A legislator in Illinois, USA, has proposed giving certain categories of people $1,000 monthly on a continuing basis. That is the boldest plan for guaranteed income in the U.S. since 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang's idea to give everyone $1K each month.
Guaranteed income could take any of a number of forms, including universal basic income, aka UBI; negative income tax; or various state or federal tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit.
The idea has a long history. It was even supported by President Nixon. Now, more mayors and counties are getting aboard.
More than 60 percent of poll respondents support the federal government "providing monthly cash payments of $500 or $1000 to all adult citizens who make below their community's median income."
There are more and more test programs, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, even focused on the homeless.
A couple of longer-running programs are the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and GiveDirectly's experiment in Kenya.
There's even a research center. And a movie!