There is quite a bit of welfare benefits in the U.S. the complete lack of social security in the U.S. is a strawman. Now, it's probably true that the benefits are not as generous as elsewhere, but they are fairly extensive, and depending on the state you live in, are quite generous
an Illinois family of one mother and two children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF; Medicaid, food stamps, Women, Infants and Children, or WIC; public housing; utility assistance; and free commodities (e.g., milk and cheese) would have a benefits package worth $19,442 per year. - See more at: http://illinoispolicy.org/the-work-vs-welfare-trade-off-in-i...
Now, I am not sure whether this is a high enough level of benefits or too high - but I don't think it's laughably low