22022n_4042#usgs302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, the federal government is projected to spend <strong>$536 billion <\/strong>on Medicaid programs in the form of monetary transfers to the states. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/year_spending_2023USbn_23bc6n_2021#usgs302\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, welfare programs will account for <strong>around 14 percent<\/strong> of all federal, state and local spending. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgovernmentspending.com\/us_welfare_spending_40.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Spending<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-poverty-in-the-united-states\"><a><\/a>Poverty in the United States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The poverty rate in the United States had been decreasing steadily since economic recovery began in 2010, but in 2020 the poverty rate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/200463\/us-poverty-rate-since-1990\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">started to climb again<\/a>. With more than one out of every 10 Americans living below the poverty threshold\u2014and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/stories\/2022\/10\/poverty-rate-varies-by-age-groups.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">17 percent of children<\/a>\u2014it\u2019s clear that poverty has created a difficult situation for millions of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li>In 2022, the poverty threshold for a family of four was <strong>$27,750<\/strong>, up from <strong>$26,500<\/strong> in 2021. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthcare.gov\/glossary\/federal-poverty-level-fpl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HealthCare.gov<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2021, the poverty rate was <strong>11.6 percent<\/strong>, up from <strong>10.5 percent<\/strong> in 2019. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/200463\/us-poverty-rate-since-1990\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Statista<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A total of <strong>37.9 million <\/strong>people were living in poverty in 2021, which was slightly higher than the year before. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The poverty rate for people under the age of 18 was <strong>15.3 percent <\/strong>in 2021, down from <strong>16 percent <\/strong>in 2020. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The poverty rate for seniors over the age of 65 was <strong>10.3 percent<\/strong> in 2021, up from <strong>8.9 percent<\/strong> in 2020. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-8.png 975w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-8-768x673.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"15\">\n<li>The states with the highest poverty rates are Mississippi (<strong>18.7 percent<\/strong>), Louisiana (<strong>17.8 percent<\/strong>) and New Mexico (<strong>16.8 percent<\/strong>). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.ers.usda.gov\/reports.aspx?ID=17826#P1d805da058e742de8a1ed1bad640b3d7_4_229iT3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The states with the lowest poverty rates are New Hampshire (<strong>7 percent<\/strong>), Utah (<strong>7.3 percent<\/strong>) and Minnesota (<strong>8.3 percent<\/strong>). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.ers.usda.gov\/reports.aspx?ID=17826#P1d805da058e742de8a1ed1bad640b3d7_4_229iT3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Mississippi, <strong>over a quarter<\/strong> of all children under age 18 live in poverty. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.ers.usda.gov\/reports.aspx?ID=17826#P1d805da058e742de8a1ed1bad640b3d7_4_229iT3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poverty rates of Black Americans (<strong>19.5 percent<\/strong>) and Hispanic Americans (<strong>17.1 percent<\/strong>) are higher than those of Asian Americans (<strong>9.3 percent<\/strong>) and non-Hispanic white Americans (<strong>8.1 percent<\/strong>). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-welfare-program-usage-and-results\"><a><\/a>Welfare program usage and results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, government spending on welfare programs decreased as additional requirements and restrictions were put in place. Despite having less budget to pull from and more restrictions, the welfare programs in the U.S. have had some success in lowering poverty rates over the past decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"19\">\n<li>For every 100 families in poverty in 2020, <strong>only 21<\/strong> were provided cash assistance by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/family-income-support\/cash-assistance-should-reach-millions-more-families-to-lessen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CBPP<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) in 2021 was <strong>7.8 percent<\/strong>, which was <strong>1.4 percentage points<\/strong> lower than it was in 2020. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Social Security is the most effective anti-poverty program, having moved <strong>more than 26 million<\/strong> people out of poverty in 2021. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"905\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-9.png 905w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-9-768x410.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"22\">\n<li>Stimulus payments related to COVID-19 relief legislation helped move <strong>nearly 9 million<\/strong> individuals out of poverty in 2021. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unemployment benefits that were expanded in 2021 prevented a fall into poverty for <strong>over 2 million<\/strong> people. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For households receiving food stamps or SNAP benefits in 2021, nearly<strong> 38 percent<\/strong> had at least one member over the age of 60, and around <strong>48 percent<\/strong> had a child age 18 or younger. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=s2201&amp;y=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Just over a quarter<\/strong> of households receiving food stamps or SNAP benefits in 2021 were married couples. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=s2201&amp;y=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Around 91 million<\/strong> people were enrolled in Medicaid in September 2022. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaid.gov\/medicaid\/program-information\/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data\/report-highlights\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Medicaid<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More than <strong>41 million<\/strong> individuals received SNAP benefits in 2022. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/pd\/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average individual monthly benefit for SNAP is <strong>$231<\/strong>. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/pd\/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2021, the states with the highest rates of SNAP participation included New Mexico at <strong>25 percent<\/strong> and Louisiana at <strong>20 percent<\/strong>. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/food-assistance\/a-closer-look-at-who-benefits-from-snap-state-by-state-fact-sheets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wyoming, Utah and New Hampshire had the lowest SNAP participation rate at <strong>5 percent<\/strong>. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/food-assistance\/a-closer-look-at-who-benefits-from-snap-state-by-state-fact-sheets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Center on Budget and Policy Priorities<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-welfare-fraud-statistics\"><a><\/a>Welfare fraud statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Welfare fraud is the act of improperly stating or withholding information to receive higher payments. Eligibility criteria for welfare programs vary, and individual states handle the investigations into fraud. Statistics from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United States Sentencing Commission (USSC)<\/a> help put welfare fraud into perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"31\">\n<li>Government benefits fraud has decreased by <strong>28.3 percent<\/strong> since 2017. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The total number of government benefits fraud offenders on record in 2021 is just <strong>342<\/strong>, down from <strong>477<\/strong> in 2017 but up from <strong>274<\/strong> in 2020. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nearly <strong>67 percent <\/strong>of government benefits fraud offenders were men, and the average offender is <strong>46 years old<\/strong>. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-19571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-10.png 975w, https:\/\/www.lexingtonlaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image-10-768x410.png 768w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 767px) 600px, calc(100vw - 35px)\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"34\">\n<li>Over <strong>17 percent <\/strong>of benefits fraud cases in 2021 involved losses <strong>greater than $550,000<\/strong>.&nbsp; (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nearly <strong>68 percent<\/strong> of fraud offenders had little or no prior criminal history. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>top four <\/strong>locations for government benefits fraud offenders were in Florida, Nebraska, Ohio and Virginia. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ussc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/research-and-publications\/quick-facts\/Government_Benefits_Fraud_FY21.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USSC<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-welfare-demographics\"><a><\/a>Welfare demographics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People across all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds struggle with poverty in the United States. As a result, the recipients and beneficiaries of welfare programs are an extraordinarily diverse group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"37\">\n<li>In 2021, over <strong>55 percent <\/strong>of all people in the U.S. living in poverty were women. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/library\/publications\/2022\/demo\/p60-277.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2021, <strong>33.5 percent<\/strong> of households receiving SNAP benefits were headed by a female without a spouse. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=s2201&amp;y=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over <strong>46 percent <\/strong>of households receiving SNAP benefits included at least one disabled person in 2021. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=s2201&amp;y=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>54 percent <\/strong>of Medicaid recipients are women. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaid.gov\/medicaid\/quality-of-care\/downloads\/beneficiary-profile-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Medicaid<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Between 2018 and 2019, children accounted for <strong>nearly<\/strong> <strong>39 percent <\/strong>of Medicaid beneficiaries but just <strong>16 percent<\/strong> of expenditures. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaid.gov\/medicaid\/quality-of-care\/downloads\/beneficiary-profile-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Medicaid<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A quarter<\/strong> of adult Medicaid recipients rate their health as fair or poor. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaid.gov\/medicaid\/quality-of-care\/downloads\/beneficiary-profile-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Medicaid<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many different ethnicities receive SNAP benefits: the data from June 2020 to September 2020 shows that SNAP benefits were distributed to Native Americans (<strong>1.5 percent<\/strong>), Asian Americans (<strong>2.4 percent<\/strong>), Hispanic Americans (<strong>11.8 percent<\/strong>), Black Americans (<strong>28.4 percent<\/strong>), white Americans (<strong>38.4 percent<\/strong>) and others (<strong>17.5 percent<\/strong>). (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/snap\/characteristics-snap-households-fy-2020-and-early-months-covid-19-pandemic-characteristics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USDA<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-welfare-in-the-workforce\"><a><\/a>Welfare in the Workforce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Welfare programs predominantly help Americans who receive low wages. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/720\/710203.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Government Accountability Office<\/a> discovered that the top employers of Americans enrolled in welfare programs were Walmart and McDonald\u2019s\u2014companies that have historically paid their workers low wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"44\">\n<li>Among employed individuals, the poverty rate is <strong>4.1 percent<\/strong> as of 2020, down from <strong>seven percent<\/strong> in 2015. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/reports\/working-poor\/2020\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individuals employed in the service industry are <strong>more likely<\/strong> to be in poverty than those working in other occupational sectors. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/reports\/working-poor\/2020\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women are over <strong>20 percent more likely<\/strong> than men to be members of the working poor. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/reports\/working-poor\/2020\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part-time workers are nearly <strong>four times more likely <\/strong>to be in poverty than full-time workers. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/reports\/working-poor\/2020\/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>51 percent <\/strong>of adults enrolled in SNAP work at least <strong>35 hours<\/strong> a week for nearly the whole year. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/720\/710203.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government Accountability Office<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>33.5 percent <\/strong>of families receiving SNAP benefits in 2021 included two or more workers during the previous year. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=s2201&amp;y=2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More employed adults enrolled in Medicaid work <strong>for companies within the private sector<\/strong> than the public sector. (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/720\/710203.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government Accountability Office<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>The more than $1 trillion spent on welfare programs by the government every year plays a critical role in the lives of millions of individuals and families who need support with housing, healthcare and food. While these programs are often targets of criticism, they remain an important part of the support network for people living in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lexingtonlaw.com\/disclaimer\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em> Articles have only been reviewed by the indicated attorney, not written by them. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, reviewers, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective agents or employers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welfare programs support millions of people in the U.S. We\u2019ve compiled 50 welfare statistics that highlight the cost and impact of U.S. welfare programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":11039,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[534],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.1 (Yoast SEO v18.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>50 Important Welfare Statistics for 2023 | Lexington Law<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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