I kind of worry that I don't have a very good perspective on the downsides of 'universal welfare', though, because I've never, ever needed more money than I have for personal consumption and I've never had a job I really hated but was actually essential to the continued production of stuff that I rely on.

I suspect I would be less in favour if it if I'd experienced actual need (and therefore was more concerned about ending up back in that state if my money was taken away to spend on other people) or a job I didn't love (and therefore was more worried about the effect of removing extrinsic motivation on productivity).