What percentage of women seek government aid?

An exhaustive study by Pew Research Center found that 61 percent of women in America had received benefits from either Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, welfare or unemployment benefits. However, the percentage of women receiving government aid varies depending on how government aid is defined.

Expanding on the same research from the Pew Research Center, The Atlantic discovered the actual number of people receiving aid is likely higher if other government benefits are included in the percentage and if the population is measured by households. When measured by household, and veterans benefits and college assistance are included, 86 percent of households receive some type of government aid. This would mean more than 61 percent of women either directly receive government aid or live in a household with someone receiving some form of government assistance.