First State Times

In 2022, Income Maintenance transfers in Delaware totaled $1.3 billion, amounting to $1,281 per capita, or 9.2% of total government transfers in the state, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

Among all government transfer programs, Income Maintenance was the smallest contributor. Social Security was the largest, totaling $4.77 billion, equating to $4,688 per capita and making up 33.8% of total transfers.

Medicare was the second largest contributor in Delaware in 2022, accounting for $3.29 billion, averaging $3,229 per capita, and represented 23.3% of transfers in the state. Medicaid transfers provided another $3.28 billion, averaging $3,225 per capita and comprising 23.3% of government support, making them the third largest contributors.

Statewide, including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $14.12 billion, and accounted for 21.9% of residents’ total income, with an average of $13,866 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).

With 20.6% of the population aged 65 and older, Delaware has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. The total per capita income in Delaware, excluding government transfers was $49,377, which is noticeably below the county's total income of $63,243, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.

When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Delaware 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 Delaware, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 5.9% (or $1,627 per capita) in 1970 to 21.9% (or $13,866 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 ($)
New Castle County	1	18.9%	17.1%	5.9%	4.1%	5.1%	1.9%	$12,524
Sussex County	2	26.4%	30.2%	10.4%	6.8%	5.1%	1.8%	$17,120
Kent County	3	26.5%	18.2%	8.2%	6%	5.3%	2.9%	$13,543