Aid programs

More Americans have come to depend on government aid since the recession started — about one in six, USA Today found in a survey of state and federal data.

The number of Americans using Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, has risen 17 percent since the recession began in 2007 — to more than 50 million participants.

Moreover, the new health care law will add 16 million people beginning in 2014.

Economic distress has driven higher numbers for the food stamp program, which has increased nearly 50 percent in the last three years. More than 40 million people now receive food stamps. The economic stimulus law increased benefits for the program.

Nearly 10 million people have received unemployment insurance. That the number has quadrupled since 2007 says much about the job market of recent years. People who are unemployed for a long time can receive up to 99 weeks of benefits, well beyond the standard 26 weeks. Congress has extended benefits several times.

Welfare has expanded 18 percent during the downturn, assisting 4.4 million clients.

Costs of the programs have climbed accordingly: the federal share of Medicaid rose 36 percent to $273 billion. Unemployment benefits used to total $43 billion and now are $160 billion. Food stamps cost $70 billion, having risen 80 percent, and welfare jumped 24 percent to $22 billion.

These programs have expanded to answer greater needs during the recession. That is what they are supposed to do: help those in need.