John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website
In total, residents in Montmorency County received $195.4 million in government transfers, which accounted for 49.3% of total county income.
Comparatively, across all counties in Michigan, government transfer payments totaled $118.7 billion, making up 20.7% of the state residents’ total income, with an average of $11,834 per resident.
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).
Breaking down the contributions in Montmorency County at the time, Social Security transfers totaled $81.3 million, amounting to $8,494 per capita, or 41.6% of total government transfers. Medicare transfers accounted for $57.1 million ($5,970 per capita), representing 29.2% of the total. Medicaid contributed $24.8 million ($2,592 per capita), making up 12.7% of total transfers. Income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $13.4 million ($1,397 per capita), or 6.8% of the total.
With 32.8% of the population aged 65 and older, Montmorency County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Total per capita income excluding government transfers in Montmorency County was $21,015, far below the county’s total income of $41,440, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Montmorency County saw a decrease of 14.6% in per capita government transfers, from $24,610 to $20,425 per capita.
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 8.21% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.63% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022. In Montmorency County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 21.34% (or $3,362 per capita) in 1970 to 49.3% (or $20,425 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | State Rank (Per Capita Transfers) | Per Capita Transfers ($) | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers ($) | Medicare Transfers ($) | Medicaid Transfers ($) | Income Maintenance Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontonagon County | 1 | $20,769 | 44.51% | 37.65% | $47,082,000 | $28,926,000 | $23,481,000 | $6,520,000 |
| Montmorency County | 2 | $20,425 | 49.29% | 32.79% | $81,278,000 | $57,126,000 | $24,802,000 | $13,366,000 |
| Roscommon County | 3 | $19,912 | 45.45% | 34.11% | $201,096,000 | $137,560,000 | $59,061,000 | $35,611,000 |
| Iron County | 4 | $19,204 | 40% | 31.61% | $76,490,000 | $46,998,000 | $58,242,000 | $13,652,000 |
| Alcona County | 5 | $19,074 | 38.6% | 36.27% | $88,627,000 | $56,319,000 | $22,037,000 | $11,804,000 |
| Schoolcraft County | 6 | $18,285 | 41.18% | 28.47% | $50,247,000 | $33,680,000 | $35,445,000 | $9,645,000 |
| Iosco County | 7 | $18,187 | 39.74% | 30.58% | $183,074,000 | $119,478,000 | $84,260,000 | $35,620,000 |
| Gogebic County | 8 | $18,005 | 37.86% | 29% | $82,989,000 | $55,543,000 | $70,375,000 | $20,354,000 |
| Luce County | 9 | $17,805 | 42.19% | 24% | $31,843,000 | $24,605,000 | $22,111,000 | $6,977,000 |
| Alpena County | 10 | $17,680 | 36.35% | 25% | $178,791,000 | $130,341,000 | $119,712,000 | $38,690,000 |
| Keweenaw County | 11 | $17,118 | 31.16% | 35.82% | $15,288,000 | $9,007,000 | $6,702,000 | $1,916,000 |
| Arenac County | 12 | $17,004 | 36.41% | 27.12% | $98,400,000 | $71,672,000 | $42,659,000 | $21,520,000 |
| Presque Isle County | 13 | $16,872 | 36.49% | 33.76% | $101,304,000 | $63,534,000 | $24,944,000 | $12,438,000 |
| Manistee County | 14 | $16,657 | 36.58% | 28.12% | $156,437,000 | $106,447,000 | $95,254,000 | $28,608,000 |
| Clare County | 15 | $16,531 | 41.18% | 25.15% | $191,310,000 | $153,262,000 | $71,537,000 | $51,778,000 |
| Ogemaw County | 16 | $16,423 | 39.94% | 27.66% | $140,017,000 | $84,687,000 | $53,586,000 | $33,145,000 |
| Huron County | 17 | $16,416 | 29.19% | 26.92% | $190,941,000 | $153,523,000 | $96,888,000 | $33,647,000 |
| Mackinac County | 18 | $16,351 | 31.4% | 29.86% | $71,258,000 | $48,828,000 | $28,322,000 | $10,105,000 |
| Oscoda County | 19 | $16,284 | 40.14% | 29% | $57,028,000 | $32,565,000 | $21,421,000 | $12,497,000 |
| Lake County | 20 | $16,083 | 44.14% | 26.98% | $78,053,000 | $51,503,000 | $35,187,000 | $20,931,000 |
| Gladwin County | 21 | $15,826 | 36.21% | 27.29% | $170,471,000 | $112,653,000 | $53,172,000 | $34,099,000 |
| Mason County | 22 | $15,660 | 33.28% | 26% | $174,618,000 | $121,540,000 | $88,885,000 | $35,375,000 |
| Antrim County | 23 | $15,489 | 27.54% | 28.53% | $161,276,000 | $95,242,000 | $64,871,000 | $23,920,000 |
| Dickinson County | 24 | $15,402 | 28% | 24.3% | $140,867,000 | $85,328,000 | $92,811,000 | $24,920,000 |
| Delta County | 25 | $15,159 | 34% | 26.14% | $213,724,000 | $128,687,000 | $84,144,000 | $40,482,000 |
| Cheboygan County | 26 | $15,057 | 32.25% | 28.77% | $166,678,000 | $94,887,000 | $56,264,000 | $32,897,000 |
| Sanilac County | 27 | $15,009 | 32.5% | 23.15% | $217,000,000 | $158,446,000 | $131,974,000 | $53,792,000 |
| Crawford County | 28 | $14,858 | 35.77% | 26.69% | $80,897,000 | $49,272,000 | $27,690,000 | $17,944,000 |
| Emmet County | 29 | $14,856 | 21.19% | 24.96% | $197,108,000 | $133,629,000 | $103,328,000 | $29,745,000 |
| Alger County | 30 | $14,726 | 35.77% | 27.24% | $55,773,000 | $34,186,000 | $16,008,000 | $7,449,000 |
| Tuscola County | 31 | $14,648 | 33.45% | 21.81% | $286,853,000 | $220,722,000 | $137,439,000 | $65,341,000 |
| Bay County | 32 | $14,494 | 29.18% | 21.8% | $562,911,000 | $379,550,000 | $281,120,000 | $131,581,000 |
| Saginaw County | 33 | $14,386 | 30.16% | 20.34% | $939,352,000 | $682,915,000 | $549,116,000 | $338,145,000 |
| Benzie County | 34 | $14,028 | 25.61% | 28.35% | $115,595,000 | $67,469,000 | $31,593,000 | $16,558,000 |
| Menominee County | 35 | $13,947 | 29.49% | 26.81% | $129,985,000 | $81,855,000 | $45,912,000 | $24,554,000 |
| Osceola County | 36 | $13,926 | 31.26% | 22.2% | $122,908,000 | $87,502,000 | $49,016,000 | $35,294,000 |
| Genesee County | 37 | $13,910 | 29.24% | 18.81% | $1,959,698,000 | $1,462,372,000 | $1,051,087,000 | $752,603,000 |
| Charlevoix County | 38 | $13,898 | 20.85% | 27.32% | $161,399,000 | $102,496,000 | $45,971,000 | $23,734,000 |
| Oceana County | 39 | $13,738 | 30.55% | 22.33% | $137,864,000 | $98,171,000 | $60,953,000 | $40,846,000 |
| Wexford County | 40 | $13,710 | 31.26% | 20.63% | $167,232,000 | $111,475,000 | $94,833,000 | $51,058,000 |
| Baraga County | 41 | $13,485 | 33.93% | 22.93% | $39,869,000 | $25,274,000 | $21,969,000 | $9,182,000 |
| Berrien County | 42 | $13,462 | 22.32% | 21.35% | $746,209,000 | $494,331,000 | $441,708,000 | $216,534,000 |
| Marquette County | 43 | $13,445 | 28.94% | 20.39% | $323,043,000 | $185,584,000 | $201,478,000 | $57,976,000 |
| Wayne County | 44 | $13,435 | 27.7% | 16.61% | $6,644,431,000 | $5,453,219,000 | $6,451,463,000 | $3,680,859,000 |
| Leelanau County | 45 | $13,243 | 16.19% | 33.8% | $165,411,000 | $75,011,000 | $26,263,000 | $11,354,000 |
| Shiawassee County | 46 | $13,235 | 27.91% | 19.94% | $338,688,000 | $250,839,000 | $148,085,000 | $81,061,000 |
| Kalkaska County | 47 | $13,192 | 31.27% | 21.87% | $94,116,000 | $60,993,000 | $37,539,000 | $23,496,000 |
| Muskegon County | 48 | $13,189 | 28.94% | 18.44% | $814,808,000 | $565,252,000 | $467,888,000 | $302,746,000 |
| Calhoun County | 49 | $12,982 | 28.91% | 18.58% | $605,982,000 | $384,884,000 | $339,588,000 | $218,355,000 |
| Isabella County | 50 | $12,964 | 28.92% | 14% | $228,188,000 | $149,641,000 | $305,787,000 | $76,179,000 |
| Chippewa County | 51 | $12,960 | 30.37% | 19.49% | $159,109,000 | $109,031,000 | $102,314,000 | $41,322,000 |
| Gratiot County | 52 | $12,927 | 29.95% | 17.75% | $174,742,000 | $137,835,000 | $125,131,000 | $50,283,000 |
| Houghton County | 53 | $12,897 | 30% | 18.21% | $148,880,000 | $91,075,000 | $139,367,000 | $35,350,000 |
| Van Buren County | 54 | $12,888 | 26% | 19.91% | $360,844,000 | $228,637,000 | $200,837,000 | $107,514,000 |
| Otsego County | 55 | $12,710 | 26.37% | 22.3% | $138,109,000 | $82,019,000 | $39,913,000 | $29,172,000 |
| St. Clair County | 56 | $12,699 | 24.16% | 20.34% | $812,321,000 | $543,299,000 | $304,450,000 | $189,383,000 |
| Missaukee County | 57 | $12,551 | 28.74% | 21.88% | $75,837,000 | $46,631,000 | $32,480,000 | $18,443,000 |
| Mecosta County | 58 | $12,535 | 29.5% | 20.48% | $197,982,000 | $123,306,000 | $67,466,000 | $56,369,000 |
| Jackson County | 59 | $12,290 | 26.48% | 19% | $746,319,000 | $504,723,000 | $350,074,000 | $206,151,000 |
| Newaygo County | 60 | $12,279 | 27.82% | 20.56% | $248,227,000 | $143,146,000 | $104,279,000 | $69,343,000 |
| Lenawee County | 61 | $12,252 | 25.77% | 20.3% | $492,233,000 | $326,060,000 | $182,440,000 | $104,189,000 |
| Branch County | 62 | $12,002 | 27.89% | 19.44% | $200,505,000 | $120,837,000 | $112,188,000 | $55,022,000 |
| Cass County | 63 | $11,904 | 21.67% | 22.63% | $262,296,000 | $127,149,000 | $104,715,000 | $61,562,000 |
| Grand Traverse County | 64 | $11,861 | 19.1% | 22% | $492,270,000 | $303,503,000 | $157,085,000 | $76,709,000 |
| Hillsdale County | 65 | $11,825 | 28.16% | 21.3% | $213,368,000 | $130,225,000 | $94,937,000 | $55,496,000 |
| Midland County | 66 | $11,761 | 19.33% | 20.25% | $397,377,000 | $254,267,000 | $165,818,000 | $77,139,000 |
| Lapeer County | 67 | $11,720 | 23.17% | 20.16% | $451,109,000 | $291,264,000 | $127,428,000 | $81,900,000 |
| St. Joseph County | 68 | $11,632 | 24.78% | 19% | $275,517,000 | $163,232,000 | $135,956,000 | $79,692,000 |
| Montcalm County | 69 | $11,363 | 27.9% | 18.18% | $291,913,000 | $204,674,000 | $112,785,000 | $87,193,000 |
| Eaton County | 70 | $11,318 | 22.22% | 20% | $537,247,000 | $373,107,000 | $112,459,000 | $97,493,000 |
| Monroe County | 71 | $11,222 | 21.17% | 19.81% | $749,913,000 | $487,882,000 | $220,543,000 | $138,143,000 |
| Macomb County | 72 | $10,779 | 20% | 18.29% | $3,809,550,000 | $2,877,983,000 | $1,058,384,000 | $936,329,000 |
| Ingham County | 73 | $10,676 | 21.53% | 14.84% | $1,051,170,000 | $741,399,000 | $615,112,000 | $359,028,000 |
| Kalamazoo County | 74 | $10,489 | 17.59% | 16.21% | $1,069,695,000 | $612,080,000 | $500,524,000 | $313,264,000 |
| Barry County | 75 | $10,075 | 18.6% | 19.61% | $287,394,000 | $154,948,000 | $77,786,000 | $57,323,000 |
| Oakland County | 76 | $10,053 | 11.85% | 18.43% | $5,556,497,000 | $3,829,025,000 | $1,542,657,000 | $896,695,000 |
| Allegan County | 77 | $9,781 | 17.8% | 18.3% | $523,473,000 | $263,051,000 | $180,004,000 | $112,103,000 |
| Ionia County | 78 | $9,427 | 23% | 15.77% | $250,726,000 | $157,190,000 | $98,232,000 | $69,244,000 |
| Livingston County | 79 | $9,343 | 13.48% | 19.62% | $958,751,000 | $483,655,000 | $131,348,000 | $94,195,000 |
| Kent County | 80 | $9,305 | 13.89% | 14.94% | $2,316,480,000 | $1,491,903,000 | $1,055,368,000 | $739,442,000 |
| Clinton County | 81 | $8,885 | 15.64% | 18.91% | $350,037,000 | $181,244,000 | $60,298,000 | $50,839,000 |
| Washtenaw County | 82 | $8,708 | 12.2% | 15.84% | $1,386,816,000 | $797,409,000 | $420,456,000 | $262,073,000 |
| Ottawa County | 83 | $8,623 | 14.13% | 16.63% | $1,185,856,000 | $686,927,000 | $266,299,000 | $198,058,000 |
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