Workers don't pay into

Workers don't pay into unemployment but I believe the employer does. I guess you could say the worker pays indirectly in wages their employer otherwise *might* have paid to them. I actually wouldn't consider unemployment insurance and social welfare insurance to be all that different, however. When it comes down to it, both are paid from employment - mandatory unemployment insurance rates or income taxes. Both are designed to assist those who find themselves temporarily unable to support themselves even though they are capable of work (social security/disability insurance covers those unable to work). Rather than giving them direct cash payments, I'd simply argue that they should have to work for their income. It gives them a sense of worth versus a charity-like handout (yes they paid into it but it still feels like a handout, especially when you draw more than you paid in). It keeps their skills fresh or gives them new skills. It produces a tangible result to improve public infrastructure. It will also encourage them to seek out permanent employment at a higher wage, an easier job, or one that more interests them. These incentives would hopefully reduce the number of people on unemployment (and welfare) and lower the costs of both these programs so unemployment insurance rates could be lowered and income taxes diverted to another function such as paying down the national debt. It just seems to me that giving someone a wad of cash and assuming they'll be motivated to seek out employment is only going to result in lots of cash getting paid out unnecessarily. While I think the federal government could do this and actually lower costs, I would not be opposed to a state or local level form either and would expect the same relative cost savings (although the feds would probably see all the savings and the state/local all the expense).