Think of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.
When it comes to things that should be provided by the government:
Food, if you can't afford it
Shelter, if you can't afford it.
A Public Option for healthcare if you want to use it.....regardless of income.
Also, you can't function in the modern world without internet access, so I think that should be included in your utilities. Everyone should have access. Same with cell phones, they can be attached to your internet access.
That's it....
HOWEVER:
There are things that legislation could and should do to make the path to independence/the middle class as smooth as possible such as:
1. Reigning in college tuition and capping student loan interest rates at 1%
2. Strengthening workplace protections and labor laws.....making employers have to recognize a union if one wants to form. There should be no barriers to creating a union if the workers so choose.
3. Reigning in capitalism's excesses, by taking down corporations such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, and the big banks, also groups like Comcast, and cell phone providers, etc....competition leads to innovation. The Sherman Antitrust act is there for a reason.....use it.
4. Strong minimum wage laws and limits on how much a person can work during the week.
5. End the Independent contractor bullshit. That's just a way for an employer to skirt around paying benefits packages.
6. Instead of just handing out tax breaks to corporations like candy, instead make them earn them. If they reinvest in their employees, reinvest in their company..hire more people....things that actually help the economy.....If they do those things, then they get a tax break.
7. Make it easier for small businesses to compete on a macro level and grow......BREAK UP MONOPOLIES AND CARTELS!!!
A huge thing is how businesses react to downturns in the economy in this culture.......instead of laying people off, everyone takes a pay cut...that's a more humane option.