And employers will pay the least that they can pay and get people in the door. The least they can possibly pay is lessor if government benefits can be used to make up the difference.
Government benefits lower the floor so low that people literally couldn't live if they were paid solely in wages rather than wages + benefits.
Walmart pays enough to survive without government benefits, it's just a terrible life. If an employee dies because they don't have healthcare Walmart would hire someone else.
With no government benefits there would be vastly more pressure to unionize and demand better wages or just ask for more on the front end and select the employer willing to pay more.
Government benefits lower the floor so low that people literally couldn't live if they were paid solely in wages rather than wages + benefits.