Theres a lot of similarities: US unemployment is calculated and paid similarly, your "+70% rent" is our Section 8 Housing, we have a food program (SNAP) that only pays for food/groceries type things. But I think a big difference is our use of the term "social security". Here in the US, a % of every check goes into an account called Social Security. Think of it as a government mandated retirement plan. After you retire from work, and depending on the age that you retire, you will then receive monthly funds based on what you paid into the account over your working career. In Finland, "social security" is a government safety net that you can tap into at any time in your life when circumstances dictate.