a situation in which someone would have even less money, or not much more money, if they were employed because financial help from the government would be reduced or not available

He's caught in the poverty trap and will only be five pounds a week better off if he accepts the job. 他陷入了贫困陷阱之中，如果他接受这项工作的话，每周只会增加5英镑的收入。