It depends on what you are talking about for assistance, but for the broad based Medicare, Medicaid, and TANF programs Maine is in the middle of New England states (with Conn.)higher than southern states and lower than the NW and California and the upper midwest.
The LIHEAP program may skew the numbers a little when that is factored in as will social security and VA payments and military pensions. Maine has, I believe, the oldest population in the country.
I think they meant everything including SS, everybody getting something from the gov’t. At least I took it that way. If Maine has the oldest population in the country, is it possible that 80% is close to the actual number?