Attached is an interactive link that gives more information than I can process except in bits and pieces.
Enjoy yourself. Don’t overlook the exploration of the drop down menus.
Because the data is presented as a percent of total income, the South looks worse because income levels (and cost of living) are lower, while Federal benefits tend to be standardized across the country. I am quite sure the total by geographical area is MUCH higher in urban areas and in the traditional liberal/democrat areas. Were the data shown as total dollars of assistance in a county, the South would be very low, and the urban areas such as New York, CHicago, LA, etc. would be deep red. Those are the areas that suck the country dry, while the rural and republican areas end up with net outflows and pay the tab for the takers.