“Yea, a person making $16 an hour can take home $6 an hour.”
Eventually this person figures out they can take home more on government benefits. Then they can do pick-up work on the side and pocket everything they make.
I know of people who do this.
I tried to hire a guy recently - when I refused to do so under the table, he refused to work - as he would put his unemployment in jeopardy - and he made more combining unemployment with the work he did on the side. He was quite open about it.
That’s how this crazy gravy train works - rewarding dishonesty at every turn.