In 2022, Social Security transfers in Suffolk County totaled $1.66 billion, amounting to $2,161 per capita, or 14.3% of total government transfers, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
Among all government transfer programs, Social Security was the smallest contributor in the county. Medicaid was the largest contributor, totaling $5.25 billion, equating to $6,845 per capita and making up 45.2% of total transfers.
Comparatively, Social Security transfers across Massachusetts amounted to $25.27 billion, ranking highest among all transfer types within the state. This translates to an average of $3,620 per capita, or 28.7% of total government transfers. Including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $88.17 billion, accounting for 14.9% of residents’ total income, with an average of $12,629 per resident.
Income Maintenance was the second largest contributor in Suffolk County in 2022, accounting for $2.21 billion, averaging $2,881 per capita, representing 19% of transfers. Medicare transfers provided another $1.84 billion, averaging $2,395 per capita and comprising 15.8% of government support, making them the third largest 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 13.5% of the population aged 65 and older, Suffolk County has a demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Suffolk County, excluding government transfers was $81,775, which is noticeably below the county’s total income of $96,933, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Suffolk County saw an increase in its Social Security transfer dependency by 0.2%, 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 Suffolk County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 14.3% (or $3,957 per capita) in 1970 to 15.6% (or $15,158 per capita) in 2022.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Rank | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers (%) | Medicare Transfers (%) | Medicaid Transfers (%) | Income Maintenance Transfers (%) | Per Capita Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | 1 | 9.6% | 16.5% | 3.3% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% | $9,757 |
| Suffolk County | 2 | 15.6% | 13.5% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 7.1% | 3% | $15,158 |
| Worcester County | 3 | 18.3% | 17.1% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 4.1% | 3% | $11,881 |
| Essex County | 4 | 16.2% | 18.5% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 2.7% | $12,701 |
| Hampden County | 5 | 31% | 18.3% | 6.3% | 5.4% | 11.6% | 5.9% | $18,711 |
| Bristol County | 6 | 22.2% | 17.8% | 6% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 3.5% | $14,216 |
| Norfolk County | 7 | 9.1% | 17.8% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% | $9,915 |
| Plymouth County | 8 | 16.2% | 19.8% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 3.3% | 2% | $12,962 |
| Barnstable County | 9 | 19.2% | 33% | 7.9% | 6.3% | 2% | 1.7% | $16,390 |
| Berkshire County | 10 | 26.5% | 25.4% | 8% | 6.6% | 6.8% | 3.5% | $17,171 |
| Hampshire County | 11 | 17.7% | 19.3% | 6.5% | 4.8% | 1.9% | 2.5% | $10,563 |
| Franklin County | 12 | 27.4% | 24.8% | 7.4% | 5.7% | 8.8% | 3.6% | $17,228 |
| Dukes County | 13 | 13.6% | 27% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 0.9% | 1.3% | $11,939 |
| Nantucket County | 14 | 7.4% | 16.6% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 0.5% | 1% | $7,625 |
