Nearly Half Of Americans Live In Households With Government Aid

By Sara Murray of the Wall Street Journal

Families were more dependent on government programs than ever last year.

Nearly half, 48.5 percent, of the population lived in a household that received some type of government benefit in the first quarter of 2010, according to Census data. Those numbers have risen since the middle of the recession when 44.4 percent lived households receiving benefits in the third quarter of 2008.

The share of people relying on government benefits has reached a historic high, in large part from the deep recession and meager recovery, but also because of the expansion of government programs over the years. (See a timeline on the history of government benefits programs here.)

Means-tested programs, designed to help the needy, accounted for the largest share of recipients last year. Some 34.2 percent of Americans lived in a household that received benefits such as food stamps, subsidized housing, cash welfare or Medicaid (the federal-state health care program for the poor).

Read the entire article here.

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Comments

[John Di Saia]

11:13 AM on 10/12/2011

This could be a Republican presidential candidate's advertisement....how's that hope and change working for you?

[Sue McFarland]

05:24 AM on 10/07/2011

Poorly written article. I saw NBC's analysis/breakdown (I think it was NBC) where they actually showed the percentages on Social Security (which we all pay into, by the way), Medicaid, Medicare, etc. One of the things that jumped out at me (and I was busy fixing supper so I couldn't devote a whole lot of attention to this) were the numbers on Food Stamps and Unemployment. Both experienced substantial increases with the rise of unemployment.

One of the things I don't "get" is why conservatives ignore the results of unemployment. Of course, with such a rise in unemployment, there are going to be increases in the number of people looking for assistance in meeting life's daily needs like food, shelter, etc. Once unemployment falls, so will these numbers. If conservatives are really truly concerned with these numbers then they would support anything that gets private companies hiring again, up to and including tax credits and tax incentives to hire within the borders of this country, not overseas. Please--somebody conservative please explain why ya'll want to ignore "cause and effect".

[blitznstitch]

12:56 AM on 10/07/2011

how many of those 50% are republicans?

[noam4prez]

10:13 PM on 10/06/2011

And what is the percentage of corporations receiving government aid? You know, the programs designed to help the greedy?

[mikeodonnell2011]

10:05 PM on 10/06/2011

For those of you who are blaming democrats or republicans, don't kid yourself, this is fruition of years of hard work and horrible policy making on the part of both parties.

We need a 3rd party or revolution, whichever happens first.

[Joe Goforth]

09:44 PM on 10/06/2011

Gee, whats going to happen when Americas credit card gets cut up? The federal government borrows .40 cents on every dollar the Federal gov. spends from China and Saudi Arabia and all of our other good friends in the world. I think one of these days they may say enough! I see the future and it's not pretty.

[Notsurprisedanymore]

09:29 PM on 10/06/2011

This is not something to be proud of...how can a true American get up every morning knowing that so many of their fellow citizens are living in poverty and not care or do something to change the wrong?
Even some of our elected officials would rather play politics than govern with responsibility. Shame has been brought to us and we have been made powerless to do anything about it.
Remember who brought us this shame when you vote and be responsible. Vote those elected officials that have brought us harm (namely anyone republican) and vote them out of office.

[Neets101]

06:24 PM on 10/06/2011

What number are senior households on social security, or the disabled?

That I would like to know....

[timbo628]

05:25 PM on 10/06/2011

Republicans believe statistics like this are indicative that America has become a welfare state. I believe it is indicative of the failed economic policies promulgated by Republicans since Reagan. 90% of people receiving aid would prefer that they did not need to receive it. Life on aid is less than glamorous. People want to have the ability to earn a decent living but that opportunity has been taken away for millions of Americans.

[AnarchyOfTaste]

11:48 PM on 10/06/2011

When something is subsidized, you will see more of it.

[Eagleman]

04:52 PM on 10/06/2011

Hope and Change ?

[Bleekerstreet]

12:12 PM on 10/06/2011

After forty years as an agnostic, I still harbor some of the values I was taught as a young Catholic. There is something abhorrent about the face of capitalism here in America. Its cold, machine-like inhumanity can only be curbed by law and government is the only means by which we can correct the damage it causes.

What we are seeing right now is the result of the failure of law to protect us from the machine. Our elected representatives disabled the law by removing the protections afforded us by the New Deal legislation of the thirties. The money being used to correct the damage is what we're reading about today. That money should be replaced by taxing the machine more. Until the machine knows the true cost of its operation it will never change. We need to restore the New Deal.

[AnarchyOfTaste]

11:52 PM on 10/06/2011

"can only be cured by law and government"

Government cures things through force and coercion. Are those things consistent with your values?

[fortressfountain]

11:16 AM on 10/06/2011

I think the gov. is doing this on purpose to lay off the older workers and bring wages down low.
Once everyone is on the programs-they will be cut to the bones and people will be left with nothing to die in the streets.
There is no help-just high priced loans.
Talk about putting a value on people-central planning by the ones who should have no value.

[KenGirard]

04:51 PM on 10/06/2011

You think the government is doing what exactly?
And do you really think that a plan so big could exist with out someone speaking up about it? Or do you really think that all of the Senate, House, White House, State, County & City Government employees, high & low, are all in on it...even the ones whose families are getting laid off, losing their homes, etc?

[shankapotomus]

10:53 AM on 10/06/2011

And Obama and the democrats won't be happy until 90% use them.
You go Obama, you are easily the worst President in history.

[RenePA]

11:19 AM on 10/06/2011

Apparently your education did not include history, economics, any study regarding political science or any classes that would involve critical thinking skills.

The convoluted logic of your byline pretty much says it all.

[shankapotomus]

11:28 AM on 10/06/2011

Its there agenda.

[shankapotomus]

11:29 AM on 10/06/2011

It all started with progressive like FDR, and Johnson, O is just carrying it on.

[rjzii]

11:38 AM on 10/06/2011

I don't know, the article didn't really give a good definition of what government benefits are and used some pretty open ended language when talking to them. Based upon what I read MGIB benefits could also apply to that percentage along with anything that has to do student loans. Enough people fall into those two categories that those programs could also drive up the numbers if you count anything from the government as a government benefit.

[Cheapthrills]

10:52 AM on 10/06/2011

Duh, all government employees live off of the proverbial te.at; from wages to pensions.

[SF TKF]

11:20 AM on 10/06/2011

Because it's not like forest rangers, border patrol agents, FBI agents and all the other Federal civil servants WORK for a living. *rolls eyes* Just once I’d like to see the Federal government actually shut down ALL services so you people would actually grasp that the country simply can’t be run without civil servants (and BTW, private contractors have been shown over and over to cost MORE and do LESS).

[KenGirard]

04:55 PM on 10/06/2011

Don't forget the vast number of Vets.
Buy the way, if you can read this, thank a teacher.

[Cheapthrills]

10:50 AM on 10/06/2011

Just wait until 2014 when the Big O's new Medicaid insurance kicks in.