alot of times they will run self employment businesses to make even more. Harder to prove they have a job. If they have a regular job then yes that impacts the benefits. Most jobs report the quarterly income which Social Services can see. This however this is possible only with the SSN. Illegal with no SSN can work and make all the money in the world and it can't be tied to them. So they claim 0 income and their kids get free medical and Food Stamps.

Sometimes I hate my job as I have to see how corrupt the system is on a daily basis. The actual people that fall on hard times usually get some crumbs. I think the system is just in place as a conduit to a universal income system.