I've looked into that myself. $30k is probably way too high. If you factor in Social Security -- and I don't believe you should, seeing that it is mandatory -- the beneficiary moocher gets less in food stamps, cash assistance and medicaid. But let's say someone is getting no Social Security. Food stamps would be around $2k a year; heating assistance, maybe $1k; cash assistance for one person, nowhere even close to $10k. You would have to throw in some kids and their public schooling -- which I do consider a govt handout -- to get up around $30k.
Remember that aside from schooling, nearly all the welfare benefits are adjusted according to a person's income and assets.
However, if a person merely owns their home and one car, they can live quite comfortably on the backs of the taxpayers.
Add in section 8 housing allowance, cell phone assistance, this assistance, that assistance, and pretty soon you are talking some serious money. Gross that up for FICA and Medicare deductions, as well as some income tax withholding, and that’s how I pulled 30K out of the thin air. And food stamps are only 2K per year?