John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
In total, residents in Washington County received $1.6 billion in government transfers, which accounted for 15.2% of total county income.
Comparatively, across all counties in Rhode Island, government transfer payments totaled $13.6 billion, making up 19.6% of the state residents’ total income, with an average of $12,447 per resident.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
Breaking down the contributions in Washington County at the time, Social Security transfers totaled $702.2 million, amounting to $5,388 per capita, or 43.7% of total government transfers. Medicare transfers accounted for $451 million ($3,461 per capita), representing 28.1% of the total. Medicaid contributed $204.9 million ($1,572 per capita), making up 12.7% of total transfers. Income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $81.8 million ($628 per capita), or 5.1% of the total.
With 23.4% of the population aged 65 and older, Washington County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Total per capita income excluding government transfers in Washington County was $68,771, noticeably below the county’s total income of $81,104, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Washington County saw a decrease of 19.4% in per capita government transfers, from $15,242 to $12,333 per capita.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.21% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.63% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022. In Washington County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 6.92% (or $1,600 per capita) in 1970 to 15.2% (or $12,333 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | State Rank (Per Capita Transfers) | Per Capita Transfers ($) | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers ($) | Medicare Transfers ($) | Medicaid Transfers ($) | Income Maintenance Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 1 | $12,576 | 23% | 16.43% | $2,256,797,000 | $1,666,589,000 | $2,546,428,000 | $1,061,123,000 |
| Kent County | 2 | $12,526 | 18.68% | 20.41% | $832,211,000 | $577,569,000 | $344,120,000 | $152,269,000 |
| Newport County | 3 | $12,465 | 14.75% | 25.2% | $412,343,000 | $286,081,000 | $169,422,000 | $64,844,000 |
| Washington County | 4 | $12,333 | 15.21% | 23.36% | $702,186,000 | $451,049,000 | $204,924,000 | $81,819,000 |
| Bristol County | 5 | $10,759 | 12% | 21.15% | $241,992,000 | $152,763,000 | $60,110,000 | $29,180,000 |
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