In 2022, Income Maintenance transfers in Essex County totaled $9.33 million, amounting to $1,557 per capita, or 11.2% of total government transfers, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
Among all government transfer programs, Income Maintenance was the second smallest contributor in the county. Social Security was the largest contributor, totaling $35.36 million, equating to $5,899 per capita and making up 42.4% of total transfers.
Comparatively, Income Maintenance transfers across Vermont amounted to $713.57 million, ranking lowest among all transfer types within the state. This translates to an average of $1,103 per capita, or 8.7% of total government transfers. Including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $8.17 billion, accounting for 20% of residents’ total income, with an average of $12,623 per resident.
Medicare was the second largest contributor in Essex County in 2022, accounting for $26.65 million, averaging $4,447 per capita, representing 31.9% of transfers. Medicaid transfers provided another $931,000, averaging $155 per capita and comprising 1.1% of government support, making them the smallest contributors.
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).
With 27.6% of the population aged 65 and older, Essex County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Essex County, excluding government transfers was $31,477, which is far below the county’s total income of $45,397, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Essex County saw no change in its Income Maintenance transfer dependency.
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 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Essex County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 13.2% (or $2,460 per capita) in 1970 to 30.7% (or $13,920 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Rank | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers (%) | Medicare Transfers (%) | Medicaid Transfers (%) | Income Maintenance Transfers (%) | Per Capita Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 1 | 13.9% | 16.9% | 5.5% | 2.4% | 3.4% | 1.1% | $9,808 |
| Rutland County | 2 | 32.6% | 24.7% | 9.5% | 5.5% | 12.9% | 2.4% | $19,084 |
| Washington County | 3 | 19.8% | 21.7% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 6.4% | 1.4% | $13,686 |
| Windsor County | 4 | 20.5% | 25.6% | 8.2% | 5.9% | 3% | 1.5% | $13,899 |
| Windham County | 5 | 24.3% | 25.3% | 9% | 5.7% | 5.4% | 2.2% | $13,833 |
| Franklin County | 6 | 18.1% | 18% | 6.6% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 2.3% | $10,107 |
| Bennington County | 7 | 22.6% | 24.6% | 8.8% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 2.3% | $13,590 |
| Orleans County | 8 | 29.9% | 23.7% | 9.2% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 3.2% | $15,888 |
| Caledonia County | 9 | 26.7% | 22.9% | 9.5% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 2.8% | $13,499 |
| Addison County | 10 | 16.9% | 22.8% | 7.6% | 3.5% | 2.7% | 1.3% | $10,489 |
| Orange County | 11 | 22.3% | 23.6% | 8.4% | 6.2% | 3.3% | 2% | $12,483 |
| Lamoille County | 12 | 17.4% | 18.8% | 6.3% | 3.6% | 4% | 1.7% | $11,153 |
| Essex County | 13 | 30.7% | 27.6% | 13% | 9.8% | 0.3% | 3.4% | $13,920 |
| Grand Isle County | 14 | 14.5% | 23.2% | 8% | 3.1% | 0.1% | 1.4% | $10,310 |
