The wife and myself occasionaly discuss how people probably get along on basic pensions. Our feeling is if very careful you probably can do it. Easier if poor as you are eligiable for cheap housing. Your overhead cost then is less than living in your own paid for residence.

We have no actual equivelant of food stamps in Canada and food has gotten expensive here. As a percentage of basic pensions it might consume almost half.

Some people have no awareness of how to spend money sensibly within their means. It might be very hard for them. A little late to attempt the breaking of life long habits. The most recent generations for example will in all likelihood still use credit and carry older debt loads into their retirement. Based on it may be he only existence they have known until they retire..

We also discuss how we think people on welfare do. Again it has to do with so many personal factors. Some will get by and others will always be behind the eight ball.

Now residing in large Canadian cities in general the basic pensions are not going to be enough is almost certain. Maybe they are topped up by some programs I am unaware of.

Our basic pension benefits are probably somewhat similar to the American ones.