Almost Half of U.S. Households Receive Government Benefits

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

During the middle of the recent recession, Americans increasingly turned to the government for assistance, with nearly half of all households receiving some kind of support. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 45% of the country during the third quarter of 2008 lived in households that were getting public benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.

 
The Census Bureau also noted in its report (Economic Characteristics of Households in the United States: Third Quarter 2008) that one quarter of American homes received means-tested benefits. The most common of these were Medicaid (21.1 million), school meals (11.5 million) and food stamps (9.3 million).
 
However, the two programs people turned to the most for help did not require income eligibility—Social Security and Medicare. Each provided assistance to more than 30 million individuals.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
 

Comments

Joseph Conrad 14 years ago
That 45% would make this nation GREAT AGAIN were it not for the increasingly blatant THEFT of 'public funds' by the 1,500 WEALTHY OLD WHITE MEN - and their lowly 'minions' - determined to perpetuate their wealth, power and ENSLAVEMENT of the 99.5% of the US population! The wealthiest .5% who run his nation can't seem to understand the more they STEAL, LOOT & PILLAGE the more they place this nation and its citizens IN HARM'S WAY and deny his nation true greatness. Since Reagan, America has slaughtered its 'young' in perpetual War and a lust for the Wealth of other nations. Their Vampiric behavior has destroyed this 231yr. old Democracy at last!

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