Despite the abundance of legal and socio-political promises, combatting poverty remains an unrealised goal. This raises the question of how states actually guarantee minimum subsistence. Addressing it touches on the core responsibilities of the welfare state. This book explores the question by analysing social benefits designed to ensure a minimum income in 16 countries, distinguishing three dimensions: first, the normative framework and the legal obligations of states to ensure minimum subsistence; second, the interplay between different social benefit systems that pursue this goal and the challenges this poses for effective protection; third, the design, adequacy and implementation of specific livelihood benefits. With contributions by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Becker, LL.M. | Julia Cunha Cruz, LL.M. | Prof. Dr. Elaine Dewhurst | Dr. Irene Domenici | Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Górnicz-Mulcahy | Assoc.-Prof. Dr. Yaroslava Guenova, PhD | Prof. Dr. Linxin He | Dr. Eva Maria Hohnerlein | Prof. Eri Kasagi | Prof. Dr. Ute Kötter | Assoc.-Prof. Monika Lewandowicz-Machnikowska, PhD | Prof. Dr. Gabriela Mendizábal Bermúdez | Ass.-Prof. Dr. Luka Mišič | Dr. Teodora Petrova | Prof. Dr. Flavia Piovesan | Prof. Dr. Viviana Ponce de León Solís | Ri Dr. Anastasia Poulou | Ass.-Prof. Dr. Ariel Przybylowicz | Ass.-Prof. Dr. María Dolores Ramírez Bendala | Prof. Dr. Cristina Sánchez-Rodas Navarro | Assoc.-Prof. Anika Seemann | Prof. Dr. Kwang Seok Cheon | Prof. Dr. Henriette Sinding Aasen | Prof. Dr. Grega Strban | Daniel Wainstock, LLB | Nikola Wilman, LL.M., MJur