[hypertele-Xii]

Don't have to imagine, I'm living it. In my country of Finland every adult citizen is granted free housing, heating, electricity, water, Internet, healthcare and food. If you ask, you can also get extra for hobbies and irregular needs like furniture and appliances.

It's great. I've been able to dedicate my life to the highly uncertain career of computer art research. Never needed to work a job I didn't like. Zero debt.

[FooBarBizBazz]

Is it possibly that good?

Looking quickly at https://www.kela.fi/web/en , I see, for example, that, yes, there are unemployment benefits, but there is a work requirement.

I see that the sickness allowance is tied to income (though there is a minimum rate).

I see that there is an entire section called "Conscripts", which is worth noting.

I see a section that maybe(?) applies to your situation (?):

> Researchers who receive a Finnish grant for at least 4 months must take out insurance under the Farmers’ Pensions Act (MYEL) if the grant amounts to at least EUR 4,131 annually (in 2022). The entitlement to Kela benefits for researchers who receive a grant is based on this pension insurance policy for self-employed persons. The insurance is provided by the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (MELA).

Is your work funded by grants from the Finnish government?

In the US, there are various kinds of research grants too of course (none tied to housing, AFAIK, though it surely contributes to work requirements), but they are quite competitive to get, and the getting of them is basically what comprises the fairly high-status career of "professor". (Also some parts of the Defense and non-profit sectors.)

Is that how your work is funded?

I'm really curious.

[hypertele-Xii]

The specific mechanism is 'basic social assistance / income support'. It is a minimum amount of money that everyone has the right to, and is tied to your actual living expenses. To receive it one has to apply for it, a number of months at a time (varies, 1-6 months usually), and provide your bank account statement indicating that you've received no money from anywhere else (other income is subtracted), and you must send your bills as they come to receive matching compensation.

What you need to understand is that the institution handing them out, Kela, naturally must appear scary and imposing, impenetrable bureaucracy. Because simply giving out money is faux pas. So they have to use language like "this is a last resort emergency support you must only seek when all other options are exhausted". In reality, you simply refuse service from the unemployment office and they'll gladly hand you your benefits without complaint.

If they decline or give you less than you're entitled to (very rare), you simply complain to the complaints processing department and they got you covered. Personally I've never had much trouble.

There is a heavy cultural sentiment for "mooching off the government" in this manner. But my back of the envelope calculation indicates that every bum in Finland receiveing these benefits costs the average taxpayer about $1/month. Some of these people literally do nothing but drink beer for the full amount. I'm working on turning my life-long passion hobby into a career.