Federal Welfare Programs

Welfare programs are government subsidies to the poor. These programs represent “entitlements” to all Americans but benefits are only paid to those who work, but earn too little.

These means-tested welfare system consists of 80+ low-income programs providing cash, food, housing, medical care, and social services to poor and lower income Americans.

For instance, SNAP enables recipients to purchase more food, Medicaid provides people with health care coverage, and Pell grant makes postsecondary education more affordable for students.

Federal Welfare Spending (2023)

In 2023, federal spending on 13 largest of these low-income programs — which account for the bulk of welfare spending, totaled $1,241 billion with Medicaid accounted for almost half, followed in size by the refundable portion of the EITC, SNAP and housing assistance. ¹

In total, these 4 programs — which account for the bulk of welfare spending — comprised more than 80% of total spending or about $1,033 billion.

Here is a list of 83 federal welfare programs

1. Family Planning
2. Consolidated Health Centers
3. Transitional Cash and Medical Services for Refugees
4. State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
5. Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit — Low Income Subsidy
6. Medicaid
7. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
8. Breast/Cervical Cancer Early Detection
9. Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
10. Indian Health Service
11. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
12. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
13. Additional Child Tax Credit
14. Earned Income Tax Credit (refundable component)
15. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
16. School Breakfast Program (free/reduced price components)
17. National School Lunch Program (free/reduced price components)
18. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
19. Early Reading First
20. Rural Education Achievement Program
21. Mathematics and Science Partnerships
22. Improving Teacher Quality State Grants
23. Academic Competitiveness and Smart Grant Program
24. Single-Family Rural Housing Loans
25. Rural Rental Assistance Program
26. Water and Waste Disposal for Rural Communities
27. Public Works and Economic Development
28. Supportive Housing for the Elderly
29. Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
30. Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance
31. Community Development Block Grants
32. Homeless Assistance Grants
33. Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
34. Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
35. Public Housing
36. Indian Housing Block Grants
37. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
38. Neighborhood Stabilization Program
39. Weatherization Assistance Program
40. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
41. Food Program Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico
42. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
43. Nutrition Program for the Elderly
44. Child and Adult Care Food Program
45. Summer Food Service Program
46. Indian Education
47. Adult Basic Education Grants to States
48. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
49. Education for the Disadvantaged
50. Grants to Local Educational Agencies (Title I-A)
51. Title I Migrant Education Program
52. Higher Education — Institutional Aid and Developing Institutions
53. Federal Work-Study
54. Federal TRIO Programs
55. Federal Pell Grant
56. Education for Homeless Children and Youth
57. 21st Century Community Learning Centers
58. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP)
59. Child Support Enforcement
60. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (social services)
61. Community Services Block Grant
62. Child Care and Development Fund
63. Head Start HHS
64. Developmental Disabilities Support and Advocacy Grants
65. Foster Care
66. Adoption Assistance
67. Social Services Block Grant
68. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
69. Emergency Food and Shelter Program
70. Legal Services Corporation
71. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (employment and training component)
72. Senior Community Service Employment Program
73. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Activities
74. Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Activities
75. Social Services and Targeted Assistance for Refugees
76. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (employment and training)
77. Foster Grandparents
78. Job Corps
79. Grants to States for Low-Income Housing in Lieu of Low-Income Housing Credit Allocations
80. Tax Credit Assistance Program
81. Older Americans Act Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers
82. Older Americans Act Family Caregiver Program
83. Indian Human Services