Why Making More Money Costs You Money (The Welfare Trap) with Clarence Carter
Why Making More Money Costs You Money (The Welfare Trap) with Clarence Carter  
Podcast: The MiddleGround Mic
Published On: Mon Aug 31 2026
Description: We spend over $1.5 trillion every year fighting poverty in the United States, so why does taking a raise or getting a better job leave a struggling family worse off?In this episode of The MiddleGround Mic, host Joe sits down with Clarence H. Carter, author of Our Net Has Holes in It and a 35-year public service veteran who has served under two presidents, four governors, and a mayor. Clarence breaks down the systemic reality of the "benefit cliff" and why having 114 separate government assistance programs traps people in dependency.In this episode, we unpack:The Welfare Trap: How earning a small wage increase can instantly strip away vital family benefits.Systemic Failure: Why fragmenting the safety net creates administrative chaos instead of human growth.Work Requirements: Overcoming real-world barriers like childcare and transportation.Relational Capital: Why local nonprofits and communities succeed where federal bureaucracies fail.The Generational Divide: Addressing the reality that younger Americans feel the economic system is entirely stacked against them.Connect with Clarence H. Carter:📖 Our Net Has Holes in Ithttps://evolveglobalpublishing.com/show-book/B0G2HRSZ3S🔗 LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/clarence-carter-aaa0096Episode Chapters:00:00 — Why a Raise Can Leave Families Worse Off01:20 — Understanding the Safety Net03:36 — The Benefit Cliff06:58 — The Debate Over Work Requirements08:23 — Barbara’s Story and Real-World Barriers15:48 — Why 114 Assistance Programs Aren’t Working21:39 — Government Bureaucracy vs. Community Support24:06 — Why the Welfare System Has Barely Changed27:39 — Washington vs. Local Communities29:32 — The Economic Reality Facing Younger Americans