I think UBI would go along way in replacing the welfare system in any country. The amount of waste the bureaucracy that multiple levels of multiple organisations bring to the current system does significantly more harm than good. One benefit I see for individuals in the current system is removing the stigma behind receiving/applying for benefits; as everyone would be receiving this.
Beyond that the UBI provides opportunity if you know you have a certain amount coming to you regardless with no stalled wait period or chance of denial, you can take risks.
- You can accept that new position without the fear it may not work out
- You can make plans for upgrading in post-secondary
- Maybe you know feel you have more disposable income to inject back into the economy
- Start-up a business, knowing you have something backing you for a while
However, I only consider it acceptable if it replaces all other welfare, including heath-care-related welfare, and I suspect that this will never be politically possible. I'd also like it to result in an elimination of all work-related regulations such as minimum wage, since with UBI there should be no excuse that people are being forced to work and therefore the government needs to protect them.
The problem is in finding the right amount. UBI is designed to be a system that will supplement your earnings, not as something to make a career of. It essentially should remove the situations where someone is choosing between the necessities of life at any given time. So I don't feel eliminating a safety net regulation such as minimum wage would benefit the system as a whole; because the UBI amount would likely be relying on a national average of minimum wages.
In regards to healthcare, I'm not even sure what it would cost me to show up to emerg with a broken leg, or to have a special operation. I'm glad I don't have to think about that, it's a perk of where I was born. I understand that it's different in the U.S, and that insurance costs can also be fairly arbitrary. So if UBI were to replace all health care related social assistance, I would expect the average cost of insurance be factored into this. Not just the average cost of the currently insured, but also those that currently chose other necessities over insurance.
Not being well versed on tax breaks or loopholes, there may also be several of those programs that could be lumped into the trash can if UBI were launched.
Regardless of your view on UBI or what you want it to achieve, I feel we are a long way out. The biggest problems are that there needs to be some longterm trials that make it to the end. They need to be held in an unbiased manner to determine the effectiveness of the program. Thanks to changing of governments and them usually trying to "salt the earth" of their predecessors this is becoming difficult. That is largely due to the fact that many people do not understand what UBI is, and look at it like it's expanding welfare.