States with the Most Government Benefits June 7, 2013 by Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Weigley and Alexander E. M. Hess Outdoor Advertising Source: Thinkstock The Great Recession left many families in need of greater economic security. Although federal programs provide some safety net, the states supply much of the security. A new report rated Washington as the state providing the most economic security for families. Utah, meanwhile, received the lowest grade. While some states do better than others, the report argues that all states could do more to help American families. The Scorecard, published by nonprofit group Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), graded states based on their performance in 85 policy areas in five categories: income, job quality, education, public supports and savings and assets. With only one state scoring better than B+ and 20 states receiving a D- or worse, most states have a long way to go to meet the report’s standards. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., WOW’s acting president, Shawn McMahon, explained that while many studies consider poverty and foreclosure rates as measures of economic well-being, WOW wanted to reflect the ways a state government attempts to improve the economic security of families. When grading, WOW considered policies instead of spending. These policies, however, invariably result in more state spending. Government expenditure per capita was higher than the national average of $6,427 in each of the 10 top-scoring states, based on 24/7 wall St.’s independent analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. While there were notable exceptions like North Dakota, most of the lowest-scoring states spent less than the national average. The states that received the highest grades from WOW pay for these policies by taxing their populations more. Of the 10 states with the highest economic security scores, eight brought in more tax revenue per capita than the national average of $2,411 per person, according to data provided by the Tax Foundation and reviewed by 24/7 Wall St. The majority of the states with the lowest scores brought in among the least tax revenue. States that provide more in benefits for their residents tend to be liberal states, while conservative states are likely to offer less. All 10 states that scored the highest voted for President Obama in both 2008 and 2012. Each of the 10 lowest-scoring states voted for Governor Romney in 2012. Still, no state stands out for either following most of these policies well or for completely failing. “No state seems to be putting it all together,” McMahon explained. “When we look at the patterns, states like Washington state are in the top 10 for categories like income and job quality, but they are in the bottom 10 for education and savings and assets.” Utah, which scored the worst overall for economic security, actually scored higher than top state Washington in the assets and savings policies category. Based on WOW’s report “The Economic Security Scorecard: Policy and Security in the States,” 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the states that provide the most government benefits. Each state received a letter grade based on how well it helped residents in the following categories: (1) low-income family support, (2) employment benefits, (3) public support, (4) education and training, and (5) savings to ensure economic stability. WOW graded the states in each of the five categories based on policies and practices. For further context, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2011 tax collections per capita provided by the Tax Foundation and expenditures per capita and median household income data provided by the Census Bureau for 2011. 10. Massachusetts > Economic security grade: C > Median household income: $62,859 (5th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $7,977 (9th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $3,361 (9th highest) Massachusetts’ income policies contribute positively to residents’ economic security, according to WOW. The state has a relatively high minimum wage, at $8.00 an hour, 75 cents above the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Should the federal government raise the minimum wage above the state’s level, Massachusetts’ minimum wage law update policy requires the state’s minimum wage be automatically raised 10 cents above the new federal minimum. Additionally, Massachusetts also received good grades from WOW for its tax credit policies. However, the state does little to expand on the Families and Medical Leave Act, which allows workers to take time off in an emergency without fear of losing their jobs. 9. Iowa > Economic security grade: C > Median household income: $49,427 (24th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $6,510 (25th lowest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $2,368 (24th highest) Iowa is one of just four states to receive an A+ for child care spending per capita. Other areas where Iowa performs well include asset limits for SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — and school finance equity. The state spent $1,600 on public welfare per capita, more than nearly two-thirds of all states. Unlike most of the states that provide more government benefits, Iowa brings in relatively little in tax revenue, at just $2,368 per capita in 2011. 8. New York > Economic security grade: C > Median household income: $55,246 (16th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $9,453 (3rd highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $3,497(8th highest) New York has a child and dependent care tax credit that can be as much as 110% of the federal credit for lower income families. But despite this benefit and other similarly generous policies, many New Yorkers still face economic insecurities. Unemployment insurance in the state covered just 25.6% of a worker’s former wages at the end of 2011, one of the lowest figures in the nation. Also, the state has comparatively poor sick leave policies, according to WOW, although this may change for many New York City residents. The City Council recently approved new changes requiring all businesses with more than 20 employees to offer five paid sick days a year. 7. Maine > Economic security grade: C > Median household income: $46,033 (19th lowest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $6,851 (22nd highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $2,768 (14th highest) Maine is only one of two states to receive an A for child care accessibility. In addition, as of 2012, a family of three with a working parent in Maine making up to $37,060 could remain on Medicaid, one of the most generous states in that regard. Maine spent $2,187 per capita on public welfare in 2012, higher than all but five other states. However, the generosity comes at a cost. Maine residents paid $2,768 per capita in state and local taxes in fiscal 2011, among the top third of all states. This was despite the fact that the household median income was nearly $4,500 lower than the U.S. median. 6. New Jersey > Economic security grade: C > Median household income: $67,458 (3rd highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $7,608 (12th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $3,085 (12th highest) New Jersey is the only state awarded an A+ for its high Medicaid income limit for senior citizens. Additional state public support programs that distinguish New Jersey are its support for housing trust funds, which use tax revenues to promote affordable housing programs, and its property tax relief initiatives. However, New Jersey’s minimum wage is only equal to the federal minimum. Many of these support systems cost money. New Jersey has high state and local tax collections that equaled more than $3,000 per capita in fiscal 2011. Americans across the nation paid an average of just $2,441. 5. Connecticut > Economic security grade: C+ > Median household income: $65,753 (4th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $7,846 (11th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $3,754 (5th highest) Connecticut received a B- in job quality, a higher grade than any other state in the country. Among the reasons, Connecticut received the highest grade for its sick leave policies — the state passed a law that took effect in January 2012 and that required employers with at least 50 workers to provide one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Also, the state’s $8.25 an hour minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Connecticut also received high marks for its strong housing trust funds and its generous Medicaid spending per capita. 4. Wisconsin > Economic security grade: C+ > Median household income: $50,395 (21st highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $6,889 (20th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $2,692 (17th highest) Most states in the country perform poorly for the quality of their job market. Wisconsin is one of the exceptions. Employers in the state are required to provide workers with a fairly generous sick leave policy. Additionally, in 2011, 74% of workers who did not have a job received unemployment insurance, among the highest of all states in the nation. But Wisconsin’s recent past has included a great deal of controversy between labor unions and state policy makers. In 2011, Governor Scott Walker pushed through a bill that cut state workers’ collective bargaining rights as part of a plan to close a the state’s budget deficit. This resulted in labor protests and a recall election. 3. Oregon > Economic security grade: C+ > Median household income: $46,816 (22nd lowest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $7,060 (18th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $2,104 (16th lowest) Oregon’s minimum wage in 2012 was $8.80 per hour, higher than any other state except for Washington. Like a handful of other states, Oregon’s minimum wage is tied by state law to inflation, which lifted the minimum wage up to $8.95 in 2013. Oregon’s eligibility requirements for children under 19 to receive health insurance through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are among the most generous in the country. In 2011, the state made CHIP available to children in households earning up to 300% of the poverty line for a family of three, or $55,590. The state also received the highest grade possible for the number of unemployed people trained to reenter the workforce. 2. Vermont > Economic security grade: C+ > Median household income: $52,776 (19th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $9,345 (4th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $4,293 (4th highest) Vermont has as minimum wage of $8.46 an hour, the third highest in the country, behind Washington and Oregon. The state also ensures this figure rises each year, either by 5% or by the percentage change in inflation. Few states offer an earned income tax credit as generous as Vermont’s, which equals up to 32% of the federal income tax credit. In order to fund policies that promote economic security, Vermont also taxes residents more than most other states. For fiscal year 2011, the state collected $4,293 per person, higher than all but three states. 1. Washington > Economic security grade: B- > Median household income: $56,835 (12th highest) > Gov’t spending per capita, 2011: $6,735 (24th highest) > Tax collections per capita, FY 2011: $2,566 (19th highest) No state is more generous than Washington in making benefits available to residents. Washington is the only state to receive an A for policies affecting income. The state had the highest minimum wage in the country in 2012, at $9.04 per hour. Washington is one of a minority of states to index its minimum wage to inflation. In 2013, the minimum wage increased to $9.19 an hour. Washington is also one of two states to receive a perfect score for its commitment to its housing trust fund — the Washington State Housing Trust Fund has built 40,000 units and awarded more than $1 billion since 1987. The state also received high marks for the ease of its 529 college savings plans and the state’s strict laws on mortgage fraud. 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