The welfare state deliberately punished anyone who starts to do well enough NOT to need the assistance. Keep them dependent and voting Democrat.
That is ultimately the problem with the welfare state. If anyone gets uppity and earns too much they lose food stamps, medicaid, section 8 housing and cash payments of any number of varieties. The state has ensured a permanent underclass, especially so when coupled with the woefully awful education provided these people at government schools. Notice how quickly Obama and the Democrats eliminate school choice, they wouldn’t want kids getting a better education and becoming capable of moving to the middle class and the Republican Party.