This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Maybe it's because of Utah's young median age, or its relatively strong economy or its strong focus on self-reliance. But Utah receives the least per person among the states in federal aid to individuals, a new study says.

In 2013, Utah received $3,568 per person in such aid through Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, extended unemployment compensation and other direct federal payments to individuals, says a study by the National Priorities Project, a nonprofit research group that tracks federal spending and transparency.

That is nearly $2,000 a person less than the national average of $5,566.

It is also less than half the per-person amount received in West Virginia — the most of any state at $7,239.

The study seeks to renew research that had been discontinued by the U.S. Census Bureau that each year measured how much the federal government spends in each state.

Looking at federal aid to individuals is one of many facets studied, including federal grants, contracts and employee wages in states. Utah tends to rank more toward the middle of the pack in those categories. For example, it ranks No. 31 in the percentage of the state budget that comes from federal funds at 31.6 percent, matching the U.S. average.

Economists see numerous reasons why Utah receives the least in individual federal aid.

One is its youngest-in-the-nation median age because of its many children and large families, coming in large part because of Mormon influence. Utah's median age is 30.2 years old, compared to a national median of 37.5.

"That may play out by receiving less in some benefit programs, like Medicare," said Mark Knold, supervising economist for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Social Security and Medicare are designed mostly to help senior citizens.

Beyond that, Utah's relative youth also "plays out more in the straight-up mathematical calculation" to figure federal per-person spending, Knold said in an email.

For example, he explained that if the same number of adults in two states received the same Medicare benefits, calculations would still make Utah's per-person receipts look significantly lower because a larger share of its population is children — and is used in the denominator dividing those benefits.

"If more of your total population is kids (non-adults who do not apply for aid), then naturally your per capita receipts will be low just because of your large kid population," he said.

Another reason for Utah's ranking may be that its economy recovered more quickly than most states from the recession, and the crash was not as deep here.

"A better economy means better job prospects and thus a lower need for income assistance," Knold said. "The demand for social assistance, like welfare, food stamps, housing assistance, etc., lowers."

With more people working, Utahns also received less in extended federal unemployment benefits.

He notes that most regular unemployment benefits are paid by the state from employer tax collections. "The federal government only steps in when the state maximum [26] weeks is reached, then [federal programs] pony up extended benefits."

Knold said that in 2013, Utahns could qualify only for up to an additional 14 weeks of federal extended unemployment benefits because of its relatively low jobless rate — but in some states, up to 33 weeks of additional benefits were available.

Another possible factor for Utah's ranking is the emphasis on self reliance promoted by politicians and the LDS Church. That religion, of course, operates its own extensive welfare program to supplement or reduce government relief for its members, and urges faithful to store food and save money for life's emergencies.

"We pride ourselves in our self-reliance. We are, after all, the Beehive State! Our motto is 'industry,'" Gov. Gary Herbert said in his 2011 inaugural address.

On the Mormon.org website, the LDS Church also has the following statement: "Becoming self-reliant provides more personal independence, industry, thrift and self respect. It also gives more opportunity to serve and care for others in need."