It’s likely that several states in the U.S. will issue stimulus checks and ensure a guaranteed Universal Basic Income (UBI) for citizens by July 2024. These measures are primarily aimed at alleviating poverty and providing financial assistance to low-income families and individuals.
In counties across California and cities in New York, various programs are being implemented to meet the needs of the people. Now, let’s focus on the stimulus payments and guaranteed income policies set to benefit thousands of people in the coming month.
$1,000 Stimulus Checks and Guaranteed UBI
Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) has been rolled out in more than 50 U.S. cities since 2019 due to its demonstrated benefits. Ideally, these programs offer monthly allowances ranging from $100 to $1,000 to targeted low-income individuals without any obligations.
GBI represents a more public approach to addressing poverty and economic inequality. These programs aim to provide various monetary benefits without restrictions on their purpose and frequency, offering recipients a safety net against volatile income sources and enabling them to meet other essential needs.
this approach differs from most social welfare programs, which often come with numerous conditions and restrictions on the use of benefits. According to GBI advocates, such support improves healthcare, education, and overall quality of life for participants.
Discover Specific Stimulus Programs in Your State
Some U.S. cities offering stimulus payments include, but are not limited to, those in California, where various cities have introduced payments. For instance, “Breathe” is a recently launched program in Los Angeles that provides $1,000 monthly to 1,000 low-income households until August 2025. Similarly, Mountain View City and Long Beach have plans to pay certain groups $500 monthly.
In Georgia, the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund delivers monthly payments of $850 directly to low-income Black women. The Cook County Promise program in Illinois provides $500 monthly to 3,250 households with moderate incomes. Other states with specific city programs include Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, and Texas, each offering monthly payments to eligible individuals, such as young parents, entrepreneurs, or low-income mothers.
These diverse programs reflect a growing recognition of the need for tailored development solutions in various locations. All these efforts aim to address community-specific issues better than standardized federal programs, which may not cater as effectively to local needs.
Eligibility Criteria and Targeted Support for Different Groups
It’s also essential to note that many programs are designed for specific individuals or under certain circumstances. For instance, in Flint, Michigan, the “Rx Kids” program offers a one-time lump sum of $1,500 to new and expectant mothers. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the target population includes low-income freshman students enrolled in a community college with young parenting responsibilities.
In Pennsylvania, adjustments have been made to the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program for seniors and individuals with disabilities, with rewards granted based on income and potentially reaching up to $1,000 in extreme cases. Minnesota recently announced the start of its electric bike rebate program in July this year, aimed at promoting sustainable transportation by offering rebates, with higher amounts for low-income individuals.
These targeted approaches enhance the possibility of focusing resources on those who will benefit the most. As highlighted, these programs aim to improve equity and efficiency in supporting aspects of life where various groups face unique challenges, such as the cost of raising a child or transportation needs for seniors.
How to Prepare for the Stimulus Payments Coming in July 2024
Finally, as we approach July 2024, it’s crucial to pay attention to examples of stimulus payments and guaranteed income programs across America and other initiatives aimed at supporting those in need. Programs like the comprehensive city-based initiatives in California and the straightforward tax credit provisions for seniors in Pennsylvania are examples of state-level programs.
These measures indicate a growing understanding of the need to extend more positive economic support initiatives. While details may vary depending on circumstances, the general trend suggests additional, on-demand, individualized support tailored to the specific needs of the recipients. Therefore, as these programs continue and expand further, they could provide valuable insights for eliminating poverty and stabilizing the economy in the United States.
How do these programs coordinate with existing social welfare systems at the federal level in the United States
There is limited coordination between the various social welfare programs at the federal level in the United States. Key points to consider:
- The U.S. welfare system is complex, spanning 13 categories of programs administered by 8 different federal agencies. Each program has its own unique qualification rules and definition of low-income.
- There is no single “Department of Welfare” in the federal government that oversees all the programs in a coordinated way. Instead, responsibilities are split across agencies like HHS, USDA, HUD, SSA, Dept of Education, Dept of Labor, and the IRS.
- This structure developed over the past 70+ years. Programs were added one at a time by Congress, without an effort to coordinate them into a cohesive system. The system lacks consistent goals and eligibility criteria.
- As a result, poor Americans must use each program separately to see if they qualify and get benefits. This can be very hard. There is little coordination between programs.
- In the past, social welfare in the U.S. developed through both government and non-government efforts. It was pragmatic and in response to needs, not based on a unified ideology.
- The federal government made big welfare expansions in the 1930s in response to the Great Depression. It did so again in the 1960s with the War on Poverty and Great Society initiatives. The 1990s saw welfare reform. It gave states more control but imposed stricter limits and work requirements on recipients.