Welfare Assistance Among Somali Refugee Households in Minnesota

Recent findings indicate that a significant majority—over 80%—of households led by Somali refugees in Minnesota receive some form of welfare funded by U.S. taxpayers, according to new data from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS).

This data, which aggregates ten years of information from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), highlights a stark contrast between households born in the U.S. and those from Somalia. The Somali population in Minnesota has grown significantly, from zero Somali-born residents in 1990 to nearly 80,000 today.

Specifically, the report reveals that 81% of Minnesota households headed by Somali refugees rely on one or more types of welfare assistance. This includes 27% receiving cash welfare, 54% receiving food stamps, and 73% on Medicaid.

In comparison, only 21% of American-born residents in Minnesota access welfare assistance. Of those, just 6% receive cash welfare, while 7% depend on food stamps and 18% on Medicaid.

The ACS data underscores an even higher reliance on welfare among Somali families with children. For instance, 89% of Somali households with children receive some form of welfare, and 86% are enrolled in Medicaid. Additionally, around 62% are on food stamps, with 23% receiving cash welfare.

Notably, CIS researcher Jason Richwine points out that almost all households with Somali children depend on some kind of welfare support.

The disparity continues when looking specifically at American-born households with children. Only 30% access any form of welfare, and just 6% receive cash welfare, 10% utilize food stamps, and 28% are on Medicaid.

Beyond welfare assistance, the gap between Somali refugees and Americans extends to poverty levels. More than 66% of Somali refugees in Minnesota live in or near poverty, whereas less than 20% of native-born Minnesotans face similar economic challenges.

Language proficiency also represents a divide; while only 0.7% of Minnesota-born residents struggle with English, nearly 60% of Somali refugees say their English skills are poor, including about half of those who have resided in Minnesota for over a decade.

Furthermore, educational attainment is another area where Somali refugees fall short. Just 5% of Minnesota-born Americans lack a high school diploma, but nearly 40% of Somali refugees report not having completed high school, a figure that includes over 28% who have lived in Minnesota for more than ten years.