The answer is you will always make too much money if you are honest. You can make minimum wage but if you work too many hours you’ll get basically nothing. It disincentives hard work and honesty with reported income. I suspect there’s a shadow cash economy that hides income and takes full advantage of the “social safety net” and, of course, the more kids you claim the more oversized the “assistance” whereas an honest minimum wage worker could starve. I recall hearing decades ago when an in law was unemployed she was counseled to claim she was separated to get benefits. I wonder whether there are gender biases in our safety net.
If waste, fraud, abuse and theft could be eliminated from the culture we’d save so much money long term.
There has to be bias. I was honest, felt weird asking for help, got none. But I see homeowners, people with ritzy cars and piles of cool stuff going in and getting free stuff. I know some people sign away to a relative to get free stuff, no clue on all the scams.