In 35 states in the U.S., primarily states in the Northeast and in the Western U.S. and Hawaii, you can take home up to twice as much money if you simply do not work and get on U.S. government assistance and welfare rather than working a full time minimum wage job. So what incentive is there to go to work at all?
Critics charge why not get paid by the government not to work then go out and work the underground economy and get paid “under the table” in cash and/or trade and get paid even more.
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE: CATO INSTITUTE 8/21/13