Yes, there is no guarantee working would eventually make you better off. Odds are, however, you will work your way up the income ladder beyond what welfare will

Yes, there is no guarantee working would eventually make you better off. Odds are, however, you will work your way up the income ladder beyond what welfare will offer. You ARE guaranteed an income cap if you choose the welfare route: you CANNOT make more than $X or they'll dock your benefits fast enough that the transition to work is a powerful disincentive to doing so.