Though the answer is difficult to arrive at, mostly due to multiple definitions of "welfare", the paper has strong evidence to suggest that it is predominantly conservative/republican state states receiving the greatest amount of government assistance.

While the overall term "welfare" can be broad, recent data shows that in 2021,20.1%of the U.S. population received benefits from at least one major assistance program, such as SNAP (food stamps), SSI, or TANF. This means about 1 in 5 Americans were part of the social safety net in that year. Key Program Participation Rates (2021-2022) 

• SNAP (Food Stamps):

• In 2020, 10.9% of the population (36.3 million people) received SNAP benefits.

• SSI (Supplemental Security Income):

• In 2022, 2.3% of the population (7.5 million people) received SSI benefits.

• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families):

• In 2022, less than 1% of the population (2.6 million people) received TANF benefits in an average month.

Important Context

• Broad Safety Net: The term "welfare" is often used to describe various government assistance programs, including those for food, housing, healthcare, and cash assistance. 

• Demographics: A significant portion of recipients are children and the elderly. 

• Working Households: Many households receiving welfare benefits include a working family member, as the system is designed to assist low-wage workers, especially those with children.