Universal Basic Income Pilot to Begin in England
Universal Basic Income Pilot to Begin in England.
A universal basic income of £1,600 per month will be trialled in two locations in England as part of a pilot programme.
Thirty people in central Jarrow, North East England and East Finchley, North London will receive a lump sum payment without any conditions for two years.
The aim of the pilot scheme is to understand the impact of a universal basic income on participants' lives.
The trial will involve a control group that will not receive the basic income, and participants will be randomly selected from a pool of volunteers.
20% of places will be allocated to individuals with disabilities.
Will Stronge, the director of research at the think tank Autonomy, which is backing the plan, said that the £1,600 figure is substantial and will cover people's basic needs.
"We want to see what effect this unconditional lump sum has on people’s mental and physical health, whether they choose to work or not," Stronge said.
Advocates of universal basic income (UBI) argue that it can provide a level of economic security to everyone and be a potential solution to insecurity in the labor market.
However, others argue that it is expensive and support should be targeted.
Last year, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said that UBI was an idea whose time had come.
Burnham said that a universal basic income will give everyone a solid foundation and stop worrying about everything.
Similar pilots are already under way in other countries, including Wales where the devolved government is running a scheme paying a £1,600 a month for two years to young people leaving care.
In 2020, more than 170 MPs and peers urged the government to introduce a universal basic income to give everyone the financial support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cleo Goodman, a co-founder of the initiative Basic Income Conversation, said that she is hopeful that the plan will result in the first ever basic income pilots in England.
"No one should ever be facing poverty, having to choose between heating and eating, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Basic income has the potential to simplify the welfare system and tackle poverty in Britain,"
Thirty people in central Jarrow, North East England and East Finchley, North London will receive a lump sum payment without any conditions for two years.
The aim of the pilot scheme is to understand the impact of a universal basic income on participants' lives.
The trial will involve a control group that will not receive the basic income, and participants will be randomly selected from a pool of volunteers.
20% of places will be allocated to individuals with disabilities.
Will Stronge, the director of research at the think tank Autonomy, which is backing the plan, said that the £1,600 figure is substantial and will cover people's basic needs.
"We want to see what effect this unconditional lump sum has on people’s mental and physical health, whether they choose to work or not," Stronge said.
Advocates of universal basic income (UBI) argue that it can provide a level of economic security to everyone and be a potential solution to insecurity in the labor market.
However, others argue that it is expensive and support should be targeted.
Last year, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said that UBI was an idea whose time had come.
Burnham said that a universal basic income will give everyone a solid foundation and stop worrying about everything.
Similar pilots are already under way in other countries, including Wales where the devolved government is running a scheme paying a £1,600 a month for two years to young people leaving care.
In 2020, more than 170 MPs and peers urged the government to introduce a universal basic income to give everyone the financial support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cleo Goodman, a co-founder of the initiative Basic Income Conversation, said that she is hopeful that the plan will result in the first ever basic income pilots in England.
"No one should ever be facing poverty, having to choose between heating and eating, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Basic income has the potential to simplify the welfare system and tackle poverty in Britain,"
