Hacker News Reader

$40 a week? A full day at federal minimum wage is $58/day. FICA on that would be $8.87. That's $49/day. $49 * 7 > $40.

Even if you cut that in half that's still way more than $40/week.

And no, you're not paying federal income taxes on that low wage income.

40 a week on unemployment for low wage in CA

Ah ok you're saying UI after a low wage job is $40/wk. Understood.

There's also the benefit of food stamps, and housing assistance at that income level. Actual fraud may be rare. I cannot find a good study on fraud in benefits, but I don't think that detracts that safeguards should be put in place.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com