We have unique data from a 2008 national survey by the Cornell
Survey Research Institute that asked Americans whether they had
ever taken advantage of any of 21 social policies provided by
the federal government, from The survey asked about people’s
policy usage throughout their lives, not just at a moment in
time, and it included questions about social policies embedded
in the tax code, which are usually overlooked. What the data
reveal is striking: nearly all Americans — 96 percent — have
relied on the federal government to assist them. Young adults,
who are not yet eligible for many policies, account for most of
the remaining 4 percent. On average, people reported that they
had used five social policies at some point in their lives. An
individual typically had received two direct social benefits in
the form of checks, goods or services paid for by government,
like The use of government social policies cuts across partisan
divides. Some policies were used more often by members of one
party or the other. Rep