The majority of workers in the bottom 20 percent rely on public assistance: Share of workers who receive public assistance directly or through a family member, by hourly wage decile

Wage decile Rate of Receipt
All 29.3%
Bottom 10% 59.8%
2nd decile 52.6%
3rd decile 43.8%
4th decile 36.5%
5th decile 29.9%
6th decile 22.5%
7th decile 15.0%
8th decile 11.5%
9th decile 9.1%
Top 10% 8.2%

Note: Includes the EITC, CTC, SNAP, LIHEAP, WIC, housing assistance, TANF/cash assistance, and Medicaid.

Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement microdata, pooled years 2012–2014

View the underlying data on epi.org.