Economic Security
Public Assistance

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Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

What does this measure?

Income to individuals from governmental support programs (including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, unemployment and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), expressed on a per capita basis.

Why is this important?

Per capita income from governmental programs is one measure of a region's overall poverty and need for support. It takes into account not just the number of individuals with low incomes, but also the average level of poverty experienced.

How is Westchester County performing?

In 2022, Westchester County received approximately $4,200 in public assistance income per resident. This was less than the average for New York State as a whole, at $6,000, but more than the nation, at $3,800. Westchester received less public assistance per resident in 2022 than Rockland, with $5,000, but more than Nassau, with $3,500, and Putnam, with $2,500.

Since 2012, public assistance per resident in Westchester County increased 24% (after adjusting for inflation), on par with the statewide increase (23%) but below the 35% increase nationally. The increase in Westchester County was less than all three comparison counties: Rockland (28%), Nassau (30%), and Putnam (45%).

Notes about the data

Figures are in constant 2022 dollars. This data is from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Eligibility requirements for many public assistance programs vary from state to state. Families are eligible for temporary assistance benefits for up to 60 months, although most receive assistance for shorter periods.

Public Assistance Per Resident
2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Westchester County$2,756$3,046$3,110$3,265$3,064$3,109$3,169$3,092$3,360$3,420$3,452$3,380$3,353$3,533$3,780$3,794$4,315$3,665$4,009$3,793$4,061$4,197
Nassau County$1,986$2,145$2,246$2,455$2,378$2,416$2,409$2,309$2,561$2,692$2,755$2,693$2,778$2,906$3,131$3,147$3,605$3,046$3,344$3,165$3,371$3,502
Putnam County$1,446$1,572$1,633$1,704$1,612$1,543$1,684$1,608$1,795$1,778$1,780$1,690$1,735$1,870$2,015$2,048$2,372$1,993$2,204$2,184$2,328$2,458
Rockland County$2,517$2,792$2,810$3,018$2,939$3,006$3,113$3,162$3,591$3,746$3,863$3,906$3,951$4,097$4,392$4,433$5,045$4,282$4,704$4,511$4,989$5,010
New York State$3,942$4,363$4,526$4,816$4,583$4,614$4,598$4,528$5,012$5,126$5,111$4,924$4,897$4,969$5,315$5,361$6,082$5,206$5,686$5,418$5,905$6,039

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Notes: Figures are in constant 2022 dollars.




Public Assistance
2001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Westchester County2,567,858,4162,848,427,8712,910,344,2293,054,633,4282,860,298,7822,896,060,7492,958,350,2002,898,694,4713,172,275,0533,246,088,7933,301,441,2383,243,268,0903,233,804,0193,416,340,6603,661,728,1253,680,969,4184,183,766,6053,548,453,0933,879,048,6903,809,989,0444,059,039,6364,157,299,000
Nassau County2,655,511,1492,873,655,7403,009,665,6113,284,978,7853,167,952,1643,200,571,4703,185,308,7813,060,289,9763,410,902,5713,607,442,3453,708,694,5863,634,691,6353,756,368,7633,936,769,5054,241,595,3794,267,579,2564,893,655,5594,134,639,5184,538,210,1294,417,719,8974,689,853,3464,845,440,000
Putnam County140,320,719154,516,634161,575,780169,507,511160,522,691153,309,993167,505,050160,018,751178,855,711177,140,989177,662,437168,319,262172,718,422185,967,754199,857,916202,283,333234,449,942196,895,033216,736,202213,384,824228,570,500241,011,000
Rockland County731,543,308819,970,832832,307,639897,896,215877,963,502899,837,187939,024,772965,587,6491,108,312,2871,167,519,7271,218,464,5041,238,865,4621,261,525,6231,315,659,3711,418,303,2031,432,880,0071,637,879,4301,394,002,4271,532,383,8751,526,113,9971,692,602,5991,698,469,000
New York State75,219,648,89683,502,790,77686,792,849,22192,333,021,22487,684,102,79888,150,242,37687,969,581,73086,994,671,81496,764,381,33399,336,546,86099,653,498,53096,370,420,65096,095,480,33497,637,432,324104,472,705,879105,246,580,681119,142,097,468101,683,434,104110,621,063,609109,452,698,616117,263,355,971118,834,431,000

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Notes: Figures are in constant 2022 dollars.








INDICATORS TREND | WESTCHESTER
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Single Female-Headed Households -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 1
Increasing
Open Space in Westchester County 1
Increasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Age -1
Decreasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone -1
Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs 1
Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 0
Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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