HHS Expenditures On Refugees
HHS Expenditures On Refugees
HHS Expenditures On Refugees
September 5, 2017
This document provides estimates of expenditures from the major HHS programs
assisting refugees over the 10-year period from 2005 through 2014. In this document, any
individual having entered the United States since 1980 as a refugee, or having received asylum,
or another special immigrant visa, including Cuban/Haitian entrant or victim of trafficking is
considered a refugee. Individuals who later changed their immigration status to legal
permanent resident or citizen are included in this analysis as well. Apart from expenditures
associated with refugees, the document also reports expenditures for refugees and their non-
refugee spouses and minor children.
The total cost of major HHS programs supporting or benefitting refugees from 2005
through 2014 was $96.65 billion. Table 1 shows total costs, broken out for federal and state
governments. Costs accrue to state governments as three programsMedicaid/CHIP, Child Care
Subsidies, and TANFrequire state matches to federal dollars. Overall, states paid about a
quarter of HHS-related costs.
Table 2 presents annual per capita expenditures for refugees and the total U.S. population. In an
average year over the 10-year period, per capita refugee costs for major HHS programs totaled
$3,300. Per person costs for the U.S. population were lower, at $2,500, reflecting a greater
participation of refugees in HHS programs, especially during their first four years in the U.S.
Table 2. Annual Per Capita Expenditures for Major HHS Programs for Refugees and US
Population, 2005-2014
Refugees and
Refugees spouses, children U.S. Population
Total $3,346 $2,793 $2,501
Table 4. Annual Per Capita Expenditures for Major HHS Programs for Refugees and U.S. Population, by Program 2005-2014
Refugees Refugees and Families U.S. Population
Medicaid/CHIP $1,646 $905 $741 $1,452 $798 $654 $731 $402 $329
TANF $34 $18 $16 $45 $25 $21 $30 $16 $14
LIHEAP $8 $7 $0 $7 $7 $0.0 $8 $8 $0
Total $3,350 $2,600 $750 $2,800 $2,100 $700 $2,500 $2,150 $350
Values expressed in 2014 dollars.