Introduction
Welfare is a form of government assistance program that is meant to help citizens meet basic human needs, like food and shelter. Welfare can appear in the form of either free or subsidized supply of goods or resources that can be used to purchase goods or services. To receive any form of welfare, the recipient must prove their income falls below the federal poverty level.
Welfare programs in the U.S. vary in form. In 1935 a national welfare system was firstly established in the United States and was proposed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. Welfare was followed by various programs to reduce poverty and push for a fairer society, as is seen by Roosevelt’s “New Deal” and Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society”.
There are six major welfare programs in the United states: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Earned Income Tax Credit, Housing Assistance, and Medicaid. Welfare does not include entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensation.
See for yourself how welfare recipients differ by state by surveying the data in the charts.
| # | State | Number of Welfare Recipients | SNAP Households | Social Security Tax Status | Suicide Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 237,614 | 1,911,000 | No | 10 per 100k |
| 2 | New York | 75,121 | 1,520,000 | No | 8 per 100k |
| 3 | Ohio | 48,056 | 698,000 | No | 13.8 per 100k |
| 4 | Florida | 38,115 | 1,632,000 | No | 13.2 per 100k |
| 5 | Washington | 28,150 | 495,000 | No | 15.2 per 100k |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 27,157 | 946,000 | No | 12.6 per 100k |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 25,272 | 447,000 | No | 8.4 per 100k |
| 8 | Maryland | 22,063 | 341,000 | No | 9.2 per 100k |
| 9 | Minnesota | 19,250 | 208,000 | Yes | 13.1 per 100k |
| 10 | Texas | 18,181 | 1,595,000 | No | 13.3 per 100k |
| 11 | Virginia | 15,680 | 342,000 | No | 13.5 per 100k |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 14,991 | 323,000 | No | 14.5 per 100k |
| 13 | Oregon | 14,390 | 358,000 | No | 18.3 per 100k |
| 14 | Tennessee | 14,272 | 463,000 | No | 17.2 per 100k |
| 15 | North Carolina | 13,571 | 634,000 | No | 13.2 per 100k |
| 16 | Kentucky | 13,136 | 279,000 | No | 17.7 per 100k |
| 17 | Colorado | 11,622 | 219,000 | Yes | 21.5 per 100k |
| 18 | New Mexico | 11,574 | 214,000 | Yes | 24.2 per 100k |
| 19 | Illinois | 10,538 | 904,000 | No | 10.5 per 100k |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,372 | 672,000 | No | 14 per 100k |
| 21 | New Jersey | 8,923 | 376,000 | No | 7.1 per 100k |
| 22 | Georgia | 7,656 | 699,000 | No | 13.7 per 100k |
| 23 | Indiana | 7,636 | 270,000 | No | 15 per 100k |
| 24 | South Carolina | 7,305 | 301,000 | No | 16.3 per 100k |
| 25 | Arizona | 6,985 | 377,000 | No | 17.6 per 100k |
| 26 | Missouri | 6,806 | 331,000 | No | 18.2 per 100k |
| 27 | Hawaii | 6,587 | 82,000 | No | 12.9 per 100k |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 6,354 | 68,000 | ||
| 29 | Alabama | 6,268 | 354,000 | No | 16 per 100k |
| 30 | Iowa | 6,215 | 161,000 | No | 18 per 100k |
| 31 | Nevada | 5,719 | 226,000 | No | 18.2 per 100k |
| 32 | Connecticut | 5,713 | 219,000 | Yes | 9.3 per 100k |
| 33 | West Virginia | 5,628 | 163,000 | Yes | 19.4 per 100k |
| 34 | Oklahoma | 4,964 | 260,000 | No | 21.9 per 100k |
| 35 | Nebraska | 3,451 | 75,000 | Yes | 14.9 per 100k |
| 36 | Louisiana | 3,358 | 401,000 | No | 13.7 per 100k |
| 37 | Maine | 3,281 | 85,000 | No | 16.4 per 100k |
| 38 | Kansas | 3,146 | 99,000 | Yes | 18.4 per 100k |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 2,990 | 43,000 | No | 16.4 per 100k |
| 40 | Delaware | 2,655 | 67,000 | No | 12.3 per 100k |
| 41 | South Dakota | 2,559 | 40,000 | No | 21 per 100k |
| 42 | Utah | 2,374 | 76,000 | Yes | 20.8 per 100k |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 2,305 | 92,000 | Yes | 8.5 per 100k |
| 44 | Montana | 2,178 | 55,000 | Yes | 26.1 per 100k |
| 45 | Alaska | 1,775 | 39,000 | No | 27.5 per 100k |
| 46 | Arkansas | 1,691 | 161,000 | No | 19 per 100k |
| 47 | Vermont | 1,688 | 41,000 | Yes | 18.1 per 100k |
| 48 | Mississippi | 1,681 | 230,000 | No | 13.9 per 100k |
| 49 | Idaho | 1,677 | 69,000 | No | 23.2 per 100k |
| 50 | North Dakota | 1,055 | 24,000 | Yes | 18.2 per 100k |
| 51 | Wyoming | 478 | 13,000 | No | 30.5 per 100k |
Number of Welfare Recipients by State
Alabama
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,268
Ranked in the US
#29
354,000
Ranked in the US
#18
16 per 100k
↓ 1.84%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#25
Alaska
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,775
Ranked in the US
#45
39,000
Ranked in the US
#49
27.5 per 100k
↓ 3.51%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#2
Arizona
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,985
Ranked in the US
#25
377,000
Ranked in the US
#15
17.6 per 100k
↓ 5.88%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#20
Arkansas
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,691
Ranked in the US
#46
161,000
Ranked in the US
#34
19 per 100k
↑ 5.56%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#11
California
Number of Welfare Recipients
237,614
Ranked in the US
#1
1,911,000
Ranked in the US
#1
10 per 100k
↓ 6.54%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#44
Colorado
Number of Welfare Recipients
11,622
Ranked in the US
#17
219,000
Ranked in the US
#29
21.5 per 100k
↓ 2.71%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#7
Connecticut
Number of Welfare Recipients
5,713
Ranked in the US
#32
219,000
Ranked in the US
#30
9.3 per 100k
↓ 18.42%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#45
Delaware
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,655
Ranked in the US
#40
67,000
Ranked in the US
#44
12.3 per 100k
↑ 8.85%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#42
District of Columbia
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,354
Ranked in the US
#28
68,000
Ranked in the US
#43
Florida
Number of Welfare Recipients
38,115
Ranked in the US
#4
1,632,000
Ranked in the US
#2
13.2 per 100k
↓ 8.97%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#37
Georgia
Number of Welfare Recipients
7,656
Ranked in the US
#22
699,000
Ranked in the US
#7
13.7 per 100k
↓ 6.16%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#33
Hawaii
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,587
Ranked in the US
#27
82,000
Ranked in the US
#39
12.9 per 100k
↓ 16.77%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#40
Idaho
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,677
Ranked in the US
#49
69,000
Ranked in the US
#42
23.2 per 100k
↑ 13.73%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#5
Illinois
Number of Welfare Recipients
10,538
Ranked in the US
#19
904,000
Ranked in the US
#6
10.5 per 100k
↓ 3.67%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#43
Indiana
Number of Welfare Recipients
7,636
Ranked in the US
#23
270,000
Ranked in the US
#25
15 per 100k
↑ 5.63%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#27
Iowa
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,215
Ranked in the US
#30
161,000
Ranked in the US
#35
18 per 100k
↑ 7.78%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#18
Kansas
Number of Welfare Recipients
3,146
Ranked in the US
#38
99,000
Ranked in the US
#36
18.4 per 100k
↑ 1.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#12
Kentucky
Number of Welfare Recipients
13,136
Ranked in the US
#16
279,000
Ranked in the US
#24
17.7 per 100k
↑ 7.27%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#19
Louisiana
Number of Welfare Recipients
3,358
Ranked in the US
#36
401,000
Ranked in the US
#14
13.7 per 100k
↓ 8.67%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#34
Maine
Number of Welfare Recipients
3,281
Ranked in the US
#37
85,000
Ranked in the US
#38
16.4 per 100k
↓ 15.46%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#22
Maryland
Number of Welfare Recipients
22,063
Ranked in the US
#8
341,000
Ranked in the US
#20
9.2 per 100k
↓ 10.68%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#46
Massachusetts
Number of Welfare Recipients
25,272
Ranked in the US
#7
447,000
Ranked in the US
#13
8.4 per 100k
↓ 3.45%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#48
Michigan
Number of Welfare Recipients
9,372
Ranked in the US
#20
672,000
Ranked in the US
#9
14 per 100k
↓ 2.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#30
Minnesota
Number of Welfare Recipients
19,250
Ranked in the US
#9
208,000
Ranked in the US
#32
13.1 per 100k
↓ 9.03%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#39
Mississippi
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,681
Ranked in the US
#48
230,000
Ranked in the US
#27
13.9 per 100k
↓ 3.47%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#31
Missouri
Number of Welfare Recipients
6,806
Ranked in the US
#26
331,000
Ranked in the US
#21
18.2 per 100k
- 0%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#14
Montana
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,178
Ranked in the US
#44
55,000
Ranked in the US
#45
26.1 per 100k
↓ 0.38%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#3
Nebraska
Number of Welfare Recipients
3,451
Ranked in the US
#35
75,000
Ranked in the US
#41
14.9 per 100k
↓ 7.45%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#28
Nevada
Number of Welfare Recipients
5,719
Ranked in the US
#31
226,000
Ranked in the US
#28
18.2 per 100k
↓ 8.08%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#15
New Hampshire
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,990
Ranked in the US
#39
43,000
Ranked in the US
#46
16.4 per 100k
↓ 6.29%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#23
New Jersey
Number of Welfare Recipients
8,923
Ranked in the US
#21
376,000
Ranked in the US
#16
7.1 per 100k
↓ 11.25%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#50
New Mexico
Number of Welfare Recipients
11,574
Ranked in the US
#18
214,000
Ranked in the US
#31
24.2 per 100k
↑ 0.83%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#4
New York
Number of Welfare Recipients
75,121
Ranked in the US
#2
1,520,000
Ranked in the US
#4
8 per 100k
↓ 3.61%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#49
North Carolina
Number of Welfare Recipients
13,571
Ranked in the US
#15
634,000
Ranked in the US
#10
13.2 per 100k
↑ 5.6%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#38
North Dakota
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,055
Ranked in the US
#50
24,000
Ranked in the US
#50
18.2 per 100k
↑ 0.55%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#16
Ohio
Number of Welfare Recipients
48,056
Ranked in the US
#3
698,000
Ranked in the US
#8
13.8 per 100k
↓ 8.61%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#32
Oklahoma
Number of Welfare Recipients
4,964
Ranked in the US
#34
260,000
Ranked in the US
#26
21.9 per 100k
↑ 6.83%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#6
Oregon
Number of Welfare Recipients
14,390
Ranked in the US
#13
358,000
Ranked in the US
#17
18.3 per 100k
↓ 10.29%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#13
Pennsylvania
Number of Welfare Recipients
27,157
Ranked in the US
#6
946,000
Ranked in the US
#5
12.6 per 100k
↓ 10.64%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#41
Rhode Island
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,305
Ranked in the US
#43
92,000
Ranked in the US
#37
8.5 per 100k
↓ 20.56%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#47
South Carolina
Number of Welfare Recipients
7,305
Ranked in the US
#24
301,000
Ranked in the US
#23
16.3 per 100k
↑ 0.62%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#24
South Dakota
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,559
Ranked in the US
#41
40,000
Ranked in the US
#48
21 per 100k
↑ 0.48%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#8
Tennessee
Number of Welfare Recipients
14,272
Ranked in the US
#14
463,000
Ranked in the US
#12
17.2 per 100k
- 0%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#21
Texas
Number of Welfare Recipients
18,181
Ranked in the US
#10
1,595,000
Ranked in the US
#3
13.3 per 100k
↓ 0.75%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#36
Utah
Number of Welfare Recipients
2,374
Ranked in the US
#42
76,000
Ranked in the US
#40
20.8 per 100k
↓ 1.89%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#9
Vermont
Number of Welfare Recipients
1,688
Ranked in the US
#47
41,000
Ranked in the US
#47
18.1 per 100k
↑ 13.13%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#17
Virginia
Number of Welfare Recipients
15,680
Ranked in the US
#11
342,000
Ranked in the US
#19
13.5 per 100k
↑ 5.47%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#35
Washington
Number of Welfare Recipients
28,150
Ranked in the US
#5
495,000
Ranked in the US
#11
15.2 per 100k
↓ 4.4%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#26
West Virginia
Number of Welfare Recipients
5,628
Ranked in the US
#33
163,000
Ranked in the US
#33
19.4 per 100k
↑ 4.86%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#10
Wisconsin
Number of Welfare Recipients
14,991
Ranked in the US
#12
323,000
Ranked in the US
#22
14.5 per 100k
↑ 3.57%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#29
Wyoming
Number of Welfare Recipients
478
Ranked in the US
#51
13,000
Ranked in the US
#51
30.5 per 100k
↑ 4.1%
Vs 2019
Ranked in the US
#1