OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

The work ethic of the United States of America has fallen prey to the
'Welfare System'.

The Cato Institute released an updated 2013 study (original study in
1955) showing that welfare benefits pay more than a minimum wage job
in 33 states plus the District of Columbia. Even worse, welfare pays
more than $15 per hour in 13 states.

The USA welfare benefits have increased faster than minimum wage. It
is now more profitable to sit at home than it is to earn an honest
day's pay according to the study.

Here is the list of the states and Washington DC where the pre-tax
equivalent "salary" that welfare recipients receive is higher than
having a job:

1. Hawaii: $60,590
2. District of Columbia: $50,820
3. Massachusetts: $50,540
4. Connecticut: $44,370
5. New York: $43,700
6. New Jersey: $43,450
7. Rhode Island: $43,330
8. Vermont: $42,350
9. New Hampshire: $39,750
10. Maryland: $38,160
11. California: $37,160
12. Oregon: $34,300
13. Wyoming: $32,620
14. Nevada: $29,820
15. Minnesota: $29,350
16. Delaware: $29,220
17. Washington: $28,840
18. North Dakota: $28,830
19. Pennsylvania: $28,670
20. New Mexico: $27,900
21. Montana: $26,930
22. South Dakota: $26,610
23. Kansas: $26,490
24. Michigan: $26,430
25. Alaska: $26,400
26. Ohio: $26,200
27. North Carolina: $25,760
28. West Virginia: $24,900
29. Alabama: $23,310
30. Indiana: $22,900
31. Missouri: $22,800
32. Oklahoma: $22,480
33. Louisiana: $22,250

34. South Carolina: $21,910

Points of Interest:

• The worst case is Hawaii where welfare recipients earn
$29.13 per hour, or a $60,590 yearly salary, all for doing nothing.



• Hawaii, DC, and Massachusetts pay more in welfare than the
average working folks earn there.



• Average Salary of a teacher: $40,065



• Average Salary of Soldier: $38,000



• The average Middle Class annual income today is $50,000,
down from $54,000 at the beginning of the Great Recession.



• The United States of America is virtually bankrupt and if
the USA welfare system is continued without change, it will eventually
implode.



• Countries in Europe have already and/or are continuing to
experience financial collapse.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The cost of living in Hawaii is very high, so it makes sense that the poor people there would be richer than the poor people on the Mainland. :D

Unfortunately, salaries haven't risen as fast as corporate profits. Actual buying power has declined. If salaries were higher, welfare would be lower.

twolfphd Loc: Camp Verde, AZ

I didn't notice AZ on there. Also, I believe welfare payment amounts depend on the number of children in the family. These numbers seem really high to me!

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

High or not, ridiculous just the same. Who do you think is paying for it...Us working stiffs.

pbearperry Loc: Massachusetts

it's not going to go away until there is no more middle class.The poor and wealthy would never support it.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

The Cato Institute is a well-known ultra right wing organization, so I'm leery of anything they put out. I'd like to see some other verification of these data before I draw any conclusions about the numbers they publish.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I agree.... unfortunately I personally don't have anything else to show you, and I certainly don't have the time to look for it, I have to go to work.