In 2022, Somerset County ranked fourth highest per capita recipient of government transfers in Maine, with residents receiving $16,005 per capita from programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
In total, residents in Somerset County received $817.8 million in government transfers, which accounted for 33.8% of total county income.
Comparatively, across all counties in Maine, government transfer payments totaled $19.1 billion, making up 22.7% of the state residents’ total income, with an average of $13,779 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).
Breaking down the contributions in Somerset County at the time, Social Security transfers totaled $251.9 million, amounting to $4,929 per capita, or 30.8% of total government transfers. Medicare transfers accounted for $169.4 million ($3,315 per capita), representing 20.7% of the total. Medicaid contributed $197.4 million ($3,863 per capita), making up 24.1% of total transfers. Income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $112.2 million ($2,196 per capita), or 13.7% of the total.
With 22.9% of the population aged 65 and older, Somerset County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Total per capita income excluding government transfers in Somerset County was $31,301, far below the county’s total income of $47,306, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Somerset County saw a decrease of 12.2% in per capita government transfers, from $18,370 to $16,005 per capita.
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 8.21% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.63% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022. In Somerset County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 11.82% (or $2,175 per capita) in 1970 to 33.8% (or $16,005 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | State Rank (Per Capita Transfers) | Per Capita Transfers ($) | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers ($) | Medicare Transfers ($) | Medicaid Transfers ($) | Income Maintenance Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 1 | $19,196 | 38.78% | 26.38% | $164,892,000 | $114,897,000 | $183,044,000 | $69,710,000 |
| Aroostook County | 2 | $17,806 | 34.97% | 25.66% | $335,143,000 | $268,299,000 | $315,985,000 | $143,110,000 |
| Piscataquis County | 3 | $16,727 | 33.55% | 27.58% | $92,024,000 | $71,020,000 | $55,795,000 | $35,300,000 |
| Somerset County | 4 | $16,005 | 33.83% | 22.91% | $251,878,000 | $169,374,000 | $197,390,000 | $112,199,000 |
| Oxford County | 5 | $15,052 | 32.4% | 23.9% | $294,624,000 | $211,858,000 | $187,651,000 | $118,257,000 |
| Waldo County | 6 | $14,982 | 27.38% | 25.12% | $201,714,000 | $145,559,000 | $111,206,000 | $72,830,000 |
| Hancock County | 7 | $14,726 | 23.24% | 26.69% | $295,265,000 | $242,970,000 | $122,754,000 | $80,849,000 |
| Lincoln County | 8 | $14,685 | 23.87% | 29.51% | $215,634,000 | $144,582,000 | $65,460,000 | $52,232,000 |
| Knox County | 9 | $14,611 | 23.61% | 28% | $231,601,000 | $157,954,000 | $96,598,000 | $60,904,000 |
| Franklin County | 10 | $14,152 | 30% | 23.36% | $143,678,000 | $94,352,000 | $91,923,000 | $55,102,000 |
| Kennebec County | 11 | $13,946 | 25.19% | 21.22% | $542,362,000 | $392,452,000 | $384,046,000 | $223,104,000 |
| Penobscot County | 12 | $13,855 | 26.65% | 20.18% | $667,820,000 | $461,262,000 | $463,074,000 | $282,772,000 |
| Androscoggin County | 13 | $13,577 | 27.68% | 18.92% | $453,652,000 | $322,770,000 | $396,377,000 | $231,129,000 |
| Sagadahoc County | 14 | $12,863 | 20.56% | 24.53% | $193,817,000 | $109,209,000 | $74,838,000 | $50,316,000 |
| York County | 15 | $12,568 | 19.31% | 22.3% | $1,023,992,000 | $726,588,000 | $428,343,000 | $287,416,000 |
| Cumberland County | 16 | $11,909 | 15.27% | 20.37% | $1,310,649,000 | $900,286,000 | $732,840,000 | $392,291,000 |
