Universal Basic Income / Guaranteed Minimum Income Pilots
What is the difference between Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) programs?
- UBI programs provide a given sum of money to all members of a community regardless of income, resources, or employment status.
- GMI programs provide unconditional, regular cash payments to certain members of a community meeting certain eligibility thresholds are met, such as income level.
Is income from UBI and GMI pilots countable for DTA Programs?
Income from a UBI or GMI pilots is considered non-countable for TAFDC and EAEDC programs. For SNAP, income from a UBI or GMI pilot is considered non-countable unless the UBI or GMI payments are fully funded by a government source, even if the agency administering the program is not a government entity.
Because income from a pilot is temporary, DTA applicants/clients who are participating in a UBI or GMI pilot should remain connected to all DTA programs and services for which they are otherwise eligible.
Which UBI or GMI pilots are non-countable?
To determine if the income from a UBI or GMI pilot is countable for DTA programs, policy staff need to look at the funding source.
DTA has determined that the income received from the following pilots is non-countable for all DTA programs:
- Boston Area Youth-Cash Assistance for Stable Housing program (BAY-CASH)
- Camp Harbor View Guaranteed Income Program
- Family Health Project
- Newton Thrive
- Pediatric RISE Pilots
- Rise Up Cambridge
- Somerville Guaranteed Basic Income Program
- Springfield WORKS Cliff Effect Pilot
- Support to Low-Income Mothers of Preterm Infants Pilot
- The Bridge Project Boston
- UpTogether Brookline
- United South End Settlements (USES) S.T.E.P. program
If a client reports they are participating in a UBI or GMI pilot or something that sounds similar but is not listed above, appropriate TAO staff must have their SIS or manager send the information to the Procedural Issues Mailbox for a determination.