Honestly, government benefits aren't bad, they just need to be smarter. The issue here is that the benefits cut off completely, when they should instead lessen

Honestly, government benefits aren't bad, they just need to be smarter. The issue here is that the benefits cut off completely, when they should instead lessen then cutoff to stop the moral hazard problem. Additionally, the fact that payroll taxes are charged against people making so little likely hurts the issue even more. A moralistic system of everyone paying their due is ironically making some people not work, where if the first 25k everyone made was tax free from payroll taxes, then lots of work would be a lot more appealing for those on the lower end of the scale.