Americans have received millions of dollars as part of guaranteed income pilot programs.
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Basic income pilots have distributed over $335 million in economic relief to Americans.
A coalition supported by 250 US lawmakers gathered preliminary reports for 27 pilot programs.
Of that collection, none of the pilot programs resulted in employment or workforce decline.
As Americans navigated economic uncertainty in recent years, including inflation and increased consumer prices, dozens of lawmakers threw their support behind guaranteed income programs.
More than 250 lawmakers are part of a coalition of mayors, county officials, and state legislators advocating for the pilot programs, which by their count have provided over $335 million in economic relief to about 30,000 Americans.
"At a time when key federal aid programs are being dismantled, state leaders are picking up the slack and bolstering economic stability for residents," the coalition wrote in its 2025 End of Year report.
A guaranteed basic income is when a government provides certain residents with no-strings-attached, recurring cash payments for a specified period. Eligible residents must fit specific criteria, such as having a household income near the poverty line.
These programs differ from a universal basic income, which is when a government provides all residents with recurring cash payments, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The idea of a universal basic income has been around for centuries, but gained renewed momentum when Andrew Yang ran for president in 2020. Providing Americans with monthly checks of $1,000 was a central part of his campaign. Many AI leaders also support a basic income as a means to mitigate potential job losses as the technology advances.
While many cities and states have experimented with a basic income, it remains politically unpopular in some circles, especially in conservative districts. Some lawmakers have proposed a nationwide basic income, but it has yet to be put to a vote. Opponents criticize the cost and worry it could discourage recipients from working.
Since 2020, lawmakers have implemented at least 72 pilots in 26 states, according to the coalition of lawmakers. The group received preliminary reports from 27 pilots, giving them data on how the pilot programs affect communities and, ultimately, whether they're worth it.
Here are five takeaways from the coalition's report.
The cash payments didn't discourage recipients from working
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Some lawmakers have opposed guaranteed income programs for several reasons, including concerns that they could discourage Americans from working.
However, the coalition's end-of-year report showed the opposite.
"Guaranteed income recipients are more likely to find long-term employment," the year-end report said. "Not a single pilot has resulted in reduced work."
For example, the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration in California paid 125 residents $500 a week from 2019 to 2021. Just over a quarter of pilot participants had full-time employment in February 2019. One year later, that number rose to 40%.
In a more recent pilot program based in New York, 351 Rochester residents received $500 a month for a year.
"GBI recipients were 26% more likely to be employed at the time of the survey, an effect driven by an increase in the likelihood of part-time work," the Rochester report said.
A basic income study supported by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, which was not included in the coalition's report, was one of the largest studies conducted in the United States. It began in 2020, distributing $1,000 a month to thousands of recipients. It also found that monthly payments did not discourage recipients from working.
Altman's study found that participants reported significant reductions in stress, mental distress, and food insecurity during the first year, though those effects faded by the second and third years of the program.
Recipients said they experienced less stress and anxiety
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Based on data from the 27 preliminary reports, residents who received the cash payments experienced less stress.
"Recipients have reported less stress and anxiety, reduced household chaos, and more hopefulness for the future," the coalition's report said.
Starting in 2022, a basic income pilot program in Durham, North Carolina, gave $600 a month to 109 formerly incarcerated individuals for one year.
"Notably, compared to the control condition, participants trended toward lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; had significant positive increases in household organization and harmony; and reported significantly greater physical health limitations, yet also reported significantly better general health," the Duhram report said.
Financial resilience emerged as a theme in pilot program data.
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Another takeaway from the coalition's year-end report was that recipients became financially resilient.
"Guaranteed income recipients are more likely to demonstrate financial resilience by paying off debt, saving for emergencies, and investing in their future," the coalition's report said.
A 13-month guaranteed income pilot program in Tacoma, Washington, paid $500 a month to 110 vulnerable families.
"Compared to the control group, participants in the treatment group experienced enhanced financial health, as evidenced by improved financial well-being, an increased ability to save, and greater financial resilience in managing a $400 emergency expense during the intervention phase," the Tacoma report said.
Beginning in 2022, a 12-month pilot program in Gainesville, Florida, paid some residents $1,000 the first month and $600 the remaining 11 months.
Those who received payments were more likely to be able to afford a $400 emergency expense. That trend continued after the pilot program ended.
Guaranteed income programs are expanding
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While some lawmakers are considering guaranteed programs for the first time, others are building on successful pilot programs.
Cook County, which includes Chicago, has made its basic income pilot permanent. The Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the program as part of its 2026 budget proposal.
The two-year program, which began in 2022, paid $500 a month to 3,200 households.
A group of lawmakers is also making moves at the federal level. New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman reintroduced a bill that would establish a three-year nationwide guaranteed basic income pilot program. The proposed payments would be enough to cover rent for a two-bedroom home.
Despite some successful outcomes, there are still limitations
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Although many pilot programs have shown positive results, a basic income may not be a one-size-fits-all solution.
The preliminary report from Rochester found that, on average, recipients were "no more likely to pay off past-due debts."
"During the program year, the average balance in derogatory accounts—accounts where the creditor has taken action against the borrower—did not significantly differ between GBI recipients and the control group," the Rochester report said. "Similarly, we do not find significant reductions in balances reported by collections agencies, which are primarily composed of non-medical debt."
Results from a pilot program in Boulder, Colorado, showed that while the payments improved some issues — like meeting basic needs — others persisted.
"In other areas of respondents' lives, there were no demonstrable changes during the time they were receiving monthly payments," the Boulder report said. "Childcare affordability remained a barrier for those with children, with no improvements detected. Health insurance coverage and delays in seeking healthcare did not change."
In Altman's study, although recipients received $1,000 a month, researchers found no "direct evidence of improved access to healthcare or improvements to physical and mental health" for those who received payments.