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Saturday, March 1, 2025

Pecos County: Income Maintenance transfers accounted for 3% of income in 2022

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John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

In 2022, Income Maintenance transfers in Pecos County totaled $19.97 million, amounting to $1,355 per capita, or 12.1% of total government transfers, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

Among all government transfer programs, Income Maintenance was the smallest contributor in the county. Medicaid was the largest contributor, totaling $60.06 million, equating to $4,076 per capita and making up 36.2% of total transfers.

Comparatively, Income Maintenance transfers across Texas amounted to $38.84 billion, ranking lowest among all transfer types within the state. This translates to an average of $1,294 per capita, or 13.3% of total government transfers. Including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $291.89 billion, accounting for 15.5% of residents’ total income, with an average of $9,720 per resident.

Social Security was the second largest contributor in Pecos County in 2022, accounting for $39 million, averaging $2,647 per capita, representing 23.5% of transfers. Medicare transfers provided another $33.39 million, averaging $2,266 per capita and comprising 20.1% 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, Pecos County has a demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Pecos County, excluding government transfers was $33,501, which is far below the county's total income of $44,746, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.

When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Pecos County saw a decrease in its Income Maintenance transfer dependency by 0.6%.

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 Pecos County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 4.8% (or $933 per capita) in 1970 to 25.1% (or $11,245 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.

Breakdown of Government Transfers by Program in Pecos County, 2022

Medicaid (36.2% or $60.06 million)Social Security (23.5% or $39 million)Medicare (20.1% or $33.39 million)Income Maintenance (12.1% or $19.97 million)All Other Government Transfers (8% or $13.28 million)

2022 Texas County Rankings and Government Transfer Dependency Metrics
CountyRankDependency on Transfers (%)% Population 65+Social Security Transfers (%)Medicare Transfers (%)Medicaid Transfers (%)Income Maintenance Transfers (%)Per Capita Transfers ($)
Harris County112.8%11.8%3.4%3.1%2.6%2.1%$8,838
Dallas County211.6%11.8%3.2%2.9%2.3%1.9%$8,730
Bexar County319.5%12.9%5%4%3.8%2.7%$10,239
Tarrant County413.6%12.3%4.2%3.5%2.1%1.9%$8,429
El Paso County525%13.1%5.2%4.7%5.7%4.3%$11,035
Hidalgo County631.5%11.6%5%5.9%9.1%7.7%$10,568
Travis County77.6%11%2.5%1.8%1.2%0.9%$6,542
Collin County87.1%11.6%2.9%2.1%0.4%0.7%$5,900
Denton County98.7%11.5%3.2%2.4%0.8%0.8%$6,440
Fort Bend County109.6%12.5%3.4%2.6%0.8%1.2%$6,767
Montgomery County1111%13.8%4%3.4%1%1.2%$8,360
Cameron County1234%14.2%6%6.4%10.8%6.7%$12,681
Williamson County1310.3%12.9%4%2.9%0.7%0.8%$6,913
Nueces County1423.3%16%5.6%5%6.7%3%$12,974
Bell County1523.5%11.9%5.4%4.1%2.7%2.9%$11,619
Galveston County1617.8%15.7%5.7%5.3%3.1%1.8%$10,915
Brazoria County1715.8%12.8%5.1%4.5%2.4%1.7%$9,088
Jefferson County1828%15.5%7.1%6.2%8.9%3.5%$13,490
Lubbock County1920%13.3%5.5%4.6%5%2.4%$10,503
McLennan County2022.3%15.3%6.4%5.1%4.9%2.7%$11,186
Smith County2117.7%17.4%5.8%4.5%3.5%1.9%$11,830
Webb County2225.4%10.3%4.5%4.5%7.2%6.3%$10,370
Comal County2315.3%18.6%5.7%3.9%1.2%0.8%$11,449
Johnson County2419.6%14%6.1%5.5%3.2%1.9%$10,375
Hays County2512%12.1%4.3%3.2%1.1%1.2%$7,196
Ellis County2616.2%13.1%5.3%4.4%2.1%1.8%$8,967
Guadalupe County2719.3%14.9%5.6%3.8%2%1.7%$10,352
Grayson County2824.8%18%7.6%7%4.9%2.1%$13,213
Taylor County2923%14.9%5.7%5.5%5.7%2.3%$12,766
Gregg County3026.3%16%7%7%6.9%2.9%$14,720
Wichita County3127.2%15.3%7.1%7.3%6%2.7%$13,840
Brazos County3214.4%10.2%4.5%3.3%2.2%2.1%$6,854
Tom Green County3320%17%5.5%4.7%5%1.9%$12,629
Parker County3412.9%15.9%4.9%3.8%1.2%1%$9,033
Ector County3516.8%10%4.2%3.7%4.5%2.6%$9,286
Potter County3622.9%14.3%5.3%4.5%7.5%3%$12,895
Kaufman County3715.3%10.7%4.8%3.7%2%2.2%$8,046
Midland County385.3%10.8%1.6%1.1%1.2%0.9%$7,710
Henderson County3931.3%22.5%10.1%9%6.3%2.9%$15,406
Bowie County4027.7%17.4%7.4%6.5%7.1%3.3%$13,894
Angelina County4130.8%16.8%8.1%7.4%8.6%3.5%$14,580
Victoria County4223.1%17.1%6.5%6%5.6%2.5%$13,649
Randall County4314.2%15.7%5.6%4.1%1.1%1.3%$8,228
Hunt County4422.7%15.6%7.1%6%4.4%2.5%$10,900
Orange County4527.6%16.1%8.2%6.7%7.4%2.8%$13,825
Liberty County4625.4%11.6%6.7%6.3%5.9%4%$10,752
Polk County4741.3%18.8%15.5%11.3%6.8%3.2%$19,486
Bastrop County4820.3%15.5%6.7%5.7%2.6%2.6%$9,058
San Patricio County4926.6%15.3%7.1%6.1%6.9%3.3%$13,530
Hood County5022.1%25.5%9%6.6%2.3%1.3%$14,038
Rockwall County519.8%12.6%3.9%2.9%0.6%0.8%$7,455
Starr County5242.9%11.2%5.2%9.8%14.7%9.7%$13,581
Coryell County5328.1%11.4%6.5%5.4%3.6%3.4%$10,271
Harrison County5424.6%17.6%7.7%5.4%5.9%2.9%$11,930
Wood County5536%27.5%13%10.8%6.1%2.2%$17,580
Nacogdoches County5626%15.9%7%5.9%7%3.1%$12,687
Van Zandt County5727.8%20.3%8.8%7.5%6.2%2.4%$12,703
Kerr County5823%28.8%9.3%6.8%2.5%1.5%$14,793
Maverick County5935.1%11.8%5.5%7.4%11.9%6.8%$13,524
Lamar County6029.9%19.1%8.1%7.7%8.3%3%$15,474
Hardin County6124.2%17.5%7.8%6.6%5.6%2%$13,201
Cherokee County6233.2%18.1%8.9%8.4%9.6%3.7%$14,412
Wise County6317.8%15.6%6.2%5.4%2.1%1.5%$9,870
Navarro County6429.5%16.4%8%7%7.8%3.5%$13,300
Anderson County6527.9%15.5%7.8%7.2%7%2.8%$12,253
Walker County6626.6%13.9%7.8%7.4%4.5%2.9%$8,951
Jim Wells County6737.8%16%7.8%8.6%13.6%4.7%$18,166
Medina County6824.2%17.5%6.8%5.3%5.7%2.4%$12,088
Rusk County6926.6%17.4%8.3%5.9%7%2.9%$12,171
Burnet County7018.8%23.6%8.1%4.9%2.6%1.3%$12,137
Atascosa County7126.8%15%6.7%6.6%6.3%3.7%$12,249
Brown County7234.6%21%9.5%8%10.7%2.9%$16,224
Val Verde County7326.9%13.6%5.1%5.2%7.4%4.3%$12,866
Kendall County7411.6%20.2%4.7%3%1%0.5%$12,326
Wharton County7528%18.2%7.4%8.2%6.8%3.1%$14,428
Wilson County7620%16.9%6.1%4.2%3.7%1.5%$11,319
Jasper County7734.9%21.1%10.1%8.8%10%3.4%$17,916
Washington County7821.7%22.9%6.8%5.4%5.7%1.6%$15,871
Upshur County7928.9%18.7%9.1%7.2%6.5%3%$13,099
Hill County8029.2%20.5%9%7.2%6.8%2.7%$14,562
Waller County8116.7%11.7%5%3.9%3%2.2%$8,617
Cass County8238.7%22.4%11.1%9.1%11%3.6%$18,298
Fannin County8329.6%17.8%8.5%8.2%6.9%2.2%$13,936
Caldwell County8426.7%15.6%7.3%7.5%5.8%3.4%$10,787
Cooke County8519.3%19.2%6.4%5.1%3.7%1.8%$11,798
Matagorda County8627.8%18.2%7.9%7.9%6.8%2.7%$14,000
Hopkins County8724.1%18.6%7.5%6.4%5.7%2.3%$12,882
Erath County8821%14.9%6%4.4%5.3%1.8%$10,636
Gillespie County8918.4%30.6%7.5%5%3.3%0.8%$15,541
Chambers County9013.4%11.9%4.8%4.3%1.5%1.4%$8,250
Uvalde County9131.7%16.6%6.6%6%10.7%4.4%$16,732
Aransas County9226%28.2%9.5%6.5%5%2%$16,664
Fayette County9323.5%27%8.2%6.8%5.5%1.3%$16,525
Palo Pinto County9427.2%20.3%8.2%7.5%6%2.6%$14,078
Howard County9521.5%13.8%5%4.7%6.4%2.3%$12,165
Kleberg County9629.6%13.8%6.2%6%8.9%4.1%$13,411
Milam County9733.7%21.5%9.7%8.9%8.9%3.1%$15,704
Hale County9830.2%14.2%7.1%6.2%10%4.1%$12,617
Austin County9921%21.2%7.4%6%4%1.8%$12,910
Llano County10027.4%36.8%10.5%9.9%3.1%1.3%$17,562
Limestone County10137.7%21.1%9.1%8.3%14.1%3.4%$17,714
Shelby County10224.7%18.1%5.9%5.5%8.5%2.9%$16,180
Titus County10323.8%15.1%6.4%5.2%6.8%3.1%$12,375
Houston County10434.8%22.3%9.1%8.6%10.7%3.2%$17,529
Lampasas County10527.7%20.7%7.7%6.2%4.2%1.8%$16,545
San Jacinto County10629%22.7%10.3%7.5%5.2%3.5%$12,969
Bee County10734.4%12.7%7.8%8.3%10.1%4.5%$11,930
Grimes County10827.5%18.8%9.6%7.7%4.7%3%$11,611
Lavaca County10926.3%23.7%7.5%8.6%6.7%1.6%$17,273
Colorado County11026.9%23.1%8.4%7.8%6.5%2%$16,588
Bandera County11126.3%29.4%10.7%7.4%2.3%1.7%$15,566
Montague County11235.3%21.9%10.6%10.3%8.5%2.4%$16,299
Panola County11326.3%20.5%8.2%6.4%6.4%2.5%$14,974
Eastland County11432.7%22%8.6%8.4%9.5%2.5%$18,301
Willacy County11546.5%14.8%7.3%9.3%18.9%7%$16,249
Tyler County11637.9%22.5%11.5%10.9%8.6%3.5%$16,256
DeWitt County11722.9%20.2%5.9%5%7.9%2.2%$16,247
Hockley County11830%15.6%7.5%6.4%9.3%3.1%$14,461
Bosque County11929.3%25.4%10.2%7.5%6.2%2.1%$15,382
Young County12025.4%20.6%7.4%7%7%2%$15,993
Leon County12131.1%24.5%11.4%9.4%4.7%2.4%$17,670
Gonzales County12221.5%17.8%5.6%5.2%6.3%2.6%$14,339
Calhoun County12321.4%19.7%6.5%5.3%5.4%2.1%$14,251
Hutchinson County12427.7%18.1%8.7%8%5.8%2.5%$13,151
Gray County12527.1%16.6%8.2%7%6.6%3.1%$12,623
Freestone County12629.4%20.7%9.6%7.4%6.7%2.7%$13,217
Burleson County12725.2%21.3%8.4%7.5%4.5%2.4%$14,043
Falls County12836.2%19.3%8.3%7.4%13.4%3.9%$15,289
Robertson County12928.2%20.9%7.8%6.6%8.2%3.1%$15,167
Jones County13031.6%15.3%7.9%6.5%11.6%2.5%$12,611
Trinity County13137.7%26.9%13.2%10.7%5.9%3.9%$17,506
Red River County13239.7%25.6%10%10.1%13.4%3.1%$21,199
Nolan County13331.2%18.9%7.5%7.2%10.4%3.1%$16,205
Morris County13439.3%22.1%11.6%10%10.2%3.9%$19,368
Duval County13549.2%17.7%8.4%11.4%20.5%5.7%$23,192
Lee County13622.1%20.2%7.4%5.9%5.1%1.9%$12,679
Frio County13734.1%12.3%6.4%7.1%12.5%5.1%$12,760
Deaf Smith County13818.1%12.9%3.7%3.7%7.1%2.5%$11,898
Karnes County13917.9%14.4%4%4.9%6.3%1.7%$14,561
Sabine County14046.5%30.8%15.4%12.7%10.9%3.1%$21,486
Comanche County14128.7%23.4%8.7%6.7%8%2.5%$15,215
Jackson County14227.9%20.1%8.2%7%7.8%2.7%$13,581
Scurry County14325.3%15.9%7.1%6.5%7.1%2.5%$12,277
Callahan County14428.3%21.6%9%7.6%5.7%2.3%$14,370
Wilbarger County14528.8%19.1%6.9%7.7%8.7%2.9%$16,145
Marion County14641.2%27.4%11.6%12.6%10%3.5%$20,468
Camp County14729.4%18.9%8.6%7.6%6.4%3.5%$14,751
Newton County14835.5%23.6%9%9.1%10.3%4%$15,502
San Augustine County14940.3%26.3%10.2%8.9%15.1%3.3%$23,013
Moore County15014.6%11.8%3.9%3%4.5%2%$8,477
Lamb County15125.2%17.2%6.1%5.3%8.8%3%$13,956
Zapata County15238.7%13.4%6.2%7.7%11.6%9.1%$12,789
Rains County15333.6%25.2%12.3%9.7%4.6%2.7%$13,805
Madison County15431.4%15.6%8.4%7.6%9.7%3.5%$12,902
Dawson County15529.2%14.2%6.7%6.6%11.1%3.3%$14,130
Zavala County15641%14.9%6.5%7.9%15.9%7.7%$17,850
Runnels County15732.5%21%8.9%8%9.8%2.7%$16,882
Terry County15833.3%15.4%7%6.9%13.4%4.2%$14,371
Pecos County15925.1%13.5%5.9%5.1%9.1%3%$11,245
Coleman County16036.3%25.8%10.2%9%11.2%2.7%$20,776
Dimmit County16136%16.6%6.1%8.4%14%5%$19,412
Blanco County16217.5%27%7.3%5.2%2.1%0.8%$13,036
Gaines County16315%9.1%3.4%2.9%4.8%2.7%$7,044
Andrews County16415.7%10.3%4.5%3.5%4.5%2%$8,518
Reeves County16518.7%13.2%4.2%3.8%6.9%2.5%$11,493
Brooks County16650.2%16.9%7.9%11.5%20.9%7.1%$21,466
Hamilton County16726.9%25.7%8.3%7.4%7.1%1.8%$17,250
Franklin County16822.9%22.7%7.8%6.3%4.5%2%$13,162
Stephens County16931.7%20.5%9%7.7%9.4%3%$14,854
McCulloch County17038.7%24.5%10.2%9.6%13%3.4%$18,539
Clay County17124.7%24%9.4%6.8%4.2%1.8%$12,924
Live Oak County17225.1%20.5%7.7%5.3%7.3%2.7%$11,601
Refugio County17333.9%22.2%8.9%10.3%8.8%2.8%$18,428
Ward County17418.8%13.8%5.4%4.2%5.4%2.4%$11,041
Somervell County17520.9%19.8%7.4%5.5%4.4%1.4%$12,200
Brewster County17619.9%24.4%7.3%4.5%2.8%1.5%$11,574
Goliad County17726%25.3%8.4%6.6%6.6%2.1%$14,908
Jack County17825.7%17.1%8.2%7.5%5.5%2.3%$11,869
Mitchell County17931.3%14.5%8%6.2%11.8%3%$11,604
Crosby County18044.8%18.8%9.6%9.6%18.3%4.8%$20,102
Archer County18117.9%21.3%7%5.1%2.3%1.3%$11,083
Parmer County18213.9%15.1%3.8%3.5%3.8%1.7%$9,418
San Saba County18336.6%22.7%11%8.1%11%3.2%$15,494
Castro County18414%17.1%3.3%3.2%4.8%1.7%$12,086
Haskell County18532.3%22.4%8.3%8.1%10.6%2.8%$16,323
Floyd County18637.4%19.1%8.6%8.1%13.2%4.3%$16,832
Presidio County18725.8%23.2%6.3%5.8%6.3%5.1%$14,801
Swisher County18817.7%17.1%5.1%4.2%4.1%2.4%$12,647
Mills County18936.7%28.4%11%8.4%11.7%2.2%$18,979
Ochiltree County19014.6%13.1%4.5%3.8%3.3%1.9%$8,782
Delta County19133.4%21%9.3%9%8.7%3.3%$15,509
Winkler County19216.9%12.5%4.2%3.4%5.9%2.1%$11,397
Wheeler County19336.7%21.2%8.7%10.5%12.5%2.5%$17,312
Childress County19427.4%16.5%7.3%6.1%8.7%2.7%$12,088
Bailey County19522.7%15.3%5.2%5.1%7.5%2.8%$11,909
Jim Hogg County19641%18%7.8%10.3%12.9%6.4%$16,631
Yoakum County19721.4%12.6%6.6%4.3%6.2%2.7%$10,573
La Salle County19823.2%15.1%5.2%5.2%7.3%3.7%$11,868
Dallam County19915.4%11%3.1%4.7%4.4%1.5%$10,786
Lynn County20025.7%16.3%6.5%7.4%7.1%2.9%$13,096
Kimble County20130.5%30.4%10.2%8%6.4%2.4%$16,603
Real County20241.9%30.3%14.5%10.8%8.9%3%$24,238
Hardeman County20334.4%22.6%8.7%9.2%11.1%2.7%$19,490
Knox County20439.6%20%8.9%9.7%15.7%3.1%$20,566
Garza County20531.2%14.3%7.3%7.6%11.2%3%$10,248
Martin County20612.2%11.7%2.6%3.1%3.9%1.6%$12,015
Carson County20722.4%20.7%8.6%6.4%3.1%1.6%$10,716
Baylor County20828.8%23.9%8.2%8.3%8.1%2.3%$17,548
Mason County20927.6%31%10.8%7.8%4.9%1.8%$15,153
Coke County21034.7%27.2%10.8%8.9%10.1%2%$17,769
Fisher County21129.5%24.6%8.7%7.3%9%2.2%$15,908
Hansford County21213.4%15.1%4.2%4.2%3%1.2%$10,484
Sutton County21324%20.8%6.4%6.4%7.5%1.8%$16,540
Donley County21433.7%25.3%10.1%9.6%7.3%2.5%$15,791
Hall County21547.4%24.3%12%12.9%15.1%4.3%$18,580
Concho County21641.5%20.7%10.7%12.9%12.9%2.4%$15,449
Collingsworth County21738.4%19%8.6%11.6%13%3.2%$17,845
Shackelford County21813.6%21%4.2%3.3%3.7%1.1%$14,344
Kinney County21935.5%26.6%11.8%9.3%4.8%3.4%$14,498
Crane County22018.5%12.7%5.4%5.3%4%2.3%$9,842
Hudspeth County22135.5%10.3%10.1%7.3%5%6.2%$12,521
Upton County22219%16.3%5%7.2%4.2%1.8%$13,609
Crockett County22322.9%19.1%7.2%5%6.9%2.3%$14,215
Cochran County22437.3%15.2%8.2%7.7%14.4%4.6%$14,941
Menard County22541.4%32.2%12.1%12.5%11.1%3.1%$19,071
Schleicher County22628.3%21.9%8.4%8.2%7.1%2.3%$15,767
Culberson County22719.9%20.5%4.1%6%5.5%2.3%$16,334
Reagan County22816.6%12.4%4.3%4.6%4.6%2%$10,847
Hemphill County22914%18.6%5.3%4.1%2.2%1.2%$10,339
Dickens County23040.2%28.3%11.2%9.4%14%2.9%$19,244
Edwards County23133.4%29.8%10.2%7.7%9.3%2.9%$22,082
Lipscomb County2329.3%20.4%3.3%2.7%1.6%0.8%$10,869
Armstrong County23326.4%23.4%7.6%5.5%8.8%1.4%$15,451
Jeff Davis County23424.5%42.9%11.4%6.8%2.2%1.4%$14,591
Throckmorton County23536%25.9%9.6%11.3%11%2.3%$16,799
Stonewall County23624.4%28.3%6.3%7.1%8.9%1.5%$21,642
Foard County23733.6%25.6%6.8%9.2%13.8%1.9%$23,230
Cottle County23821.3%25.3%5.7%5.6%7.3%1.8%$18,591
Sherman County2397.2%15.4%2.3%1.7%1.7%0.8%$7,464
Briscoe County24025.2%23.8%8.9%8.8%3.9%1.9%$13,797
Hartley County2414.2%16.5%2.5%0.6%0.1%0.5%$3,748
Oldham County24212.8%16.6%5.8%1.9%1.6%1.1%$9,811
Irion County24313.4%21.5%5.5%3.7%1.8%0.9%$10,732
Motley County24438.1%29.6%14%12.9%4.6%3.3%$15,529
Sterling County24516.4%14.2%4.3%5.1%4.8%1.2%$10,971
Kent County24626.6%25.8%7%7.6%9.7%1.6%$16,953
Terrell County24729%33.9%8.3%7.4%5.8%1.9%$17,452
McMullen County24811.9%25.1%4.5%4.5%1%1.3%$14,149
Glasscock County2495.4%15%2.5%1.6%0.4%0.6%$6,641
Roberts County25016.9%22.9%8%4.5%1.8%1.3%$9,151
Borden County2517.1%25.2%3.4%2%0.1%0.8%$8,232
Kenedy County25219%22.3%5.8%7.4%1.4%3.1%$7,249
King County2534.6%23.1%2.3%0.7%0.4%0.8%$5,206
Loving County2546.7%0%3.3%1.1%0%0.8%$9,510

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