In 2022, government transfers accounted for 15.7% of total income in Virginia, a 10.1% rise from 5.6% in 1970, and a 3.2% increase over 2012’s 12.5%, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group. On a per capita basis, this equates to $10,811 per resident in 2022, up from $7,529 in 2012 and $1,357 in 1970.
Among Virginia’s counties, Wise + Norton County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 11% from 34.1% in 2012 to 45.1% in 2022, and up 31.1% from just 14% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Wise + Norton County jumped from $12,826 in 2012 to $18,549 in 2022, a stark contrast to the $2,347 recorded in 1970.
Lee County and Russell County followed with the second-largest increase in transfer dependency, increasing 10.6% from 2012.
Additionally, Dickenson County had the highest percentage of income derived from government transfers, at 48.7% in 2022, making it the county with the highest overall transfer dependency. Lee County and Wise + Norton County followed closely behind, with transfer dependency rates of 47% and 45.1% in 2022, respectively.
Compared to 1970, Dickenson County increased by 32.6%, while Lee County and Wise + Norton County have increased by 23.7% and 31.1%, respectively, showing sustained reliance on government transfers. Residents in Dickenson County received an average of $19,994 in transfers per capita, with Lee County and Wise + Norton County close behind at $18,105 and $18,549, respectively.
For comparison, the statewide average was 15.7% in 2022, showing a lower dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $10,811 per resident in 2022, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
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 Virginia, reliance on government transfers was just 5.6% (or $1,357 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to 15.7% (or $10,811 per capita) in 2022, reflecting a total increase of 10.1% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Virginia included:
- Social Security: $3,598 per capita (33.3% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,335 per capita (21.6% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $2,251 per capita (20.8% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $1,077 per capita (10% of total transfers)
With 17% of the population aged 65 and older, Virginia has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
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 Virginia, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 5.6% (or $1,357 per capita) in 1970 to 15.7% (or $10,811 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 | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Change Since 2012 | Per Capita Change Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | 29.1% | 3.5% | 17.5% | $15,776 | $4,721 | $13,903 |
| Albemarle + Charlottesville County | 10.5% | 0.9% | 4.4% | $9,527 | $2,844 | $8,159 |
| Alleghany + Covington County | 38% | 9.6% | 26.8% | $17,584 | $5,600 | $15,585 |
| Amelia County | 25.8% | 3.8% | 16.2% | $13,668 | $4,107 | $12,174 |
| Amherst County | 32.4% | 7.4% | 24.4% | $14,496 | $4,917 | $13,236 |
| Appomattox County | 30.8% | 4.7% | 21.2% | $14,139 | $4,023 | $12,430 |
| Arlington County | 5.4% | 1.4% | 2.7% | $6,090 | $1,985 | $4,872 |
| Augusta County | 23.4% | 2.9% | 17.2% | $12,368 | $3,124 | $11,093 |
| Bath County | 22.9% | 3.4% | 10.6% | $17,143 | $5,690 | $15,104 |
| Bedford County | 23.6% | 4.5% | 15% | $12,940 | $3,787 | $11,361 |
| Bland County | 35.5% | 7.8% | 23% | $15,123 | $4,845 | $13,490 |
| Botetourt County | 21.5% | 4.6% | 12% | $12,819 | $3,999 | $11,077 |
| Brunswick County | 41.1% | 7.8% | 32.5% | $16,903 | $5,594 | $15,601 |
| Buchanan County | 44.7% | 9.8% | 34.1% | $20,234 | $6,458 | $18,611 |
| Buckingham County | 36.5% | 9.3% | 25.4% | $13,823 | $5,384 | $12,426 |
| Campbell + Lynchburg County | 32.6% | 5.9% | 24.8% | $14,798 | $3,725 | $13,171 |
| Caroline County | 22.6% | 4.1% | 15.1% | $11,660 | $3,444 | $10,354 |
| Carroll + Galax County | 40.1% | 6.1% | 28.1% | $17,957 | $5,677 | $16,246 |
| Charles City County | 25.5% | 4.8% | 17.9% | $14,560 | $5,146 | $13,427 |
| Charlotte County | 37.5% | 5.4% | 28.3% | $16,976 | $5,662 | $15,577 |
| Chesterfield County | 15.9% | 3.7% | 11.6% | $10,184 | $3,342 | $9,059 |
| Clarke County | 14.8% | 3.6% | 8% | $11,532 | $4,247 | $9,946 |
| Craig County | 28.8% | 4.3% | 17.1% | $13,628 | $3,788 | $11,767 |
| Culpeper County | 19.4% | 4.4% | 11.5% | $10,828 | $3,379 | $9,310 |
| Cumberland County | 28.9% | 2.4% | 18% | $13,408 | $3,460 | $11,795 |
| Dickenson County | 48.7% | 9.8% | 32.6% | $19,994 | $6,578 | $17,500 |
| Dinwiddie County | 37.9% | 8.7% | 29.7% | $17,388 | $4,645 | $15,931 |
| Essex County | 32% | 6.8% | 21.5% | $16,528 | $5,525 | $14,885 |
| Fairfax County | 7.6% | 1.9% | 5.7% | $7,726 | $2,675 | $7,025 |
| Fauquier County | 11.5% | 2.9% | 6.3% | $9,494 | $3,072 | $8,200 |
| Floyd County | 28.7% | 5% | 18% | $14,012 | $4,662 | $12,282 |
| Fluvanna County | 20.3% | 3.6% | 11.3% | $10,816 | $3,247 | $9,327 |
| Franklin County | 26.4% | 3.2% | 18.1% | $13,880 | $4,055 | $12,506 |
| Frederick + Winchester County | 16.5% | 2.7% | 9.2% | $10,260 | $3,160 | $8,761 |
| Giles County | 31.3% | 4.8% | 20.3% | $15,487 | $4,627 | $13,610 |
| Gloucester County | 22.2% | 5.6% | 15.1% | $12,743 | $4,149 | $11,113 |
| Goochland County | 9.8% | 0.6% | 2.9% | $11,441 | $2,241 | $10,160 |
| Grayson County | 38.1% | 3.8% | 25.3% | $14,843 | $3,178 | $13,115 |
| Greene County | 20.6% | 4.5% | 11.3% | $10,623 | $3,436 | $9,274 |
| Greensville + Emporia County | 39% | 6.5% | 27.5% | $15,317 | $4,819 | $13,499 |
| Halifax County | 37.7% | 7.1% | 28.5% | $16,787 | $5,512 | $15,307 |
| Hanover County | 14.2% | 2.4% | 9.4% | $10,262 | $3,234 | $9,118 |
| Henrico County | 13.5% | 2.4% | 10.3% | $10,380 | $3,270 | $9,522 |
| Henry + Martinsville County | 38.4% | 5.9% | 32.3% | $18,234 | $5,501 | $17,052 |
| Highland County | 29% | 4.4% | 15.1% | $14,651 | $3,472 | $12,665 |
| Isle of Wight County | 19.5% | 4.4% | 13.4% | $12,467 | $3,550 | $11,221 |
| James City + Williamsburg County | 17.4% | 3.8% | 13.6% | $13,205 | $3,920 | $12,322 |
| King and Queen County | 26.1% | 3.6% | 16.9% | $14,439 | $4,813 | $12,963 |
| King George County | 14.8% | 4.5% | 11.3% | $9,471 | $3,470 | $8,491 |
| King William County | 20.5% | 4.1% | 13.5% | $11,196 | $3,291 | $9,778 |
| Lancaster County | 25.6% | 1.4% | 13.5% | $18,546 | $4,476 | $16,304 |
| Lee County | 47% | 10.6% | 23.7% | $18,105 | $6,220 | $15,346 |
| Loudoun County | 5.7% | 1.6% | 1.9% | $5,534 | $2,080 | $4,426 |
| Louisa County | 23.6% | 4.7% | 14.3% | $11,963 | $3,538 | $10,394 |
| Lunenburg County | 35.7% | 5.6% | 25.6% | $13,916 | $3,794 | $12,383 |
| Madison County | 20.4% | 3.7% | 11.3% | $11,540 | $3,310 | $9,947 |
| Mathews County | 25.3% | 5.6% | 11.7% | $17,198 | $5,728 | $14,645 |
| Mecklenburg County | 37.4% | 6.4% | 28.8% | $17,040 | $5,110 | $15,727 |
| Middlesex County | 29.7% | 5.6% | 14.1% | $17,882 | $5,517 | $15,351 |
| Montgomery + Radford County | 18.3% | 1.6% | 11.5% | $8,323 | $2,241 | $7,173 |
| Nelson County | 26.9% | 5.4% | 15.1% | $17,399 | $6,406 | $15,645 |
| New Kent County | 10.9% | 1% | 3.7% | $11,160 | $3,770 | $9,750 |
| Northampton County | 30.9% | 4.3% | 18.2% | $19,870 | $7,147 | $17,929 |
| Northumberland County | 30.7% | 4.6% | 17.3% | $18,848 | $5,509 | $16,632 |
| Nottoway County | 37.3% | 4% | 27.5% | $16,770 | $4,941 | $15,004 |
| Orange County | 22.9% | 4.2% | 15.2% | $13,473 | $3,789 | $11,776 |
| Page County | 28.2% | 2.9% | 17.7% | $13,840 | $3,962 | $11,998 |
| Patrick County | 39.5% | 6.8% | 30.2% | $15,903 | $4,687 | $14,428 |
| Pittsylvania + Danville County | 37.7% | 6.8% | 28.7% | $16,975 | $5,531 | $15,427 |
| Powhatan County | 14.5% | 1.7% | 7.2% | $9,860 | $2,968 | $8,684 |
| Prince Edward County | 35.2% | 7.4% | 26.5% | $13,925 | $5,021 | $12,504 |
| Prince George + Hopewell County | 28.5% | 7.9% | 23.8% | $11,315 | $2,915 | $10,356 |
| Prince William County | 12% | 4% | 9.6% | $7,645 | $2,901 | $6,993 |
| Pulaski County | 30.4% | 3.3% | 22% | $14,611 | $3,507 | $13,106 |
| Rappahannock County | 14.8% | 2% | 6.2% | $11,764 | $3,238 | $10,179 |
| Richmond County | 30% | 4.4% | 19.1% | $12,814 | $3,487 | $10,981 |
| Roanoke + Salem County | 21.3% | 5% | 16.1% | $12,598 | $3,574 | $11,415 |
| Rockbridge County | 26.7% | 3.7% | 17.7% | $12,931 | $3,424 | $11,419 |
| Rockingham + Harrisonburg County | 18.5% | 1.6% | 12.3% | $9,496 | $2,739 | $8,283 |
| Russell County | 43% | 10.6% | 30% | $17,290 | $5,372 | $15,457 |
| Scott County | 41.8% | 8.2% | 30.9% | $16,552 | $4,782 | $14,969 |
| Shenandoah County | 22.3% | 1.9% | 13.2% | $12,657 | $3,642 | $10,963 |
| Smyth County | 37% | 6.4% | 26.4% | $16,428 | $4,972 | $14,758 |
| Southampton + Franklin County | 31.3% | 6.3% | 22.2% | $15,739 | $5,140 | $14,225 |
| Spotsylvania + Fredericksburg County | 16.4% | 4.1% | 10.4% | $10,267 | $3,589 | $8,796 |
| Stafford County | 13.9% | 4.8% | 10.3% | $9,052 | $3,516 | $8,186 |
| Surry County | 28.3% | 6.7% | 18.8% | $14,837 | $5,545 | $13,424 |
| Sussex County | 38.2% | 9.6% | 29.6% | $14,413 | $4,912 | $13,072 |
| Tazewell County | 39.3% | 10.3% | 26.6% | $17,291 | $5,314 | $15,078 |
| Warren County | 19.9% | 4.2% | 11.3% | $11,183 | $3,537 | $9,348 |
| Washington + Bristol County | 32.1% | 8.8% | 21.3% | $14,979 | $4,156 | $13,181 |
| Westmoreland County | 29.3% | 5.2% | 17.8% | $14,822 | $4,158 | $12,990 |
| Wise + Norton County | 45.1% | 11% | 31.1% | $18,549 | $5,723 | $16,202 |
| Wythe County | 34.2% | 4.6% | 23.2% | $15,223 | $4,376 | $13,414 |
| York + Poquoson County | 14.3% | 3.3% | 11% | $9,728 | $2,783 | $8,866 |
| Alexandria (Independent City) | 7.4% | 2.2% | 4.3% | $7,739 | $2,581 | $6,567 |
| Chesapeake (Independent City) | 18.3% | 5% | 13.1% | $10,688 | $3,507 | $9,512 |
| Hampton (Independent City) | 27.6% | 6.8% | 22.9% | $13,406 | $4,006 | $12,273 |
| Newport News (Independent City) | 25.5% | 6.8% | 20.3% | $11,968 | $3,498 | $10,719 |
| Norfolk (Independent City) | 25.4% | 6.7% | 19.9% | $12,186 | $3,963 | $10,765 |
| Portsmouth (Independent City) | 31.3% | 7.1% | 23.9% | $14,382 | $4,003 | $12,834 |
| Richmond (Independent City) | 17.5% | 1.2% | 9% | $12,417 | $2,781 | $10,262 |
| Roanoke (Independent City) | 30.2% | 6.4% | 19% | $15,349 | $4,181 | $12,724 |
| Suffolk (Independent City) | 21.1% | 5.6% | 13.3% | $12,831 | $4,128 | $11,235 |
| Virginia Beach (Independent City) | 16.3% | 4.1% | 13.7% | $10,750 | $3,533 | $9,983 |
