In Mel Brooks' History of the World Part I, a stand-up philosopher is shown applying for "unemployment insurance," what was unemployment like in Ancient Rome? Who, if any, would receive unemployment benefits/insurance?

by quibblequabblequirk

[Sorry, reposting this with correct name in title]

The time period Emperor Nero's reign. The movie shows a gladiator and the stand-up philosopher get asked "Did you [work in your employment] this week? Did you try to [work in your employment]" and then would receive some stipend. The gladiator was warned it was his last week on unemployment insurance and if he cant work [kill a guy] his status will change.

What was unemployment like during Nero's reign? Was there any government assistance like "unemployment insurance?" Were views toward the unemployed/government-assisted (was welfare a thing?) the same as 'modern' views? Were certain professions more likely to receive aid or compensation during uncertain times?

And sorry, I know the stand-up philosopher's true occupational title is bullsh!t artist.

AdmiralAkbar1

The closest equivalent would probably be the 'grain dole,' where grain was provided for free or at greatly reduced prices to the poor of the city, though it wouldn't be a welfare system by any modern conception. /u/xenophontheathenian has done some writeups on it here, here, and here.