Mid Valley Reporter

In 2022, Marion County received $4.9 billion in government transfer payments, equivalent to $14,049 per capita.

These payments—which include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance—accounted for 25.8% of all personal income in the county, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

This marks a slight increase in the county’s reliance on government transfers compared to 2012, when such payments made up 24.4% of total income. Since then, the share has risen by 1.4%.

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).

In 2022, government transfers in Marion County primarily focused on older adults—such as Social Security transfers, which totaled $1.3 billion (26.4% of all transfer income), and Medicare, which accounted for $893.1 million (18.3%)—played a significant role in the county's overall income.

On a per capita basis, Social Security payments rose from $3,046 in 2012 and $1,260 in 1970 to $3,707 in 2022, reflecting a 21.7% increase over the past decade and an 194.2% shift since 1970.

Similarly, Medicare transfers climbed from $1,827 in 2012 and $217 in 1970 to $2,576, marking 41% and 1,087.1% increases, respectively.

These increases in per capita payments align with shifts in the county’s age distribution. In 2022, residents aged 65 and older made up 16.7% of the total population, compared to 13.6% in 2012 and 12.3% in 1970. While the senior share of the population has increased, the rise in per capita Social Security and Medicare transfers suggests that these assistance programs for older adults now require a larger share of government funding—either due to growing needs, expanded eligibility, higher benefit levels, or increased enrollment.

According to the Economic Innovation Group, total income in Marion County excluding public assistance amounted to $40,391 per capita in 2022, compared to $54,440 when government transfers were included.

Breaking down the other contributions in the county, Medicaid transfers made up $1.8 billion, a 37.6% share of total income, while income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $512.6 million, or 10.5% of the total.

Compared to the previous year, Marion County's reliance on government transfers decreased by 3.2%.

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 $2,016 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,529 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.

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)	Dependency on Transfers (%)	% Population 65+	Social Security Transfers (%)	Medicare Transfers (%)	Medicaid Transfers (%)	Income Maintenance Transfers (%)	Per Capita Transfers ($)
Curry County	1	37.57%	36.45%	38.9%	26.7%	15.5%	7.1%	$19,520
Coos County	2	34.72%	28%	32.2%	22.9%	24.4%	9.3%	$18,863
Josephine County	3	34.64%	27.25%	31.3%	20.5%	28.1%	9.3%	$18,070
Douglas County	4	35.5%	26.55%	32.9%	20.8%	22.7%	9.6%	$17,552
Wheeler County	5	39.95%	38.12%	38%	24.7%	19.3%	6.7%	$17,204
Lincoln County	6	31.24%	32.13%	39.7%	26.2%	14.9%	8.6%	$16,711
Klamath County	7	34.65%	22.47%	28.9%	19%	27.4%	11.6%	$16,370
Grant County	8	31.9%	31.61%	34.7%	25.7%	19.7%	8.5%	$16,346
Wallowa County	9	30.9%	29.42%	37.1%	25.1%	17.6%	7%	$16,286
Jefferson County	10	37.31%	20.13%	26.1%	23.1%	30.6%	11.3%	$16,175
Baker County	11	33.14%	27.41%	34.1%	20.4%	23.3%	9.8%	$16,126
Sherman County	12	23.78%	25.89%	32.3%	22.9%	27.1%	7.6%	$16,040
Tillamook County	13	29.24%	28.19%	37.9%	25%	19.6%	8%	$15,976
Linn County	14	30.4%	19.52%	28.1%	19.9%	33.7%	9.2%	$15,952
Harney County	15	31.84%	26.53%	30.1%	27.4%	21.3%	9.8%	$15,927
Crook County	16	30.32%	25.52%	35%	24.1%	21.6%	8.3%	$15,745
Union County	17	32%	21.85%	29%	21.8%	25%	9.8%	$15,689
Lake County	18	33.33%	25.55%	30.7%	29.2%	16.8%	9.3%	$15,576
Wasco County	19	29%	21.85%	30.3%	21.1%	28.7%	10%	$15,141
Gilliam County	20	21.88%	30.23%	35.4%	27%	18.4%	8.2%	$15,122
Jackson County	21	26.22%	23.29%	32.8%	21.5%	25.6%	9.6%	$15,092
Malheur County	22	38.61%	17.2%	23.1%	17.4%	38.8%	13.7%	$14,828
Clatsop County	23	27.17%	25.19%	35.6%	23.7%	21.6%	8.5%	$14,613
Marion County	24	25.81%	16.73%	26.4%	18.3%	37.6%	10.5%	$14,049
Lane County	25	24.37%	21%	33.1%	21.1%	25.5%	9.8%	$13,693
Columbia County	26	25.34%	20.36%	35.1%	22.5%	24%	8.5%	$13,612
Umatilla County	27	27.62%	16.37%	24.8%	19.8%	33.3%	11.4%	$13,575
Deschutes County	28	17.54%	21.27%	37.4%	23.1%	22.1%	7%	$12,560
Yamhill County	29	22%	18.82%	33.2%	21.9%	27.5%	9.2%	$12,456
Morrow County	30	22.35%	16.73%	27.5%	24.2%	25.1%	12.4%	$12,308
Polk County	31	23.25%	19.11%	36%	23.2%	21.2%	9.5%	$11,691
Multnomah County	32	15.28%	14.85%	28.7%	19.6%	30.3%	12.2%	$10,688
Hood River County	33	16.44%	18.31%	33.6%	19.9%	26.6%	9.9%	$10,647
Clackamas County	34	13.5%	19.88%	44.2%	26.3%	11.1%	8.5%	$9,876
Washington County	35	12.69%	14.83%	33.9%	21.1%	26.7%	8.7%	$9,311
Benton County	36	14.66%	17.98%	44.9%	22.5%	7.7%	9.7%	$8,108