Welfare pays more than minimum wage jobs in 35 states.
Kathryn Hickok is the publications Director with the Cascade Policy Institute.
"The ramifications are the incentive for work is decreased and its easier to go on welfare. In 13 states, including here in Oregon that's more than $15 an hour which is around $31,000. At that point, it may be very difficult to incentive entry level work that may be available to them."
Authors of the study want congress to reduce dependence on public assistance by rewarding work.
They would like to see welfare works requirements strengthened and welfare benefits that outpace entry level income, discontineud.