Why wouldn't you rank per capita?
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/welfare-recipients-by-state
Top 10
New Mexico (21,368 per 100k)
West Virginia (17,388 per 100k)
Louisiana (17,388 per 100k)
Mississippi (14,849 per 100k)
Alabama (14,568 per 100k)
Oklahoma (14,525 per 100k)
Illinois (14,153 per 100k)
Rhode Island (13,904 per 100k)
Pennsylvania (13,623 per 100k)
Oregon (13,617 per 100k)
Also finally - nice work, NYS