From what I have heard, the idea is for a "no minimum" Roth style IRA, meaning using post-tax dollars. (A traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars)
The benefit to the feds is that it starts to wean people off of SS, and they still get the taxes from wages immediately.
The benefit to the low end retirement saver is that they can raid the funds without penalty, and can establish the account without the minimum funding requirement that you might see with a normal IRA.