NW New Mexico News

In 2022, Rio Arriba County received $699.2 million in government transfer payments, equivalent to $17,460 per capita.

These payments—which include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance—accounted for 40.2% of all personal income in the county, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

This marks a significant increase in the county’s reliance on government transfers compared to 2012, when such payments made up 30% of total income. Since then, the share has risen by 10.2%.

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 2022, government transfers in Rio Arriba County primarily focused on older adults—such as Social Security transfers, which totaled $167.3 million (23.9% of all transfer income), and Medicare, which accounted for $105.3 million (15.1%)—played a notable role in the county's overall income.

On a per capita basis, Social Security payments rose from $3,263 in 2012 and $724 in 1970 to $4,178 in 2022, reflecting a 28% increase over the past decade and a 477.1% shift since 1970.

Similarly, Medicare transfers climbed from $2,017 in 2012 and $141 in 1970 to $2,628, marking 30.3% and 1,763.8% increases, respectively.

These increases in per capita payments align with shifts in the county’s age distribution. In 2022, residents aged 65 and older made up 22% of the total population, compared to 15.3% in 2012 and 7.4% in 1970. While the senior share of the population has increased, the rise in per capita Social Security and Medicare transfers suggests that these assistance programs for older adults now require a larger share of government funding—either due to growing needs, expanded eligibility, higher benefit levels, or increased enrollment.

According to the Economic Innovation Group, total income in Rio Arriba County excluding public assistance amounted to $25,941 per capita in 2022, compared to $43,400 when government transfers were included.

Breaking down the other contributions in the county, Medicaid transfers made up $273.8 million, a 39.2% share of total income, while income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $110.6 million, or 15.8% of the total.

Compared to the previous year, Rio Arriba County's reliance on government transfers decreased by 2.3%.

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 $2,016 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,529 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.

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)	Dependency on Transfers (%)	% Population 65+	Social Security Transfers (%)	Medicare Transfers (%)	Medicaid Transfers (%)	Income Maintenance Transfers (%)	Per Capita Transfers ($)
Sierra County	1	50.96%	38.13%	27.3%	21.2%	31.3%	11.9%	$24,783
Mora County	2	45.23%	32%	25.7%	15.1%	39.5%	11.7%	$23,421
San Miguel County	3	48%	25.3%	19.7%	12.9%	45.8%	14.6%	$21,815
Quay County	4	44.37%	27.21%	23.5%	19.9%	34.4%	14%	$20,947
De Baca County	5	37.3%	29%	24.3%	16.1%	38.4%	12.5%	$20,909
Grant County	6	39.83%	30.41%	28.5%	18.1%	33.3%	11.6%	$20,676
Hidalgo County	7	37%	23%	23.4%	15.8%	40.5%	14.9%	$19,660
Guadalupe County	8	45.65%	21.13%	19.3%	14.3%	46.1%	13.6%	$19,519
Colfax County	9	37.53%	28.81%	29.1%	22.9%	28.3%	11.4%	$18,870
Socorro County	10	41.12%	21%	21.6%	16.8%	36%	18.3%	$17,781
Rio Arriba County	11	40.23%	21.99%	23.9%	15.1%	39.2%	15.8%	$17,460
Lincoln County	12	34.47%	31.83%	33.8%	22.8%	23.7%	11.8%	$17,322
Torrance County	13	39%	23%	24.7%	14.8%	34.7%	17.8%	$16,854
Taos County	14	35.43%	30.51%	30.4%	18.8%	30.4%	12.7%	$16,575
Luna County	15	43.72%	20.54%	24.6%	19.2%	29%	19.9%	$16,356
Catron County	16	41.31%	42.82%	42.2%	23.9%	12%	10.3%	$16,302
Union County	17	36.21%	23.46%	25.7%	25.5%	29.8%	11.3%	$15,669
Chaves County	18	31.91%	16.53%	21.6%	16.7%	38.8%	16.8%	$15,250
McKinley County	19	43.47%	13.73%	15.8%	14.7%	40.2%	19.6%	$15,175
Cibola County	20	43.85%	17.86%	21.7%	18.2%	35.1%	16.7%	$14,991
Harding County	21	32.2%	41.22%	36.7%	23.5%	18.3%	10.4%	$14,871
Valencia County	22	33.17%	18.71%	25.5%	15.1%	32.3%	16.9%	$14,588
Curry County	23	26.88%	13.45%	18.2%	15.7%	35.4%	17.2%	$14,428
Roosevelt County	24	29%	15.16%	18.7%	16.3%	38.6%	15.9%	$14,398
Dona Ana County	25	31.15%	16.99%	23.6%	18.2%	28.9%	18.6%	$14,130
Santa Fe County	26	18%	28%	40.3%	21.8%	18.3%	11.9%	$13,479
San Juan County	27	30.77%	16.9%	26.9%	20.3%	28.9%	14.9%	$13,384
Bernalillo County	28	22.96%	18.28%	29.6%	17.7%	26.5%	16%	$12,755
Otero County	29	30.25%	17.53%	26.9%	20.6%	22.5%	15.3%	$12,660
Eddy County	30	18.76%	14.92%	25%	18.3%	35%	15.8%	$12,657
Sandoval County	31	21.87%	19.99%	36.6%	20.6%	16.9%	13.1%	$11,622
Lea County	32	21.62%	11.67%	21.4%	16.4%	38.5%	17.7%	$11,423
Los Alamos County	33	8.87%	18.62%	49.6%	23%	9.7%	8.8%	$7,677