1. HEALTH PROGRAMS: Your taxes go to fund health programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program and general health initiatives. Together these programs account for around 28% of last year’s federal budget.
2. MILITARY: Your taxes also help pay for national defense and security-related programs. Funds in this category support the Department of Defense and the cost of international military programs.
3. SOCIAL SECURITY: More than 60 million Americans received Social Security benefits in 2016. Beneficiaries include retired workers, surviving children and spouses of deceased workers, and disabled workers.