SINCE the start of the pandemic, many Americans have gotten accustomed to receiving payments from the government.
One form of this is universal basic income (UBI), which is a set of recurring payments, rather than one-off stimulus checks.
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For example, those eligible might receive $500 payments each month for a year. In other cases, this may happen once or twice a year.
Some states and cities, since the pandemic, have been experimenting with funds from the American Rescue Act when launching their own UBI programs.
Typically, these programs aim to help lift struggling Americans out of poverty.
We list the programs in the cities that are offering $500 in monthly payments.
1. Chicago
The windy city’s City Council approved a budget in October that included $500 monthly payments to 5,000 households for a year.
However, checks have yet to go out. In fact, not even a single application has been accepted, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office said in a statement that an announcement regarding “specific eligibility criteria and the application process” would come this month.
2. Columbia
Struggling dads in Columbia, South Carolina can get recurring support under a city program.
In the fall, 100 low-income fathers in Columbia started getting monthly debit cards worth $500.
They will continue to get those payments for several more months.
3. Durham
Last month, Durham, North Carolina launched its Excel pilot program that is giving $500 monthly payments for a year.
Most of the funds for the $700,000 pilot program will be provided by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old.
While there’s no work requirement, if you earn an income, it must not exceed 60% of the area’s median income.
Also, incarceration must have taken place within the last five years.
4. Minneapolis
This spring, the city of Minneapolis will begin its guaranteed basic income pilot program.
There will be 200 families chosen to receive $500 every month for two years.
Eligible participants in Minneapolis must have an annual income at or below 50% of the area median income, a situation that was affected by the pandemic, and live in a specific zip code within the city.
The city is no longer accepting applications.
5. Newark
Newark, New Jersey, will also be offering $500 monthly payments – but these totaling $12,000 over two years are going out in two ways.
Half of those participating in the program will get $250 on a biweekly basis, while the remaining 50% will get two payments of $3,000 each year, according to a statement by the city.
The residents in the program were selected after applying via an online portal, which was done in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research.
The residents were selected based on the following requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must possess an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line
- Must be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
With the program getting expanded, a total of 400 residents are getting this cash.
6. Philadelphia
Philadelphia will start a guaranteed income pilot program in March.
It will give 60 people $500 a month for a year.
The recipients will be chosen from a pool of 1,100 people who currently receive federal aid through TANF or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
7. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh will give relief to 200 households with low earnings.
Specifically, those households are getting $500 a month in payments for two years.
Pittsburgh’s NPR News Station reported in December that these payments would start going out early this year.
Assuming they get the full payments for the full 24 months, that would compensate $12,000 to each person.
8. Rochester
In December, the Rochester council approved a two-year pilot program.
The program aims to provide $500 payments to 175 low-income families in Rochester, NY families for the first 12 months.
Then, in the following year, a different set of 175 families Rochester, NY families would get the $500 monthly payments.
The payments will go out to households at or below 200% below the federal poverty level.
Incoming Mayor Malik Evans backs the program but he wants to explore something using private and philanthropic funds – meaning the payments to families could be larger.
For other ways you can get money, here are seven stimulus checks and payments you could get this month.
There are nearly 139,000 stimulus checks worth up to $1,200 going out right now.
Plus, here are three scenarios where you might get a fourth round of federal stimulus payments.
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