The U.S. has a fairly weak welfare system, especially if you don't have kids. The EITC for people without kids maxes out at $487/yr. And many other assistance p

The U.S. has a fairly weak welfare system, especially if you don't have kids. The EITC for people without kids maxes out at $487/yr. And many other assistance programs, such as Section 8 housing, are full in most of the country and not accepting new entrants (in SF even the waitlist is closed). In places where you can manage to get on the waitlist, it may take 2, 3, 4 years to qualify. Hardly equivalent to a minimum income, whose point is to function as an immediate/constant floor.