I can think of some patchwork programs that might fit that description, an equivalent of the British dole, but the welfare/unemployment insurance system in the US is a mess, very inconsistent and schizophrenic. TANF, unemployment (or "workforce commission" payments here in TX), SSDI, SSI, Section 8, all varying by state or even by city or county, with sometimes overlapping purposes or not having a thing to do with another.
-B.
Doug Henwood wrote:
"Yes, but which American?"
Bill O'Connor wrote:
"I'm on the dole this week, if that helps."