Where to Find Communities in the US That Are Testing Universal Basic Income

It’s a universally accepted fact that everything costs more these days. Trying to afford the essentials is becoming an increasingly difficult task, leading people to desperately seek out rather poor and unhelpful options , including moving from expensive areas to more affordable places . Growing perceptions of income inequality and the lack of a social safety net have given impetus to the debate around a universal basic income (UBI), sometimes called a “guaranteed income.”

What is Universal Basic Income?

With UBI, every citizen in a certain area (county, city or country) receives a certain amount of money as income. While different programs will have different specific requirements or structures, generally speaking this income is paid out without any strings attached—recipients can use it as they see fit. As you can imagine, this concept is not without controversy . But it’s also easy to see how it can benefit people: when you’re stable and working, it just makes life easier. If you lose your job or are unable to work (due to a medical emergency, for example), UBI may allow you to stay home and feed your family until you can get everything sorted out. If you’re looking for a more affordable place to live or are simply open to the idea of ​​moving, you may want to consider moving to places that offer UBI in some form. Having an extra safety net can be key to surviving failure in your life.

Keep in mind that most UBI programs are considered pilots or experiments: city or county governments fund them for a certain period to collect data and see if they actually work. So even if you hear about a program in a certain area, you need to check how long it has been running. Many UBI programs are limited to specific population groups and are typically tied to income levels. Some programs target vulnerable populations, such as those experiencing homelessness or those who have recently become pregnant . You’ll have to do some research to make sure you’re eligible for any UBI program before factoring it into your decision to move.

Alaska UBI Program

Believe it or not, the US state where something very similar to UBI has been operating for over 40 years is Alaska. In 1983, he established the Permanent Fund , paying an annual dividend from oil revenues to every resident of the state. The amount of money is small: the dividend for 2023 was $1,312, although the dividend for 2022 was $3,284 . The payment amount is tied to the volume of oil Alaska sells and the price of oil throughout the year, so it varies widely. The “basic” portion of a universal basic income is supposed to cover your basic needs like housing and food, so the Permanent Fund might not qualify as a true UBI—but it’s still more than $100 a month.

Search for other UBIs

Finding information about where UBI programs are currently running requires some work. There are several resources you can use to find out where UBI programs are available and whether you may qualify for them if you move:

• Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is an organization of local mayors that promotes this concept and helps cities launch UBI programs. It maintainsa searchable list of current UBI pilot programs .

• County for a Guaranteed Income is an offshoot of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and also has an updated, searchable page listing current county-led pilot programs across the country.

• The Pilots Guaranteed Income dashboard also maintains an updated list of active UBI pilot programs.

Until guaranteed income programs become permanent, you won’t be able to rely on them in the long run. But if you’re considering moving to a cheaper area anyway, choosing one that currently offers some sort of UBI security system can make life a little safer once you get there.

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