an Illinois family of one mother and two children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF; Medicaid, food stamps, Women, Infants and Children, or WIC; public housing; utility assistance; and free commodities (e.g., milk and cheese) would have a benefits package worth $19,442 per year. - See more at: http://illinoispolicy.org/the-work-vs-welfare-trade-off-in-i...

Now, I am not sure whether this is a high enough level of benefits or too high - but I don't think it's laughably low