Minimal salary: sadly we get basics, us, receiving almost the limit (11,4)

'limit' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'minimal salary sadly we get basics us receiving almost' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'salary' could be 'wage' (synonyms) and 'wage' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'subsistence' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?