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I'll have to respectfully disagree with the other answer on this question so far.The Australian welfare state is much more like Europe or Canada than the US. I'd imagine that Australia and Canada share a very close resemblance.Unlike the US, Australia offers universal healthcare. This means that anyone in the country can see a doctor for free once they have registered with the government. This is not means tested, the wealthiest person in Australia could hypothetically attend a doctor, flash what we call a Medicare card, and the bill for the doctor's services is sent to the government. This system was established during the mid 1970's, and briefly removed before being permanently established in the 1980's. I'm in the middle class, my wife and I are homeowners, but a trip to the doctor is free for us.Our welfare payments, which we call Centrelink, or colloquially, the dole, largely is the descendant of what was called the Sustinence during the Great Depression. This is enough to make rent, and basic living expenses. It is extremely small, generally $20 AUD per day would be the budget for the job seeker's payment. The purpose is to ensure that job seekers do not starve, but the temporarily unemployed will need to find work quickly if they have a mortgage, otherwise they will be in a bind.Centrelink also make payments of pensions to those who do not work, or will not foreseeably, such as a sickness allowance, a carer's allowance, a disability allowance, or an aged pension for retirees. These allowances tend to be larger than what is paid to a job seeker (except for the carer's payment which is usually in conjunction with another allowance), because the recipient is dependent on this income. In any case, any pension is considerably less than the average wage, but retirees tend to be ok, as if they own their house outright, they have less overheads. For this reason, Australian people tend to have what sometimes is described as a national obsession with home ownership.Personally, I work, and currently Australia has unemployment of approximately 6%. Our welfare system mostly operates as a means of preventing starvation and homelessness, but is not sufficient for living a comfortable life.

This is going to be very honest.My mother was a Psychic Medium. Very beautiful, sang like an angel. Tall, dark curling hair, dark brown eyes like shifting muddy pools and very Irish. Strong both in body and spirit. Cold, she would cut anybody out of her life if they violated in any way. My father worshipped her.She didn't like me. I was blonde, blue eyed. She told me that the minute I was born I was red and she said “ughh put it back. I don’t want that thing.” She never held me or kissed me in my entire life.I learned that I had to perform, to be best, to achieve to gain her attention. She told me I was ugly. That no man would ever want me. I believed her.She said no one would ever employ me. I believed her. I was allowed to work, as I grew into my teens, in the family business. No wages but I had roof overhead and food. Some secondhand clothes and the uniforms needed for my work.Fast forward into my 50’s - still working for no wages, told off if I went to get shopping and took longer than she thought I should. She would accuse me of ‘seeing a man’. That was not a possibility as she had chased off any male or females who tried to be friendly with me.Did I try to rebel? Yes, but she could outlast me. No meals cooked and I wasn't allowed in kitchen, and the constant hurl of hurtful words. If I thought of leaving home I couldn't because I had no money, no friends to go to. So I stayed.Into my 60’s and she got bowel cancer. Said she wanted to die at home and I was to nurse her. Dad and I called her The General. She thought it was a compliment but in reality he and I were hostages. We hadn't left her sight without permission for years.She needed hospitalization at one point. And found she couldn't be nasty to the nurses as she was to me. I was called on to go be nasty in her place. But it was then I saw her frailty. We had given her power. It was a facade.She died and for the next 7 years I was sole carer for my father with his heart condition. When he died I had been a Carer for 13 years and I was burned out and had no money to even organise the funeral.All that time I’d run the farm, taking on work that was too physical for my 5‘2″ frame. My father was not a farmer. He was a gentleman. I had sworn to myself I would care for the both in their decline and make that time as pleasant for them as was possible. This was to discharge my duty and to make sure I had no regrets.The next stage of my life was going it alone. I had huge debts to contend with and at one stage I sat with a gun for 6 hours as I was not sure this person my mother had so disparaged was up to the task.I thought over my life. If I was so ugly why was I the one to go out front in our restaurants and work as Manager, wait person and singer? If I was so useless why was I the one earning living for us breaking and breeding horses as I had skill at horse whispering? I knew I had a brain, was tested at school with IQ 153. I put down the gun,I put on my big girl shoes and sorted the financial mess. My parents hadn't wanted to concern themselves with money - they just wanted the life and expected money to be available when they wanted it. They instructed me not to sell the farm on their death. But useless, dumb me sorted the situation.Now I am happy, I live alone as I have fear of being manipulated. After all, I was in slavery for my entire life. At 75 I have a pension, and as I learnt to be frugal all my life - its more than enough. I have friends, my lovely dogs, plus art and writing.And, keep this to yourself. It took me 74 years to realize I was brought up in no normal way.

I thought about this for a while before diving in. The problem is that most people can only really use their own and their families experiences to judge by. I see stories on the news every day about poverty and food banks and problems with benefits, but how many news stories are there about people managing quite well?The problem is that it is all relative.Absolute povertyThe definition used by a number of international organisations (such as the UN and the World Bank) is that you cannot afford the basic needs of life—food, clothing, shelter and so on.This is absolute in the sense that it’s measured relative to a fixed standard of living, rather than the rest of the population.This isn’t the definition used by the UK government.As we explained above, it defines “relative poverty” in comparison to median incomes in the current year.It defines “absolute poverty” in comparison to the median in 2010/11.This gives a measure of poverty that’s constant over time.“Relative poverty is defined as followsRelative povertyRelative poverty generally means that a person can't afford an "ordinary living pattern"—they're excluded from the activities and opportunities that the average person enjoys.A household is in relative poverty (also called relative low income) if its income is below 60% of the median household income.The median is the number 'in the middle' of a set—so half of all households earn more than the median income household, and half earn less.The government wants to measure spending power, rather than earning power, so it counts incomes after taxes and benefits.And households need different degrees of spending power to live comfortably, depending on their size and shape. A household with one person in it needs less money to live comfortably than a household consisting of a couple and two children.So household incomes are “equivalised” in poverty statistics. They’re adjusted to take into account the number of adults and children who live there.If you want to know where your own household fits in the income scale you need to adjust your income in a similar way. The Office for National Statistics has published an interactive tool that lets you do that.”So according to the above charts Absolute poverty in the UK is declining, while relative poverty is roughly constant. The problem about “relative poverty” is that it is exactly that. As a child I lived in a house without central heating, with no TV, no internet, no telephone, no microwave, only a basic washing machine with a mangle!, were we poor? - no this was the 1950’s and nearly all those things either were not invented or horribly expensive. So as the income of the average person goes up so expectations increase, and what were luxuries for a few become essentials for the many. In other words There will always be relative poverty, just as there are many in relative wealth.I do not know enough to compare poverty in the UK with other countries, but here, from the BBC website is a list of the Benefits and Allowances currently available,“A comprehensive account of all benefits, who is entitled to them and how to claim, is available on the Directgov website.A to FAdult social careHelp with paying for care, especially in old age, such as help washing and dressing, is conducted on a council-by-council basis and so the level of assistance depends on where you live.Attendance AllowanceA tax-free benefit for those aged 65 or over who are physically or mentally disabled and need help to be looked after. There are two rates of up to £71.40 a week.Bereavement AllowanceA weekly rate of up to £97.65 paid for up to 52 weeks from the date of death of a husband, wife or civil partner.Bereavement PaymentThe £2,000 payment is a one-off tax-free lump sum to a husband, wife or civil partner of somebody who has died and generally who was under the state pension age.Budgeting LoansAn interest-free loan for those on a low income who need help with certain important costs, such as clothing, furniture and travel.Carer's AllowanceA taxable benefit for those who look after someone who is disabled. They do not have to be related to, or live with, the person that they care for.Child BenefitA universal non-means-tested benefit for parents to claim for their children, but plans to withdraw it for higher-rate taxpayers have proved controversial.Child Tax CreditLabour's flagship welfare policy, child tax credits are paid to families with children regardless of whether the parents work.Child Trust FundTo be withdrawn completely by the start of 2011, parents were paid a voucher to invest for their children who could access the money at the age of 18.Cold Weather PaymentPaid to people who are in receipt of certain benefits to help with their additional heating costs during winter. A payment of £25 is made for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March - when the average local temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, freezing (zero Celsius) or below over seven consecutive days.Community Care GrantFinancial help to live independently in the community for those who have, for example, just moved out of care, or to ease exceptional pressure on them and their family.Constant Attendance AllowanceTo help those who need daily care, are 100% disabled according to medical examination, and who receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or the War Disablement Pension.Council Tax BenefitFinancial help for those on low incomes to pay their council tax bill.Crisis LoansInterest-free loans for those who do not have enough money to meet their, or their family's, immediate short-term needs in an emergency or as the result of a disaster.Disability Living AllowanceA tax-free benefit for disabled people, including children, who have difficulty walking and who need somebody to help look after them.Employment and Support AllowanceThe successor of Incapacity Benefit, it is paid to those with an illness or disability but aims to get them into some kind of work.Funeral PaymentsHelp for those on low incomes to pay for a family funeral, but might have to be paid back from the estate of the person who has died.G to LGuardian's AllowanceA tax-free payment of £14.30 a week per child on top of Child Benefit for people who are bringing up children whose parents have died.Ten most costly UK benefitsTax creditHousing benefitChild benefitDisability Living AllowanceIncome SupportIncapacity BenefitJobseeker's AllowanceCouncil Tax BenefitStatutory Maternity PayCarer's AllowanceGuide to most costly UK benefitsHealthcare Travel Costs SchemeThose on a low income and who need NHS treatment at a hospital, another NHS centre or a private clinic and have been referred by an NHS hospital consultant, doctor or dentist, can apply for help with travel costs at the time of their appointment.Health CostsVarious options of financial assistance for the young, old and those on low incomes to pay for health costs ranging from dental work to wigs.Health in Pregnancy GrantA one-off grant to help with costs in the run-up to a baby's birth - however, this is being withdrawn in 2011.Healthy Start SchemeHelp for pregnant women and low-income families by giving them vouchers that can be used to buy milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, and also coupons which can be exchanged for free vitamins for women and children. It is the only benefit administered by the Department of Health.Housing BenefitAimed at those who struggle to pay their rent because they have a low income, irrespective of whether they work or not. Planned reforms by the governmenthave proved to be extremely controversial.In Work CreditA fixed tax-free payment of £40 per week, or £60 per week in London, for parents bringing up children alone. It is payable for up to 52 weeks on top of earnings.Incapacity BenefitA weekly payment for people who become incapable of work owing to illness or disability, which started before 27 October 2008, while under state pension age. It is being replaced by Employment and Support Allowance.Income SupportFinancial support for those on low incomes who have not signed on as unemployed.Industrial Injuries Disablement BenefitThe amount depends on individual circumstances, but this is a weekly payment for those made ill or disabled by certain types of work - such as working with asbestos. It covers accidents, disease and deafness. Those who are self-employed are not eligible.Industrial Death BenefitPayable to the widow or widower and children of a person working as an employed earner who died as a result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease. The death must have been before 11 April 1988.Invalidity BenefitThis was replaced by Incapacity Benefit from April 1995 but is still payable if the invalidity started before April 1995.Job GrantA one-off, tax-free payment of up to £250 as a stepping stone for those moving from benefits and into work.Jobseeker's AllowanceThe widely recognised main benefit for people of working age who are out of work, or work less than 16 hours a week on average, and who are looking for work.Local Housing AllowanceSimilar to Housing Benefit, this is the allowance paid to a private tenant on a low income who is renting property or a room from a private landlord.M to SMaternity AllowanceThis pays a standard weekly rate of £124.88 or 90% of your average gross weekly earnings, whichever is the smaller, to somebody who does not qualify for statutory maternity pay.Mobility SupplementSome people might be entitled to a free tax disc if they are disabled and get the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioners Mobility Supplement or have an invalid carriage.Over 80 PensionA payment of up to £58.50 a week for individuals aged 80 or over who do not get the basic state pension.Pension CreditThis guarantees a minimum income to those of state pension age by topping up the weekly income to £132.60 for those who are single, and £202.40 for couples. There is also a Savings Credit for those aged 65 and over.Pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis), Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases BenefitA benefit paid to the husband, wife or civil partner of somebody who died as a result of pneumoconiosis, byssinosis or certain other diseases which they got from work before 5 July, 1948.Reduced Earnings AllowanceA payment of up to £58.32 a week for those who do not earn as much as they could owing to a work-related accident or disease that happened before 1 October 1990.Retirement AllowanceThis replaces Reduced Earnings Allowance for those who have reached pension age and have given up regular employment.Return to work creditA tax-free payment of £40 per week, payable for up to 52 weeks, for some people returning to work.School uniform allowancesHelp for parents to pay for their children's school uniform, but administered on a council-by-council basis.Severe Disablement AllowancePaid to those unable to work for at least 28 weeks in a row because of an illness or disability - but no new claims have been accepted since April 2001.State PensionArguably the best-known of all benefits, this is a payment of £97.65 to all those who have reached state pension age - which is set to rise.Statutory Adoption PayHelp to take time off work after adopting a child, it is paid at £124.88 or 90% of your average weekly earnings if this is less, for 39 weeks.Statutory Maternity PayFor new mothers, this is paid for the first six weeks at 90% of their average gross weekly earnings with no upper limit and - for the remaining 33 weeks - at the lower of either the standard rate of £124.88, or 90% of their average gross weekly earnings. This is one of a series of rights for new parents.Statutory Paternity PayFor new fathers, this is paid for one or two consecutive weeks at £124.88 or 90% of their average weekly earnings if this is less. As with maternity pay, they must have worked for the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due.Statutory Sick PayA standard rate of £79.15 a week, it is paid by employers for up to 28 weeks if somebody is unable to work because of illness.Sure Start Maternity GrantA one-off payment of £500 for each baby to help those on low incomes pay towards the cost of a new baby.T to ZTax creditsThe former Labour government's policy to integrate benefits within the tax system, rather than straightforward handouts. The benefits, administered by HM Revenue and Customs consist of Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.Training premiumA small amount of about £10 a week paid as an incentive to train for a job.Travel to interview schemeFor those out of work and on benefits, Jobcentre Plus may be able to help pay to get to a job interview.Unemployability Supplement or AllowanceThis is paid to people who suffered industrial injuries but no new claims have been accepted since 6 April, 1987, when Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit was increased.Vaccine Damage PaymentA tax-free payment of £120,000 to those severely disabled and whose disability was caused by vaccination against various diseases, such as tetanus.War Disablement PensionA pension, dependent on the level of injury, for those injured or disabled as a result of service in the Armed Forces, who are no longer serving in the Armed Forces and who were injured in service before 6 April 2005.War Widow's/Widower's PensionA tax-free pension paid to the wife, husband or civil partner of somebody who died as a result of their service in the Armed Forces or during a time of war before 6 April 2005.Widowed Parent's AllowanceUp to £97.65 a week paid to a parent whose husband, wife or civil partner has died and they have at least one child who they receive Child Benefit for. Previously known as Widowed Mother's Allowance.Widow's PensionPayable weekly at a reduced rate for younger widows, the pension can be paid until the widow reaches 65 but if she retires after reaching state pension age of 60 it will usually be replaced by the state pension.Winter Fuel PaymentThis year it will be paid to all those born on or before 5 July 1950. The annual payment can be between £125 and £400 depending on the recipient's situation, to help pay the increased heating bills of winter. It is different to the Cold Weather Payment.Working Tax CreditAnother element of the tax credits system, it pays in-work credits to people on low incomes through the wage packet including, where appropriate, part of childcare costs.”For more information on these and any other benefits there is a Government website where any information can be looked up. There are also several “Benefits Calculators” available so anyone can enter their information and see what they are entitled to.Obviously there are problems and people who fall through the net, but there really is a formidable amount of help for those who seek it.I do however get very annoyed by the attitude of many I see interviewed by the News companies; like for instance the man complaining of not being able to get social (subsidised) housing because he had a lot of children! - well frankly why should the taxpayers of the UK subsidise someone who has chosen to have a lot of children?, that was his choice, if he had saved more and produced fewer children then maybe he could have bought a house!. Then there are those who have been brought up in the expectation that “The State” (that’s you, me, and all the other taxpayers) should provide them with housing, an income, and support services for which they plan to do absolutely nothing.There is poverty in the UK, but whether there is more or less than other similar Countries, or whether the help is better or worse is difficult to judge.It is always possible the questionner may have been talking to people who have not made a success of life in the UK, and may have a biased viewpoint!