In 2022, Social Security transfers in Washington County totaled $164.89 million, amounting to $5,245 per capita, or 27.3% of total government transfers, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
Among all government transfer programs, Social Security was the second largest contributor in the county. Medicaid was the largest contributor, totaling $183.04 million, equating to $5,823 per capita and making up 30.3% of total transfers.
Comparatively, Social Security transfers across Maine amounted to $6.42 billion, ranking highest among all transfer types within the state. This translates to an average of $4,633 per capita, or 33.6% of total government transfers. Including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $19.09 billion, accounting for 22.7% of residents’ total income, with an average of $13,779 per resident.
Medicare was the third largest contributor in Washington County in 2022, accounting for $114.9 million, averaging $3,655 per capita, representing 19% of transfers. Income Maintenance transfers provided another $69.71 million, averaging $2,218 per capita and comprising 11.6% 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 26.4% of the population aged 65 and older, Washington County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Washington County, excluding government transfers was $30,305, which is far below the county’s total income of $49,500, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Washington County saw an increase in its Social Security transfer dependency by 0.7%, reflecting both rising transfer amounts and stagnating or insufficient other sources of income.
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 Washington County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 16% (or $2,657 per capita) in 1970 to 38.8% (or $19,196 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Rank | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers (%) | Medicare Transfers (%) | Medicaid Transfers (%) | Income Maintenance Transfers (%) | Per Capita Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 1 | 15.3% | 20.4% | 5.5% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 1.6% | $11,909 |
| York County | 2 | 19.3% | 22.3% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 3% | 2% | $12,568 |
| Penobscot County | 3 | 26.7% | 20.2% | 8.4% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 3.5% | $13,855 |
| Kennebec County | 4 | 25.2% | 21.2% | 7.8% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 3.2% | $13,946 |
| Androscoggin County | 5 | 27.7% | 18.9% | 8.2% | 5.8% | 7.1% | 4.2% | $13,577 |
| Aroostook County | 6 | 35% | 25.7% | 9.8% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 4.2% | $17,806 |
| Oxford County | 7 | 32.4% | 23.9% | 10.7% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 4.3% | $15,052 |
| Hancock County | 8 | 23.2% | 26.7% | 8.2% | 6.8% | 3.4% | 2.3% | $14,726 |
| Somerset County | 9 | 33.8% | 22.9% | 10.4% | 7% | 8.2% | 4.6% | $16,005 |
| Washington County | 10 | 38.8% | 26.4% | 10.6% | 7.4% | 11.8% | 4.5% | $19,196 |
| Waldo County | 11 | 27.4% | 25.1% | 9.2% | 6.6% | 5.1% | 3.3% | $14,982 |
| Knox County | 12 | 23.6% | 28.1% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 3.8% | 2.4% | $14,611 |
| Lincoln County | 13 | 23.9% | 29.5% | 9.7% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 2.3% | $14,685 |
| Sagadahoc County | 14 | 20.6% | 24.5% | 8.3% | 4.7% | 3.2% | 2.2% | $12,863 |
| Franklin County | 15 | 30% | 23.4% | 10% | 6.6% | 6.4% | 3.8% | $14,152 |
| Piscataquis County | 16 | 33.6% | 27.6% | 10.6% | 8.2% | 6.4% | 4.1% | $16,727 |
